[Transcriber's note: Extensive research found no evidencethat the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
This book tells what we know of man, how he first lived, how he workedwith other men, what kinds of houses he built, what tools he made, andhow he formed a government under which to live. So we learn of theactivities of men in the past and what they have passed on to us. Inthis way we may become acquainted with the different stages in theprocess which we call civilization.
The present trend of specialization in study and research has broughtabout widely differentiated courses of study in schools and a largenumber of books devoted to special subjects. Each course of study andeach book must necessarily represent but a fragment of the subject.This method of intensified study is to be commended; indeed, it isessential to the development of scientific truth. Those persons whocan read only a limited number of books and those students who can takeonly a limited number of courses of study need books which present aconnected survey of the movement of social progress as a whole, andwhich blaze a trail through the accumulation of learning, and give anadequate perspective of human achievement.
It is hoped, then, that this book will form the basis of a course ofreading or study that will give the picture in small compass of thismost fascinating subject. If it serves its purpose well, it will bethe introduction to more special study in particular fields or periods.
That the story of this book may be always related more closely with theknowledge and experience of the individual reader, questions andproblems have been added at the conclusion of each chapter, which maybe used as subjects for{vi}discussion or topics for themes. For thosewho wish to pursue some particular phase of the subject a brief list ofbooks has been selected which may profitably be read more intensively.
F. W. B.
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The human trail. Civilization may be defined. The material evidencesof civilization are all around us. Primitive man faced an unknownworld. Civilization is expressed in a variety of ways. Mode