ORIGIN OF EUROPEAN COMMERCE. 619 



gaged, and, as an inevitable consequence, were led away from true phi- 

 losophy into sophistry and irreligion. 



It has been remarked a few pages back, that in the progress of nations 

 events follow in repeating cycles, and that for any one we may generally 

 find its precursor, and therefore its prognostic. Greece dealt with the 

 philosophy she had received from the southern people, African or Asi- 

 atic, exactly in the same manner that Europe dealt with Italian theology 

 the moment that liberty of action was permitted by the Reformation. In 

 each case the issue was not the prompt and final substitution of a sys- 

 tem correcting apparent and acknowledged defects, a system in unison 

 with the existing tone of thought. There was no such stoppage of ac- 

 tion ; but from the bosom of each principle and sect many other princi- 

 ples and sects arose, until there seemed to be no end to the subdivision. 



If thus we consider the political position of Greece, the condition of 

 Asia Minor, occupied by Persian troops, the destruction that influence of the 

 had overtaken Egypt, the excitements and calamities of a war ^mod'eraphi- 

 of half a century, we can readily understand that this was losophy. 

 not a season when the tedious and slow processes of true philosophy were 

 likely to flourish, and that it was far more conducive to imposture than 

 to science. The seeds of knowledge which had been brought from 

 Egypt shot up into a rank growth, and Europe did not free herself of 

 these weeds for sixteen centuries. The character of a long train of 

 events is often determined at its inception ; for this reason, I have dwelt 

 in detail on those times, and it is well worthy of remark that the posi- 

 tive science of the European was not fairly established until after three 

 distinct impulses from Egypt : once, as we have seen, under her Pha- 

 raohs ; again, under her Ptolemies ; and still again, under her Caliphs 

 and Sultans. 



While these events were taking place in the southeast of Europe, do- 

 mestic and foreign commerce were preparing the way for a Ori - n of Eu 

 gradual diffusion of civilization. A trade with the countries ropean coin- 

 bordering on the Baltic Sea for the amber which is found on J 

 those shores had gradually arisen, and, in like manner, another with 

 Spain, France, and England for tin. The tin of Cornwall was carried 

 through France and shipped by the Phoenicians at Marseilles, a certain 

 quantity of the same metal being also obtained from the Spanish mines. 

 Early in their history the Phoenicians had established colonies on several 

 points of the Black Sea, and from these depots they brought the various 

 products of those countries, among which may be mentioned gold, which 

 had apparently been originally derived from the washing of the Uralian 

 deposits. This Black Sea commerce seems, however, to have been event- 

 ually abandoned for the more profitable Spanish trade, and on the with- 

 drawal of the Phoenicians from the Euxine, the Greeks occupied their 



