CONTENTS. 



of the period towards the generalisation of the views 

 of nature, both in regard to the earth and to the 

 regions of space 



Fourth Epoch. The Roman empire of the world. In- 

 fluence on cosmical views of a great political union of 

 countries. Progress of Geography through commerce 

 hy land. Pliny's physical description of the universe. 

 The rise of Christianity promotes the feeling of the 

 unity of the human race ..... 



Fifth Epoch. Invasion of the Arabians. Aptitude of this 

 portion of the Semitic race for intellectual cultivation. 

 Influence of a foreign element on the development of 

 European civilisation and culture. Attachment of 

 the Arabians to the study of nature. Extension of 

 physical geography, and advances in astronomy and 

 in the mathematical sciences . 



Vll 



Pe 



166 to 177 



178 to 200 



201 to 229 



Sixth Epoch. Oceanic discoveries. Opening of the 

 Western hemisphere. Discoveries of the Scandina- 

 vians. Columbus. Sebastian Cabot. Vasco de Gama 230 to 300 



Seventh Epoch. Celestial discoveries consequent on the 

 invention of the telescope. Progress of astronomy 

 and mathematics from Galileo and Kepler to Newton 

 and Leibnitz 



301 to 352 



Retrospective view of the epochs which have been con- 

 sidered. Wide and varied scope, and close natural 

 connection, of the scientific advances of modern times. 

 The history of the physical sciences gradually becomes 

 that of the Cosmos 



353 to 359 



NOTES . ........ i. to cuv. 



INDEX .cxxvii.tocxHi. 



%* See NOTICE in the next page. 



