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CONTENTS.
FIRST LECTURE.
Object of the course-Two methods of studying in detail the history of
European civilization-Reasons for preferring the study of the history
of the civilization of a particular country-Reasons for studying that
of France-Of the essential facts which constitute the perfection of
civilization-Comparison of the great European nations under this
point of view-of civilization in England-Germany-Italy-Spain
-France-French civilization is the most complete, and offers the
most faithful representation of civilization in general-That the stu-
dent has other things to bear in mind besides the mere study-Of the
present prevailing tendencies in the intellectual order-Of the prevail-
ing tendencies in the social order-Two problems resulting therefrom
-Their apparent contradiction-Our times are called upon to solve
them-A third and purely moral problem, rendered equally important
by the present state of civilization-The unjust reproaches of which
it is the object-The necessity of meeting them-All science, in the
present day, exerts a social influence-All power should tend to the
moral perfection of the individual, as well as to the improvement of
society in general
SECOND LECTURE.
p. 9
Necessity of reading a general history of France, before we study that of
civilization-M. de Sismondi's work-Why we should study the politi-
cal state of a country before its moral state, the history of society
before that of man-The social state of Gaul in the fifth century—
Original monuments and modern works descriptive of that subject-
Difference between the civil and religious society of that period-Im-
perial government of Gaul-The provincial governors-Their official
establishments-Their salaries-Benefits and defects of the adminis-
tration-Fall of the Roman empire-Gaulish society: 1. The senators
2. The curiales; 3. The people; 4. The slaves-Public relations of
these various classes-Decline and helplessness of Gaulish civil socie-
ty-Causes of this-The people attach themselves to the religious
community
p. 29
THIRD LECTURE.
Object of the lecture-Variety of the principles and forms of
ciety in Europe-Classification of the different systems, 1
to the relations of the church in the state; 2. According
nal constitution of the church-All these systems assign
to the primitive church-Critical examination of these p
They have all a certain degree of foundation-Fluctuati
plexity of the external situation and internal position
society from the first to the fifth century-Predominant
Prevalent facts of the fifth century-Causes of liberty in t
this period-The election of bishops-Councils-Compa
gious with civil society-Of the chiefs of these two socie
of Sidonius Apollinaris
FOURTH LECTURE.
Object of the lecture-What must be understood by the mor
society-Reciprocal influence of the social state upon the
and of the moral state upon the social state-At the fou
civil Gaulish society alone possessed institutions favora
lectual development-Gaulish schools-Legal situation of
sors Religious society has no other mediums of devel
influence than its ideas-Still one languishes and the othe
Decline of the civil schools-Activity of the Christian so
Jerome, Saint Augustin, and Saint Paulin of Nola-Their
ence with Gaul-Foundation and character of monasterie
Causes of the difference of the moral state of the two soci
parative view of the civil literature and the Christian liter
fourth and fifth centuries-Inequality of the liberty of
two societies-Necessity for religion lending its aid to
letters.
FIFTH LECTURE.
Of the principal questions debated in Gaul in the fifth century
gianism-Of the method to follow in its history-Of the
which gave place to this controversy: 1st, of human libe
the impotency of liberty, and the necessity for an exter
3d, of the influence of external circumstances upon liber
the moral changes which happen in the soul, without ma
them to his will-Of the questions which naturally arose
facts-Of the special point of view under which we sho
them in the Christian church in the fifth century-History
ism at Rome, in Africa, in the East, and in Gaul-Pelagiu
-Saint Augustin-History of semi-Pelagianism-Cassien
-Saint Prosper of Aquitaine-Of predestination-Influen
eral results of this controversy
SIXTH LECTURE.
Object of the lecture-General character of the literature of the middle
ages Of the transition from pagan philosophy to Christian theology-
Of the question of the nature of the soul in the Christian church-The
ancient priests for the most part pronounced in favor of the system of
materialism-Efforts to escape from it-Analogous march of ideas in
pagan philosophy-Commencement of the system of spirituality-
Saint Augustin, Nemesius, Mamertius Claudienus-Faustus, bishop of
Riez-His arguments for the materiality of the soul-Mamertius Clau-
dienus answers him-Importance of Mamertius Claudienus in Gaul-
Analysis of, and quotations from his treatise on the nature of the soul
-The dialogue of Evagrius between Zacheus the Christian and Apol-
lonius the philosopher-Of the effects of the invasion of the barbarians
upon the moral state of Gaul
SEVENTH LECTURE.
p. 136
Object of the lecture-Of the Germanic element in modern civilization—
Of the monuments of the ancient social state of the Germans: 1. Of
the Roman and Greek historians; 2. Of the barbaric laws; 3. Of na-
tional traditions-They relate to very different epochs-They are often
made use of promiscuously-Error which results therefrom-The
work of Tacitus concerning the manners of the Germans-Opinions of
the modern German writers concerning the ancient Germanic state-
What kind of life prevailed there, was it the wandering life, or the
sedentary life?-Of the institutions-Of the moral state-Comparison
between the state of the German tribes and that of other hordes-
Fallacy of most of the views of barbarous life-Principal characteris-
tics of the true influence of the Germans upon modern civiliza-
tion
EIGHTH LECTURE.
p. 145
Object of the lecture-Description of the state of Gaul in the last half of
the sixth century-True character of the German invasions-Cause
of errors on this subject-Dissolution of Roman society: 1. In rural
districts; 2. In towns, though in a lesser degree-Dissolution of Ger-
man society: 1. Of the colony or tribe; 2. Of the warfaring band-
Elements of the new social state: 1. Of commencing royalty; 2. Of
commencing feudalism; 3. Of the church after the invasion-Sum-
mary
NINTH LECTURE.
p. 167
Object of the lecture-False idea of the Salic law-History of the forma-
tion of this law-Two hypotheses upon this matter-Eighteen manu-
scripts Two texts of the Salic law-M. Wiarda's work upon the
1*
history and exposition of the Salic law-Prefaces at
manuscripts-Value of national traditions concerning t
compilation of the Salic law-Concerning its tendencies
tially a penal code-1st. Of the enumeration and definiti
in the Salic law; 2d. Of penalties; 3d. Of criminal
Transitory character of their legislation
Object of the lecture-Is the transitory character of the Sa
in the laws of the Ripuarians, the Burgundians, and the
1st. The law of the Ripuarians-The Ripuarian Frank
the compilation of their law-Its contents-Difference be
the Salic law-2d. The law of the Burgundians-Histo
pilation-Its contents--Its distinctive character-3d. Th
Visigoths-It concerns the history of Spain more than th
-Its general character-Effect of Roman civilization
barians
Perpetuity of the Roman law after the fall of the Empire-O
of the Roman law in the Middle Ages, by M. de Savigny
deficiencies of this work-1. Roman law among the Visigo
rium Aniani, collected by command of Alaric-History an
this collection-2. Roman law among the Burgundians-1
ponsorum-History and contents of this law-3. Roman la
Franks-No new collection-The perpetuity of Roman la
various facts-Recapitulation
Object of the lecture-State of the church in Gaul, from the
middle of the eighth century-Analogy between the primi
the religious society and the civil society-The unity of th
the spiritual society-Two elements or conditions of spirit
1st. Unity of truth, that is to say, of absolute reason; 2d
minds, or individual reason-State of these two ideas in t
church from the sixth to the eighth century-She adopts on
the other-Unity of the church in legislation-General coun
ence between the eastern and the western church as regar
cution of heretics-Relations of the church with the state, fr
to the eighth century; 1st, in the eastern empire; 2d, in
pecially in Frankish Gaul-Interference of the temporal p
affairs of the church-Of the spiritual power in the affairs of
Recapitulation.
ces attached to the
ning the origin and
Hencies-It is essen-
definition of offences
iminal procedure-
P. 184
e Salic law found
d the Visigoths?-
Franks-History of
nce between it and
History of its com-
d. The law of the
an that of France
tion upon the bar-
p. 204
-Of the History
gny-Merits and
sigoths-Brevia-
y and contents of
-Papiani Res-
n law among the
n law proved by
p. 222
he sixth to the
mitive state of
the church or
ritual society;
ed. Liberty of
the Christian
ne and rejects
ncils-Differ-
rds the perse-
from the sixth
the west, es-
power in the
f the state-
p. 237
THIRTEENTH LECTURE.
Of the internal organization and state of the Gallo-Frankish church, from
the sixth to the eighth century-Characteristic facts of the Gaulish
church at the fifth century-What became of them after the invasion-
The exclusive domination of the clergy in the religious society continues
-Facts which modify it: 1. Separation of ordination and tenure; priests
not ecclesiastics-2. Patronage by laymen of the churches which they
founded-3. Oratories, or particular chapels-4. Advocates of the
churches-Picture of the general organization of the church-Parishes
and their priests-Archpriests and archdeacons-Bishops-Archbishops
-Attempts to establish the patriarchates in the west-Fall of the arch-
bishops-Preponderance and despotism of the episcopacy-Struggle of
the priests and parishes against the bishops-The bishops triumphant-
Despotism corrupts them-Decline of the secular clergy-Necessity
for a reformation.
FOURTEENTH LECTURE.
History of the regular clergy, or the monks, from the sixth to the eighth
century-That the monks were at first laymen-Importance of this
fact-Origin and progressive development of the monastic life in the
east-First rules-Importation of the monks into the west-They are
ill received there-Their first progress-Difference between eastern and
western monasteries-Opinion of St. Jerome, as to the errors of the
monastic life-General causes of its extension--State of the monks in
the west in the fifth century-Their power and their want of coherence
-Saint Benedict--His life-He founds the monastery of Monte Cas-
sino-Analysis and estimate of his rule-It diffuses itself throughout
the west, and becomes predominant in almost all the monasteries
there.
FIFTEENTH LECTURE.
The relations of the monks with the clergy, from the fourth to the eighth
century-Their primitive independence-Causes of its decline--1. In
proportion as the number and the power of the monks were augmented,
the bishops extended their jurisdiction over them-Canons of the coun-
cils-2. The monks demand and obtain privileges-3. They aspire to
enter into the clergy--Differences and contests among the monks
themselves upon this subject-The bishops at first repulse their preten-
sions-They give way to them-In entering into the clergy the monks
lose their independence-Tyranny of the bishops over the monasteries
-Resistance of the monks-Charters granted by the bishops to some
monasteries-The monks have recourse to the protection of the kings,
to that of the popes-Character and limits of the intervention-Simi-
larity between the struggle of the monasteries against the bishops, and
that of the commons against the feudal lords