PART II.
HISTORICAL GREECE.
CHAPTER I.
GENERAL GEOGRAPHY AND LIMITS OF GREECE.
Northern boundary of Greece — Olympus. — Scardus and Pindus — their extension and dissemination through southern Greece and Peloponnesus. — Ossa and Pelion — to the Cyclades. — Geological features. — Irregularity of the Grecian waters — rivers dry in summer. — Frequent marshes and lakes. — Subterranean course of rivers, out of land-locked basins. — Difficulty of land communication and transport in Greece. — Indentations in the line of coast — universal accessibility by sea. — Sea communication essential for the islands and colonies. — Views of the ancient philosophers on the influence of maritime habits and commerce. — Difference between the land-states and the sea-states in Greece. — Effects of the configuration of Greece upon the political relations of the inhabitants. — Effects upon their intellectual development. — Limits of Greece. — Its chief productions. — Climate — better and more healthy in ancient times than it is now. — Great difference between one part of Greece and another. — Epirots, Macedonians, etc. — Islands in the Ægean. — Greeks on the coast of Asia Minor.
CHAPTER II.
THE HELLENIC PEOPLE GENERALLY IN THE EARLY HISTORICAL TIMES.
The Hellens generally. — Barbarians — the word used as antithesis to Hellens. — Hellenic aggregate — how held together. 1. Fellowship of blood. 2. Common language. — Greek language essentially one with a variety of dialects. 3. Common religious sentiments, localities, and sacrifices. — Olympic and other sacred games. — Habit of common sacrifice an early feature of the Hellenic mind — began on a small scale. — Amphiktyonies — exclusive religious partnerships. — Their beneficial influence in creating sympathies. — What was called the Amphiktyonic Council. — Its twelve constituent members and their mutual position. — Antiquity of the Council — simplicity of the old oath. — Amphiktyonic meeting originally at Thermopylæ. — Valuable influence of these Amphiktyonies and festivals in promoting Hellenic union. — Amphiktyons had the superintendence of the temple of Delphi. — But their interference in Grecian affairs is only rare and occasional. — Many Hellenic states had no participation in it. — Temple of Delphi. — Oracles generally — habit of the Greek mind to consult them. — General analogy of manners among the Greeks. — Political sovereignty attached to each separate city — essential to the Hellenic mind. — Each city stood to the rest in an international relation. — But city government is essential — village residence is looked upon as an inferior scale of living. — Village residents — numerous in early Greece — many of them coalesced into cities. — Sparta retained its old village trim even at the height of its power. — Hellenic aggregate accepted as a primary fact — its preëxisting elements untraceable. — Ancient Pelasgians not knowable. — Historical Pelasgians — spoke a barbarous language. — Historical Leleges — barbarians in language also. — Statements of good witnesses regarding the historical Pelasgians and Leleges are to be admitted, — whether they fit the legendary Pelasgians and Leleges or not. — Alleged ante-Hellenic colonies from Phœnicia and Egypt — neither verifiable nor probable. — Most ancient Hellas — Græci.