Syllabus of the outlines of political history

Preface

The usual apology for making a book is that for the purpose in hand something is needed different in some wa\^ from anything already available. No other apology is offered for this Syllabus. It has taken shape in the performance of a special task under special conditions. Its existence has been vindicated by accomplishment of the work required of it. Perhaps no other vindication is necessary.

CHAPTER I. The First Great Nations

The Beginnings of History — Left by the Way — Egypt

— The Great Rulers and Their Works — Chaldea — Assyria — Media — Babylonia — Persia — Geographical Grouping — General Character of Civilization — Intellectual Development — Art — Industry and Commerce — Religion — Morals — Political Spirit — Legacy of East to West.

The Barbarian Inundation.

The Forest Children — Work and Play — The First Attack

— The Struggle — Victory — The Old Order Changeth — Giving Place to New — Reflux.

CHAPTER V. The "Western Empire Restored

The Frank — Merovingian Rule — Carolingian Snccession — Prankish Alliance with Papacy — Charlemagne — Administration — Religion and Learning — Partition and Weakness — The Empire Re-founded — Emperor and Pope — Gregory Hildebrand — Conflict and Compromise — Frederick Barbarossa — The Contest Culminates — Later History of Empire.

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CHAPTER VI. The Feudal System and Centralized Government

The Middle Ages — Feudalism a Peculiar Social System

— Also Legal — And Indirectly Political as Well — -Origin

— Extent — Good and Evil — The Central Government Gathers Strength — Aids — The Central Government Prevails — In France : General — In France : Particular

— In Spain — In England — The vSanie.

CHAPTER VII. The Renaissance

The New Spirit — Occasions and Causes — Voices from the Dark — Prophets of the New Day — The Center of the New Order — The Renaissance Italian — The Renaissance European — Literature — Art — Architecture

— Sculpture — Painting — Science and Discovery — Politics — Profit and Loss.

CHAPTER VIII. The Reformation

Serious Ouestions Inevitable — Answer Not Eas}- — Contributions Thereto — The Issue — Luther — Other Factors

— Extent of the Movement — The Darker Side — Counter-Reformation — Political Footing — The Reformation Recognized — General Results.

CHAPTER IX. The Thirty Years' War

A Half Century of Discord — Discord Deepens into Hostility— Geographical Distribution of Religion — Catholic and Protestant Claims — Verging upon Conflict — Bohemian Revolution — Judgment upon Bohemia and Frederick — Danish Intervention — Impolicy of Ferdinand — Swedish Intervention — French Intervention — Peace of Westphalia — Reaping the Whirlwind — To the Victors the Spoils.

CHAPTER X. Modern France

The Intervening Century — Two Ministers of Royalty — Age of Louis xiv — The Storm Gathers — The Storm Breaks — Constitutional Monarchy — Republic — Continued — Empire — In Statu Quo — Net Gain — A Half Century of Experiment — France Today.

Chapter XI

Geography and Ethnography — The Kingdom of Rurik — A New Line — Peter the Great — The Age of the Amazon — The First Alexander and the First Nicholas — The Last Half Century — Political Institutions — Social and Religious Background — Resume — What of the Future ?

CHAPTER XII. The German Empire

Germany Before Westphalia — The Austrian Hegemony — Beginnings of Prussia — Growth — The Great Elector — The Great King — Days Good and Evil — Prussia a French Province — Rehabilitation — German Lines Redrawn — Glimpses of Better Things — The Vision Grows Clearer — A New Center of Gravity — The Change Vindicated — North German Confederation — The Remaining Question Settled — A Race Become a Nation.

CHAPTER XIII. England Since Thirteen Hundred

The Last Three Plantagenets — The House of Lancaster — The House of York — The Wars of the Roses — The Tudor Spirit — Henry, Father and Son — The English Reformation — Elizabeth — The Stuart Programme — The Programme in Force — Check — Restoration — The Divine Right of the People — The Hanoverian Kings — George the Third — Needed Reforms — Victoria Regina — The Making of the Nation — Greater Britain — The British Empire.

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