d the dissipation of the treasured teachings of Jesus.

SUBJECTS FOR FURTHER STUDY

1. In what ways was the Christian religion antagonistic to other
religions?

2. What new elements did it add to human progress?

3. How did the fall of Rome contribute to the power of the church?

4. What particular service did the church contribute to social order
during the decline of the Roman Empire?

5. How did the church conserve learning and at the same time suppress
freedom of thought?

6. How do you discriminate between Christianity as a religious culture
and the church as an institution?

[1] Adams, _Civilization During the Middle Ages_.

[2] Adams, _Civilization During the Middle Ages_, chap. I.

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CHAPTER XVII

TEUTONIC INFLUENCE ON CIVILIZATION

_The Coming of the Barbarians_.--The picture usually presented by the
historical story-tellers of the barbarian hordes that invaded the Roman
Empire is that of bold pirates, plunderers of civilization, and
destroyers of property. No doubt, as compared with the Roman system of
warfare and plunder, their conduct was somewhat irregular. They were
wandering groups or tribes, who lived rudely, seeking new territory for
exploitation after the manner of their lives. They were largely a
pastoral people with cattle as the chief source of industry with
intermittent agriculture. Doubtless, they were attracted by the
splendor of Rome, its wealth and its luxury, but primarily they were
seeking a chance to live. It was the old luring food quest, which is
the foundation of most migrations, that was the impelling force of
their invasion. In accordance with their methods of life, the northern
territory was over-crowded, and tribe pressed upon tribe in the
struggle for existence. Moreover, the pressure of the Asiatic
populations drove one tribe upon another and forced those of northern
Europe south and east.

All of the invaders, except the Huns who settled in Pannonia, were of
the Aryan branch of the Caucasian race. They were nearly all of the
Nordic branch of the Aryan stock and were similar in racial
characteristics and social life to the Greeks, who conquered the
ancient Aegean races of Greece, and to those others who conquered the
primitive inhabitants of Italy prior to the founding of the Roman
nation. The Celts were of Aryan stock but not of Nordic race. They
appeared at an early time along the Danube, moved westward into France,
Spain, and Br