128 F. W. Parker — Relation of Geography to History. 



From tract to tract the nomad drove his cattle in order to gain 

 sufficient nourishment, and in that life the attrition with other 

 tribes, the struggle for existence, led to a higher stage, and the 

 tilling of the soil and the building of the village began. The 

 moment a barbarian discovered the art of agriculture and re- 

 mained in one favorable place for a time, he took a long step in 

 development ; but, surrounded by wandering savages, he was at 

 a great disadvantage. He was the prey of his savage brother, 

 who burned his house and stole his cattle. This led him to 

 seek for a place of refuge, and here we see the direct relation of 

 natural fortresses, mountain fastnesses, the inclosures by deserts 

 or swamp lands, to history. Thus we have India, a great natur- 

 ally inclosed fortress, walled in by high mountains on the north, 

 easily defended by passes on the west. We have Persia, Pales- 

 tine, desert-inclosed Egypt, Greece, Italy, Spain, Great Britain, 

 Norway, Mexico and Peru. The Aryans of India, the Semites 

 of Palestine, and the mound-builders of Mexico and the Incas 

 of Peru no doubt fled from the open lands to the great structural 

 fortresses of mountain and desert. Prolonged relief from con- 

 tinued or threatened war made civilization possible. 



Again each natural fortress by its structure and climate deter- 

 mines to a great degree the special influences. The structure 

 and climate of India present a marked contrast to those of Nor- 

 way, in their influences on the same race. Egypt in its valley 

 unity, its unity of river source and silt distribution, led, we are 

 told, to monarchy and monotheism. Greece, with its mountain- 

 walled valleys, made polytheism a human necessity, and founded 

 democracy. The little strait that separates England from the 

 continent determined the peculiar civilization of Great Britain. 

 The shutting out of Russia from the practicable harbors and 

 natural seaports, hemmed in the civilization of that land. 



We have already spoken of the grassy plains. With regular 

 rains forests spring from the plains, and make it possible for 

 man to take higher steps in civilization. Wood and timber pre- 

 sented the necessity for tools ; forests were the means of both 

 protection and progress. The vigor of the early stages of the 

 Ar3^an race may be traced to the forests on the northern and 

 western slopes of Europe. 



It can be said that a shut-up condition is absolutely neces- 

 sary during one "^^hase in the evolution of a nation ; but the 

 contact of a nation with other nations by friendly intercourse 



