Excerpt from History of Civilization
We have tried to present a connected account of this development in the five chapters devoted to this part of the work. Although we must let this art speak for itself, yet we can not refrain from speaking of the main assertion sought to be supported in these chapters.
It has been very generally asserted that the Ayrans were Asiatic people; but of late years an opposite theory has sprung up, and is supported by some of the best scholars of the day. In brief, this theory teaches that Europe is, and always has been, the home of the Aryans; that in Europe, owing to the co-working of many causes, was first evolved the Aryan people. The literature on this subject, though rapidly growing, is at present mostly confined to foreign writers, and we have, unfortunately, been unable to examine it very extensively; yet but a very brief examination is required to show that this theory possesses many elements of strength, and we have little doubt that before many years it will be one of the accepted conclusions of science.
After having thus outlined the political development of the Aryans, we turn to consider their development in culture. In this part, we strive to make apparent the fact, that Aryan development has flowed on in an ever-widening and deepening stream. We aim to show that the general idea in regard to the so-called "Dark Ages" is not correct. There has been no retrograde movement in Aryan culture. The freshness and vivacity of Grecian culture may have disappeared, but just so does the charm of morning disappear before the pressure of mid-day. The concluding chapter of this part - Aryan Religion - is a continuation of Primitive Religion of Volume II. Regarding religion as ore of the principal factors of civilization, it is incumbent upon us to trace the development of Aryan religion. It will be seen in the sequel that here, as elsewhere the Aryans played a most important part in the world"s history.
Regarding Europe as the home of the Aryan people gives us a new insight into the nature of Aryan civilization.
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