MAN FROM THE FARTHEST PAST 
savage man, constrained by his environment, has been 
mercilessly logical. 
Regarding the effects of war upon man’s progress in 
primitive just as in 
later times, it is impos- 
sible to make any 
sweeping statement. 
Some wars have ush- 
ered in striking ad- 
vances in civilization 
on the part of one or 
even both combatants; 
for example, the con- 
quest of the Persian 
Empire by Alexander 
the Great, .and the 
spread of the Arab 
power from Spain to 
Turkestan. Others 
have resulted in deso- 
lation, the blasting of 
cultures, and the re- 
tarding of progress for 
generations, as did the 
Mongol onslaught upon 
western Asia and east- 
ern Europe. War has 
also been a valuable, 
if stern, school of social 
discipline, teaching 
loyalty, self-sacrifice, 
Fic. 36. African chief armed with shield and 
javelins and wearing plumes, necklaces, skin 5 
about the waist, and leg-rings; he stands on and cooperative effort 
the bow of his war canoe. After Frobenius 
on a large scale. As 
long as it consisted of hand-to-hand contests involving 
actively the entire adult male population of any com- 
munity, it resulted in the survival of those best fitted to 
perpetuate themselves in their offspring. The weak and 
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