THE Ancient World is intended for young students in high schools and academies and will be found well within the scope of their abilities.
In general, the author has aimed to emphasize the unity in historical development; to show that national life, like individual life, has continuous growth and development, and that a knowledge of the past explains the present. Every experiment in government in ancient times has its lesson; and in the hands of Professor West history becomes an instrument for teaching the duties of modern citizenship.
Most stress is laid on those periods of history which were most important to the development of civilization. In following this plan two general features are noteworthy:—
1. Wars receive little attention. Space is given rather to the causes and conditions preceding a war and the results that follow it.
2. Little weight is given to the legendary periods of Greek and Roman history, and the space thus gained is devoted to the wide-reaching Hellenic world after Alexander, and to the Roman Empire which had so deep an influence on later history.
In every paragraph the leading idea is brought out by italics, and illuminating quotations introduce each chapter.
The book teaches the use of a library by giving specific references to topics for reports.
The table of contents covers thirty-four pages and gives a minute analysis of the book down to the subject of each paragraph.
There are forty-one maps and plans, which are made the basis of study, suggested by questions given in the text. There are also ninety-nine illustrations taken from authentic sources.
Modern History: From Charlemagne to the Present Time