Height of the Mongol Power in China (A.D. 1271),
  MARCO POLO 287

Founding of the House of Hapsburg (A.D. 1273),
  WILLIAM COXE 298

Edward I Conquers Wales (A.D. 1277),
  CHARLES H. PEARSON 316

Japanese Repel the Tartars (A.D. 1281),
  EDWARD H. PARKER
  MARCO POLO 327

The Sicilian Vespers (A.D. 1282),
  MICHELE AMARI 340

Expulsion of Jews from England (A.D. 1290),
  HENRY HART MILMAN 356

Exploits and Death of William Wallace, the “Hero of
  Scotland” (A.D. 1297-1305),
  SIR WALTER SCOTT 369

First Great Jubilee of the Roman Catholic Church
  (A.D. 1300),
  FERDINAND GREGOROVIUS 378

Universal Chronology (A.D. 1162-1300),
  JOHN RUDD 385

ILLUSTRATIONS

VOLUME VI

Tragic death of Thomas A Becket at the altar of the
Cathedral of Canterbury (page 26),
Painting by Albert Dawant.  Frontispiece

The lust of the army spared neither maiden nor the virgin dedicated to God, Painting by E. Luminais. 128

King Edward I fulfils his promise of giving the Welsh “a native prince; one who could not speak a word of English", Painting by Ph.  Morris. 324

AN OUTLINE NARRATIVE

TRACING BRIEFLY THE CAUSES, CONNECTIONS, AND CONSEQUENCES OF GREAT EVENTS (FROM BARBAROSSA TO DANTE)

CHARLES F. HORNE

It was during the period of about one hundred fifty years, extending from the middle of the twelfth to the close of the thirteenth century, that the features of our modern civilization began to assume a recognizable form.  The age was characterized by the decline of feudalism, and by the growth of all the new influences which combined to create a new state of society.

With the decay of the great lords came the rise of the great cities, the increased power and importance of the middle classes, the burghers or “citizens,” who dominate the world to-day.  In opposition to these there came also an unforeseen accession of strength to kings.  The boundaries of modern states grew more clearly defined; modern nationalities were distinctly established; Europe assumed something of the outline, something of the social character, which she still retains.