gic_ the works of St. Augustine were used in the exercises of
constructing syllogisms, of disputation, and of definition. In
_arithmetic_, before the introduction of the Arabic notation, numbers
were considered to have a mysterious meaning. The hands and fingers were
used to indicate numbers. For example, the left hand upon the breast
indicated ten thousand; both hands folded, one hundred thousand. For the
practical purposes of life the reckoning board was used. This was a
board with lines drawn upon it, between which pebbles were placed to
indicate the number to be expressed. For example, the number 3146 would
be indicated as follows:--

| 3 | 1 | 4 | 6 |
| | | | |
| ''' | ' | '''' | '''''' |

_Music_ was designed for the church service. Knowledge of music was held
to be positively essential to priest and teacher. Under the term _music_
were also sometimes included the fine arts, painting, drawing,
architecture, sculpture, etc.

In _geometry_ Euclid was used. Lines, angles, surfaces, and solids were
studied. With geometry there seems to have been connected a meager study
of _geography_. Early maps have been found, one dating from the seventh
century, being in possession of St. Gall monastery. Astronomy was
closely connected with _astrology_. Its practical application was
limited to the formation of the Church calendar, fixing the date of
Easter, etc.

This celebrated course of study formed the basis of secular instruction
in the monasteries, and, indeed, in all schools, for several centuries.
Religious instruction always remained a prominent feature of the work.
History had no place in the curriculum.

=Summary of Benefits conferred upon Civilization by the
Monasteries.=--1. They preserved classic literature. Though many of the
Church Fathers, as we have seen, were bitterly opposed to pagan
literature, the monasteries copied it with great industry and preserved
it with care. The archives of these institutions have yielded up some
most remarkable and valuable manuscripts that otherwise would have been
lost to the world.

2. They kept alive the flickering flame of Christianity. The Middle Ages
were indeed dark for Christianity, as unbelief, ignorance, and
faithlessness prevailed. But the monasteries were centers of religious
interest and zeal.

3. They maintained educational interest during this long, dark period.
We have seen that the monasteries contained the o