228 WORLD-POWER AND EVOLUTION 



rose to temporary greatness a little after 1000 B. C. not merely 

 because David was a great leader, but because his followers were 

 energetic. A much clearer case is that of Greece. She appears 

 to have been victorious over the "barbarians" across the seas so 

 long as her climate retained the extremely stimulating quality 

 which it possessed until the time of Alexander. It must have 

 been an immense advantage to Alexander that his army was 

 invigorated by long years — yes, by generations of life in one of 

 the best environments that the world has ever known. So, too, 

 Rome overthrew Carthage at a time when the climate of North 

 Africa had become decidedly unfavorable, while that of Italy had 

 deteriorated far less. Again, in the Middle Ages Italy was domi- 

 nant during periods when the climate — or perhaps it would be 

 better to say, the weather — was highly variable, while her power 

 was usurped by more northern nations when they in turn were 

 favored with the atmospheric conditions that stimulate activity. 

 In our own day every explorer knows that in unfavorable environ- 

 ments the endurance of men from better climates is much greater 

 than that of the natives. 



In spite of these considerations it is hard to persuade one's self 

 that climate and health are really so important. Other factors, 

 such as the character of the commanders, the strategic advantages 

 of topography, and the availability of supplies certainly dominate 

 the details of most combats. The part played by health and 

 energy can be fairly estimated only from a comprehensive view 

 of decades or centuries. As I have shown in "Civilization and 

 Climate," wherever and whenever the climate is stimulating, civili- 

 zation seems to rise to a high level. The character of the civiliza- 

 tion of course varies according to the race and training of the 

 people. Yet no matter what the race, it seems under such circum- 

 stances to acquire the power to originate new ideas, to stick to 

 them until they are carried out, and to impress its rule and its 

 civilization upon the less favored people with whom it comes in 

 contact. One may of course say that it is the higher civilization, 



