BINDING Vol. VIII The binding of this volume is a facsimile of the original in the British Museum, and is considered the most artistic mosaic binding design in existence. It was executed about 1710, by Antoine Michel Padeloup, Royal Binder of both France and Portugal. He presented it to Francoise Marie de Bourbon, daughter of Louis XIV and Madame de Montespan, on the anniversary of her marriage to Philippe, Duke of Orleans, who afterward became Regent of France. During the Reign of Terror this volume found its way to England, where it was sold at a handsome price. It was bequeathed to the British Museum by Felix Slade, Esq. THE GREAT EVENTS BY FAMOUS HISTORIANS A COMPREHENSIVE AND READABLE ACCOUNT OF THE WORLD'S HISTORY, EMPHASIZING THE MORE IMPORTANT EVENTS, AND PRESENTING THESE AS COMPLETE NARRATIVES IN THE MASTER-WORDS OF THE MOST EMINENT HISTORIANS NON-SECTARIAN NON-PARTISAN NON-SECTIONAL ON THE PLAN EVOLVED FROM A CONSENSUS OF OPINIONS GATHERED FROM THE MOST DISTINGUISHED SCHOLARS OF AMERICA AND EUROPE, INCLUDING BRIEF INTRODUCTIONS BY SPECIALISTS TO CONNECT AND EXPLAIN THE CELEBRATED NARRATIVES, ARRANGED CHRONOLOGICALLY, WITH THOROUGH INDICES, BIBLIOGRAPHIES, CHRONOLOGIES, AND COURSES OF READING EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ROSSITER JOHNSON, LL.D. ASSOCIATE EDITORS CHARLES F. HORNE, Ph.D. JOHN RUDD, LL.D. _With a staff of specialists VOLUME VIII The National Alumni_ 1905 CONTENTS VOLUME VIII _An Outline Narrative of the Great Events_ CHARLES F. HORNE _Origin and Progress of Printing (A.D. 1438)_ HENRY GEORGE BOHN _John Hunyady Repulses the Turks (A.D. 1440-1456)_ ARMINIUS VAMBERY _Rebuilding of Rome by Nicholas V, the "Builder-pope_" _(A.D. 1447-1455)_ MRS. MARGARET OLIPHANT _Mahomet II Takes Constantinople (A.D. 1453)_ _End of the Eastern Empire_ GEORGE FINLAY _Wars of the Roses (A.D. 1455-1485)_ _Death of Richard III at Bosworth_ DAVID HUME _Ivan the Great Unites Russia and Breaks the Tartar_ _Yoke (A.D. 1462-1505)_ ROBERT BELL _Culmination of the Power of Burgundy_ _Treaty of Péronne (A.D. 1468)_ P.F. WILLERT _Lorenzo de'Medici Rules in Florence_ _Zenith of Florentine Glory (A.D. 1469)_ OLIPHANT SMEATON _Death of Charles the Bold (A.D. 1477) Louis XI Unites Burgundy with the Crown of France_ PHILIPPE DE COMINES _Inquisition Established in Spain (A.D.1480),_ WILLIAM H. RULE JAMES BALMES _Murder of the Princes in the Tower (A.D.1483)_ JAMES GAIRDNER _Conquest of Granada_ (A.D.1490) WASHINGTON IRVING _Columbus Discovers America_ (A.D.1492) CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS FERDINAND COLUMBUS _Conspiracy, Rebellion, and Execution of Perkin Warbeck_ (A.D.1492) FRANCIS BACON _Savonarola's Reforms and Death_ The French Invade Italy_ (A.D.1494) PASQUALE VILLARI JEAN C. L. SISMONDI _Discovery of the Mainland of North America by the Cabots_ (A.D.1497) SAMUEL EDWARD DAWSO _The Sea Route to India Vasco da Gama Sails around Africa_ (A.D.1498) GASPAR CORREA _Columbus Discovers South America (A.D.1498)_ CLEMENTS ROBERT MARKHAM