Synopses & Reviews
Preface: We know too little of the past we shall always know too little of the past to discern in the historic process a movement predetermined and inevitable. The diverse cultures which have arisen in response to enviromnental influences and to may be described and, whenever possible, the interactions between these cultures may be traced. That is all which, as historians f we can safely do. To do more is to make of ourselves philosophers. My point of view is frankly that of an inheritor of European or Western civilization. Doubtless a similar work by a Chinese, for instance, would present matters somewhat differently. One cannot escape the Imitations of one j s age and dime. The plan of the book is simple. Fart I Foundations of Civiliza tion begins with a general discussion of the nature of civilization or culture. This is followed by an account of the races and languages of man, the maker of culture. The next two chapters present the evidence for mans cultural growth in prehistoric n times, as re vealed by archaeological study of his handicrafts and arts and by iii PREFACE of the beliefs and customs of existing u priwi fj r n l wt 11 Centers of Early Civilization follows a geographical rather than a chronological order and deals, in succes sion, with America before Columbus China, India and the principal of the ancient Near East. Pre-Columbian America re i f isolation from the rest of the world, and China India, while not completely isolated, were cut off from many contacts with other lands. Hence it is convenient to take up at this stage ami then to trace, without a break in the Narrative the gradual spread of civilization in the Near East and Europe until, a few hundred years ago, the Far East and America within the purview of Europeans and under European in fluence. Part III Classical Civilization presents Greece and Ro7i e as the two great civilizations which grew up, flourished, and de clined in the Mediterranean area. Part IV Medieval Civilization, save for fwo chapters on New Rome and Islam, is confined to west em Europe in the Middle Ages. have fiot written this hook from the primary sources of history. A lifetime would scarcely suffice for such a task. Ngvertbeless, they have been frequently consulted and quoted, especially il es where the secondary authorities are not in agreement. The reader who misses here much of that flower and perfume of history which only the primary sources yield may be referred to my Histor ical Selections Heath, 1929. It is a compilation of the widest scope, containing nearly six hundred extracts and dealing with the cultural development of humanity in all ages for which there are written records. As regards the Bibliography, I have confined myself to books in the English language, and to those dealing with the particular topics in the chapter under discussion...