Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, "Arundel, Thomas" to "Athens" / Volume 2, Slice 7

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

34209

Title

Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, "Arundel, Thomas" to "Athens" / Volume 2, Slice 7

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

This volume from the Eleventh Edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica offers authoritative entries on Thomas Arundel, the town of Arundel, and the city of Athens, alongside a comprehensive treatise on astrology. Written by various contributors, it blends historical biography, geographical description, and scientific discourse with a tone of scholarly rigor and encyclopedic breadth.

Summary up to 500 words

This volume of the Eleventh Edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica presents a diverse array of historical and geographical entries, beginning with a detailed biography of Thomas Arundel (1353–1414). The third son of the Earl of Arundel, Thomas rose rapidly through the church to become Archbishop of Canterbury. His tenure was marked by significant political entanglements with Kings Richard II and Henry IV, including his role in the fall of Richard II and his coronation of Henry IV. A central theme of his later career was the vigorous suppression of Lollard heresy; he enforced statutes against heretics, banned unauthorized English translations of the Bible, and led councils to issue constitutions against the movement. The text also provides a comprehensive history of the town of Arundel in Sussex, detailing its evolution from a seaport and fortification under King Alfred to a municipal borough. The narrative highlights the town's castle, its history as a site of conspiracy against Richard II, and its architectural development, particularly the restoration of the castle by the Dukes of Norfolk. A significant portion of the volume is dedicated to the history and decline of astrology. The text distinguishes between the scientific study of astronomy and the divinatory practice of astrology, noting the latter's historical dominance and eventual decline in England. It discusses the contributions of famous practitioners like Tycho Brahe and Johannes Kepler, who initially engaged with astrological methods before embracing pure astronomy. The entry explores the complex calculations of planetary influences, the practice of chiromancy, and the societal impact of astrological predictions, ranging from predictions of comets to political maneuvering by figures like Napoleon. The volume credits Jonathan Swift with delivering a decisive blow to the credibility of astrology through his satirical squib, *Prediction for the Year 1708*, which exposed the absurdities of the practice. The volume concludes with extensive entries on Athens. The primary focus is on the ancient Greek city, tracing its history from its classical glory through the Byzantine period, where it became a provincial town, and the subsequent Latin rule following the Fourth Crusade in 1204. The text details the transition to Turkish rule in 1458, describing the desecration of ancient monuments like the Parthenon and the Erechtheum, which were converted into mosques and harem quarters. The narrative covers the Venetian bombardment of 1687, which destroyed the Parthenon, and the eventual liberation of the city in 1833, when it was chosen as the capital of modern Greece. Finally, the volume provides brief overviews of Athens, Georgia, an important educational center founded in 1801, and Athens, Ohio, the seat of Ohio University, highlighting their respective histories and institutional developments.

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• Encyclopedias and dictionaries