The clergy, and especially the monks, would have suppressed the art, if they had been able. It took away from the latter the profitable business of copying manuscript works, and it placed within the reach of the people the knowledge, of which the former had preserved the monopoly. By the simple invention of movable types, the darkness of centuries began to recede from the world: the life of the Middle Ages grew faint and feeble, and a mighty, irresistible change swept over the minds and habits of men. But the rulers of that day, great or little, were the last persons to suspect that any such change was at hand. CHAPTER XXIV. GERMANY, DURING THE REIGN OF MAXIMILIAN I. (1493--1519.) Maximilian I. as Man and Emperor. --The Diet of 1495, at Worms. --The Perpetual Peace declared. --The Imperial Court. --Marriage of Philip of Hapsburg to Joanna of Spain. --War with Switzerland. --March to Italy. --League against Venice. --The "Holy League" against France. --The Diet of 1512. --The Empire divided into Ten Districts. --Revolts of the Peasants. --The "Bond-Shoe" and "Poor Konrad." --Change in Military Service. --Character of Maximilian's Reign. --The Cities of Germany. --Their Wealth and Architecture. --The Order of the "Holy Vehm." --Other Changes under Maximilian. --Last Years of his Reign. --His Death. [Sidenote: 1493.] As Maximilian had been elected in 1486, he began to exercise the full Imperial power, without any further formalities, after his father's death. For the first time since the death of Henry VII. in 1313, the Germans had a popular Emperor. They were at last weary of the prevailing disorder and insecurity, and partly conscious that the power of the Empire had declined, while that of France, Spain, and even Poland, had greatly increased. Therefore they brought themselves to submit to the authority of an Emperor who was in every respect stronger than any of the Electors by whom he had been chosen.