46 SKETCH OF THE LIFE AND ACHIEVEMENTS 



From these three separate points of view, 

 regarding the causes of the development 

 of physical science, Humboldt proceeded in 

 the study of its history. He considered the 

 gradually extended acquaintance with nature 

 to be the cause of the exertion of the human 

 mind ; he examined the results of the achieve- 

 ments of the ancient Greeks in this department ; 

 to him the historical events appeared sudden 

 means, in order to extend and to accelerate the 

 progress of natural philosophy, more especially 

 with reference to the condition of those peoples 

 who once inhabited the shores of the Mediter- 

 ranean. His method of profound and thorough 

 research led him to consider the voyage of 

 Colseus of Samos beyond the Pillars of Her- 

 cules ; the expedition of Alexander to India, 

 the universal conquest of the Romans, the pro- 

 pagation of Arabian culture, and, subsequently, 

 the discovery of America, &c. He perceived 

 the decided influence which these events ex- 

 ercised upon the condition of nations; and 

 here he recognized the great importance of 

 languages, which were the medium, of the inter- 

 course between the various tribes, separated 

 from each other by considerable distances. The 

 mutual comparison of these languages enabled 

 him not only to ascertain their formation, but 



