the idea of antisepsis.


NEW BEGINNINGS IN GENERAL SCIENCE

We have dwelt thus at length on the subject of medical science,
because it was chiefly in this field that progress was made in
the Western world during the mediaeval period, and because these
studies furnished the point of departure for the revival all
along the line. It will be understood, however, from what was
stated in the preceding chapter, that the Arabian influences in
particular were to some extent making themselves felt along other
lines. The opportunity afforded a portion of the Western
world--notably Spain and Sicily --to gain access to the
scientific ideas of antiquity through Arabic translations could
not fail of influence. Of like character, and perhaps even more
pronounced in degree, was the influence wrought by the Byzantine
refugees, who, when Constantinople began to be threatened by the
Turks, migrated to the West in considerable numbers, bringing
with them a knowledge of Greek literature and a large number of
precious works which for centuries had been quite forgotten or
absolutely ignored in Italy. Now Western scholars began to take
an interest in the Greek language, which had been utterly
neglected since the beginning of the Middle Ages. Interesting
stories are told of the efforts made by such men as Cosmo de'
Medici to gain possession of classical manuscripts. The revival
of learning thus brought about had its first permanent influence
in the fields of literature and art, but its effect on science
could not be long delayed. Quite independently of the Byzantine
influence, however, the striving for better intellectual things