14. G. G. Hubbard— Geographic Progress of Civilization. 
Grecians and Romans, have had their times of development, 
progress and decay. In these nations, excepting Greece, civil- 
ization was confined to the rulers and the noble families, while 
the people were sunk in the deepest degradation and without 
true civilization. . 
We turn now to modern nations, from Asia to Europe, Africa, 
and America. 
Scandinavia. 
After the fall of Rome the first revival of civilization seems to 
have come from the far north, “The land of the midnight sun.” 
A slight knowledge of the geography of Europe will show why 
Scandinavia, the home of the vikings, was the first to awake 
from the lethargy of the dark ages. -Though it lies far away in 
the northernmost part of Europe, yet the winds and waves from 
the Gulf stream bathe its shores and give it a more equable 
climate than that of New England. Whoever looks at the map 
of Norway and sees its gulfs, bays, numerous fiords, and fine 
harbors probably exceeding in number those of all the other 
countries of Europe, will see what gave her the vikings, a race 
of seamen, and why her population, when they found no room 
on their own shores, sailed for other lands and occupations. 
They early became pirates and freebooters, then founded colonies 
on the coasts of North sea, in France, on the coasts of Italy and 
Sicily, in England, the Orkney islands, Iceland, and Greenland. 
In the geographic position of their country and in their habits 
they somewhat resemble the inhabitants of Tyre and Sidon. 
Italy. 
Though Seandinavia opened a new era for commerce and for 
a time was all-powerful on the ocean, yet the northmen did 
little for the development of a higher civilization. For progress 
in the arts and sciences, we must return to the shores of the 
Mediterranean. ‘ 
Italy, situated in the middle of the Mediterranean, the penin- | 
sula of Europe which extends furthest southward, rich in its 
valleys and fine harbors, the land of the vine and fig-tree, is 
the only country which has had a renaissance. The ships of 
Venice and Genoa became the carriers of Europe, exchanging 
