The story told us by the evolutionist and prehistorian is full of surprises. It tells us of the failure of dominant species of animals and of promising races of men. It shows men plodding wearily through hardship and discouragement, and finding therein the road to success. The apparently dormant peoples and periods often prove in the end to have been those of most rapid advance. "The race is not to the swift nor the battle to the strong." But it enables us to plot the line of human progress by points far enough apart to allow us to distinguish between minor and temporary oscillations and fluctuations and the law of the curve. The torch is passed from people to people and from continent to continent, but never falls or goes out. There is always a "saving remnant." We have grounds for a reasonable hope, not of a millennium, but of success in struggle. The economist, sociologist, and even the historian, are lookouts on the ship; evolution and prehistory must furnish chart and compass, and tell us our port of destination. Many or most of the best thoughts in this book are borrowed. Some of these borrowings are credited to their owners in the bibliography. Of many others I can no longer remember the source. The recollection of successive classes of students in Amherst College, with whom I have discussed these topics, will always be a source of inspiration and gratitude. I owe many valuable suggestions to my colleagues in the faculty, especially to Professor F. B. Loomis. To the unfailing kindness and ability of Mr. and Miss Erb, of the Library of Columbia University; to Professor H. F. Osborn for his generous hospitality; to the staff of the Boston Public Library; to Doctor L. N. Wilson, of the Library of Clark University; most of all, to Mr. R. L. Fletcher and his assistants, of the Library of Amherst College, my debt is greater than can be expressed in any word of thanks. CONTENTS Page PREFACE vii CHAPTER I. THE COMING OF MAN 3 THE ANCESTORS OF MAN. THE PRIMATES AND ARBOREAL LIFE. THE DESCENT FROM THE TREES. PITHECANTHROPUS. THE ORIGINAL HOMELAND. HUMAN RACES AND EARLIEST MIGRATIONS. THE ARRIVAL IN EUROPE. THE GREAT ICE AGE. HEIDELBERG MAN. NEANDERTHAL AND CRO-MAGNON RACES. II. THE PERIOD OF TRANSITION. SHELL-HEAPS 36 THE RETREAT OF THE GLACIERS. DANISH SHELL-HEAPS. MUGEM. MAGELMOSE. RINNEKALNS. AZILIAN-TARDENOISIAN EPOCH OF TRANSITION. CAMPIGNY. THE FIRST IMMIGRANTS. III. LAND HABITATIONS 53 NEOLITHIC CAVE-DWELLERS. PIT-DWELLINGS AND HUTS. GROSGARTACH. FORTIFIED VILLAGES, FOREST, AND STEPPE. LOESS. IV. LAKE-DWELLINGS 69 PLATFORMS AND HOUSES. DOG, CATTLE, PIGS, SHEEP. CULTIVATED PLANTS. FRUITS, SPINNING AND WEAVING-EPOCHS.