the "land of the iron-clad men."
The real "yellow peril" of Europe, her submersion under the flood of
Asia's millions, was perhaps possible at Liegnitz. It has never been
so since. In the construction of impenetrable armor the inventive
genius of the West had already begun to rise superior to the barbaric
fury of the East. The arts of civilization were soon to soar
immeasurably above mere numerical superiority.

In Asia the Tartar power probably reached its greatest height under
Kublai Khan, the Emperor of China whom Marco Polo visited.[21] And it
is worth our modern notice that Kublai failed in an attempt to conquer
Japan. Russia fell a victim to the Tartar hordes; Japan repelled
them.[22]

PROGRESS OF CONSTITUTIONAL GOVERNMENT

While Europe and Asia were thus in turmoil throughout most of this
era, England, secure in her island isolation, was making rapid
progress on the career of union and free government whereon John had
so unintentionally started her. The age thus adds to its other claims
to distinction that of having seen the beginnings of constitutional
government. England's Magna Charta was paralleled by the "Golden Bull"
of Hungary, a charter granted by the crusading King, Andrew, to his
tumultuous subjects.[23] In England the long reign of the weak Henry
III, son of John, took more and more from the power of the crown. He
was opposed by Simon of Montfort, who, to secure the affections and
support of the common people, summoned their representatives to meet
in a parliament with the knights and bishops. His "Mad Parliament"[24]
of 1258 contained the first shadow of a government by the people; his
later assemblies were still more democratic. Considered in this light
one likes to remember that Montfort's first assembly won its title of
"mad" by passing such excellent laws that none of those in power would
submit to them.

Following Henry III, Edward I came to the throne, a man of broad views
and legal mind. He confirmed and legalized the rights already attained
by his subjects, and centralized the authority of all Great Britain in
his own hands by conquering both Wales[25] and Scotland. The struggles
of Sir William Wallace and his devoted followers to throw off the
English yoke ended only in disaster.[26]

Edward, the most enlightened and perhaps the most brilliant sovereign
of the thirteenth century, endeavored to protect the Jews,[27] but was
finally compelled, by the clamor of his subjects, to expel th