Preface
xxi Preface during the last thirty years the great development of archæological and ethnological studies has prepared the way for a new conception of history. The old separation and mutual distrust that existed between prehistoric archæology and ancient history have disappeared, and the historian is today working hand in hand with the archæologist, while on the other hand, the anthropologist and the ethnologist are more and more developing the historical methods which were so completely neglected by the older evolutionary school. Thus we are witnessing the rise of a new science which will study man’s past, not as an inorganic mass of isolated events, but as the manifestation of the growth and mutual interaction of living cultural wholes. In the present work I have attempted to make a brief survey of the whole problem of the origins of our civilisation from the standpoint of the new methods. although these methods are still young, the labours of specialists have already provided rich materials for a cultural interpretation of history—materials which are, however, widely scattered in learned periodicals and monographs. It is unnecessary to emphasise my debt to these scholars, since my whole work is entirely dependent upon them. I must, however , acknowledge the help that I have derived from the writings of Professor Langdon, Professor Breasted, and Professor gordon Childe , as well as from such co-operative works as ebert’s Reallexikon der Vorgeschichte and The Cambridge Ancient History. I must express my thanks to the Clarendon Press and to the Trustees of the British Museum for the permission to reproduce illustrations from their publications. I am also greatly indebted to the publishers for their help in the preparation of the maps. finally, I must thank my friend Mr. e.I.Watkin for his kindness in undertaking the compilation of the index. Christopher Dawson The plates and illustrations have been omitted in this edition. ...
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