File:The story of the greatest nations, from the dawn of history to the twentieth century - a comprehensive history, founded upon the leading authorities, including a complete chronology of the world, and (14591658518).jpg

Identifier: greatestnations03elli (find matches)
Title: The story of the greatest nations, from the dawn of history to the twentieth century : a comprehensive history, founded upon the leading authorities, including a complete chronology of the world, and a pronouncing vocabulary of each nation
Year: 1900 (1900s)
Authors: Ellis, Edward Sylvester, 1840-1916 Horne, Charles F. (Charles Francis), 1870-1942
Subjects: World history
Publisher: New York : F.R. Niglutsch
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Internet Archive

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nd. The cityhad retained at least the form and officers of a republic, even when the Mediciheld all real power. Now the old machinery was swept away, the city with itsdependent territories was made a duchy, and its tyrant Medici became Dukesof Florence. The fall of these two principal cities is generally accepted as ending theRenaissance in Italy. Its period of greatest splendor and of greatest evil hadthus extended from 1453 to 1527. Clement, on his return to power, startedwhat has been called the counter-reformation in the Roman church. Thechurch itself struggled to crush the internal evils which were destroying it.By degrees the respect of men returned to better popes, and with it returnedsomething of the churchs power. The Northern nations had broken awayfrom it forever; but the Southern ones still clung to the old religious idea forwhich Rome stood. Within the past century the lasting vitality of this ideahas again been strikingly demonstrated. In our world to-day the Roman Cath-
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Rome—Misery of Italy 477 olic Church is still a vast influence, and many thinkers believe that influenceto be upon the increase. From 1527, however, Italy lay helpless beneath the feet of domestic tyrantsand foreign kings. Dominion over her varied states shifted with every changeof policy in the greater kingdoms to the north. These fought out their bloodyfeuds upon Italian soil. She became, as she has been called, the battle-ground of the nations. Her common people sank into a misery as abject as it-seemed hopeless.

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