The History of Ancient Civilization

Abstract

THE title of this book is somewhat misleading. One is led to expect from it a history of the growth of civilization from its earliest stages to its various developments among different nations or races, and of the relation of one form to another. But instead of this we have an account of the characteristic civilization of certain selected nations when at their best, with very little to indicate any relation between them. The nations whose civilization is described are the Egyptians, the Babylonians, and Assyrians; the Jews, Phœnicians, Aryans, and Persians; the Greeks and the Romans. The two latter are treated very fully, occupying about, three-fifths of the whole. There can be no question that the information conveyed would be very useful to a student of ancient civilization, but he would immediately ask for more. If he had any intention of studying the question from a scientific point of view, he would not be content with isolated facts, but ask for the connection between them. Indeed, one of the most conspicuous features of the book is the complete absence of any scientific method; its merits must be appreciated entirely from the literary standpoint, especially in connection with the history and literature of Greece and Rome.