State of the Kingdom after the Conquest--Superiority of the Moors--Policy of the Crown--Introduction of the Holy Office--Administration of Talavera--His Popularity--He is superseded by Ximenes--The Two Great Spanish Cardinals--Their Opposite Characters--Influence on Their Age--Violence of Ximenes--He burns the Arabic Manuscripts--Insurrection of the Moriscoes--Rout in the Sierra Bermeja--Bigotry of Isabella--The Moors under Charles V.--Persecution by the Clergy and the Inquisition under Philip II.--War in the Alpujarras--Ibn-Ommeyah--Operations of Don John of Austria--Removal of the Moors of Granada--Death of Ibn-Ommeyah--Ibn-Abu becomes King--Siege of Galera--Atrocities of the Campaign--Fate of Ibn-Abu--Condition of the Moriscoes in Spain--They are Exiled by Philip III.--Their Sufferings--Effect of their Banishment upon the Prosperity of the Kingdom 218 CHAPTER XXVII GENERAL CONDITION OF EUROPE FROM THE VIII. TO THE XVI. CENTURY Effects of Barbarian Supremacy on the Nations of Europe--Rise of the Papal Power--Character of the Popes--Their Vices and Crimes--The Interdict--Corrupt Practices of Prelates and Degradation of the Papacy--Institution of the Monastic Orders--Their Great Influence--Their Final Degeneracy--Wealth of the Religious Houses--The Byzantine System--Its Characteristics--Power of the Eunuchs--Splendor of Constantinople--Destruction of Learning--Debased Condition of the Greeks--The People of Western Europe--Tyranny of Caste and its Effects--Feudal Oppression--Life of the Noble--His Amusements--The Serf and his Degradation--His Hopeless Existence--Treatment of the Jews--Prevalence of Epidemics--Religious Festivals--General Ignorance--Scarcity and Value of Books--Persecution of Learning--The Empire of the Church--Its Extraordinary Vitality 324 CHAPTER XXVIII THE HISPANO-ARAB AGE OF LITERATURE AND SCIENCE