Graves, _Before the Middle Ages_ (Macmillan, 1909), chap. XII; Monroe, _Text-book_ (Macmillan, 1905), pp. 221-243. For the moral effect of Christianity, see Lecky, W. E. H., _History of European Morals_ (Appleton, 1869), vol. II, pp. 1-100. Other places in the chapter will be illumined by reading Ayer, J. C., Jr., _Catechumenal Schools_ and _Catechetical Schools_ (Monroe Cyclopædia of Education, vol. I); Dill, D., _Roman Society in the Last Century of the Western Empire_ (Macmillan, 1899), especially book V; Hatch, E., _The Influence of Greek Ideas and Usages upon the Christian Church_ (Hibbert Lectures, 1888, Williams, London, 1891); Hodgson, G., _Primitive Christian Education_ (Clark, Edinburgh, 1906); and Leach, A. F., _Bishop’s Schools_ and _Cathedral Schools_ (Monroe Cyclopædia of Education, vol. I). PART II THE MIDDLE AGES CHAPTER V THE MONASTIC EDUCATION OUTLINE During the Middle Ages the German hordes absorbed ancient civilization under the authoritative guidance of the Church, and the chief means of leavening the barbarian lump was found in the cathedral and monastic schools. Monasteries grew up to counteract the prevailing worldliness. To keep the monks busy, Benedict prescribed the copying of manuscripts, and this literary work rendered schools necessary. In these monastic schools were taught the ‘seven liberal arts’ by catechetical methods. Thus monasticism helped preserve learning and education, although it was somewhat hostile to the classics and science. [Sidenote: Absorption of Greek, Roman and Christian civilization.] =The Middle Ages as a Period of Assimilation and Repression.=--The Middle Ages may be regarded as an era of assimilation and of repression. On the one hand, the rude German hordes, who had by the sixth century everywhere taken possession of the decadent ancient world, were enabled during this period to rise gradually to such a plane of intelligence and achievement that they could absorb the Greek, Roman, and Christian civilization, and become its carriers to modern times. On the other hand, that this absorption might take place, it was necessary that the individual should conform to the model set, and it was inevitable that a bondage to authority, convention, and institutions should ensue. [Sidenote: Authoritative attitude of the Church.]