There is one other characteristic of modern Wales—a certain pride, not so much in what has been done, but in what is going to be done. Wales is small, though not much smaller than Palestine, or Holland, or Switzerland, and every part of it knows the other. There is a healthy rivalry between its towns and between its colleges; each town can show that it has done something for Wales in the past—by means of its industries, or school, or press. In the strong feeling of unity there is ambition to surpass, and each part lives in the light of the action of the other parts. The day is a day of incessant activity—industrial, educational, literary, and political. What is true in the life of the individual is true in the life of a nation—a day of hard work is a happy day and a day of hope. AN OUTLINE OF WELSH POLITICAL HISTORY INFLUENCES UNDER WHICH THE HISTORY OF WALES WAS FORMED 1. The nature of its rocks—Igneous, Cambrian, Silurian, Old Red Sandstone, Limestone, Coal—all belonging to the Primary Period. Its rocks (_a_) explain its scenery; (_b_) explain its wealth, the richest part of Britain in minerals. 2. The configuration of its surface. (_a_) It is isolated, its mountains being surrounded by the sea, or rising sharply from the plains. It is part of the range of mountains which runs along the whole of the west coast of Britain; but the range is broken at the mouth of the Severn and at the mouth of the Dee. (_b_) It is divided, its valleys and roads radiating in all directions. So we have in its history A. Wars of Independence. B. Civil War. THE PEOPLE WHO CAME INTO WALES 1. The Iberians—a general name for the short dark people who still form the greater part of the nations. They had stone weapons, and lived in tribes; they became subject to later invaders, but gradually became free. Their language is lost. 2. The Celts—a tall fair-haired race, speaking an Aryan tongue. It was their migration that was stopped by the rise of Rome. Four groups of mountains, four nations (Celtic and Iberian), four mediæval kingdoms, and four modern dioceses can be remembered thus: i. Snowdonia Decangi Gwynedd Bangor ii. Berwyn Ordovices Powys St Asaph iii. Plinlimmon Demetae Dyved St David’s iv. Black Mountains Silures Morgannwg Llandaff 3. The Romans. They made roads, built cities, worked mines. 50–78. The Conquest. The Silures were defeated in 50, the Decangi in 58, the Ordovices in 78. 80–200. The Settlement. Wales part of a Roman province including Chester and York. 200–450. The struggle against the new wandering nations. The introduction of Christianity. 450– The House of Cunedda represents Roman rule. 4. The English.