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The¡¡Story¡¡of¡¡Mankind



by¡¡Hendrik¡¡van¡¡Loon







THE¡¡STORY¡¡OF¡¡MANKIND

BY¡¡HENDRIK¡¡VAN¡¡LOON£»¡¡PH¡£D¡£

Professor¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Social¡¡Sciences¡¡in¡¡Antioch¡¡College¡£

Author¡¡of¡¡The¡¡Fall¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Dutch¡¡Republic£»¡¡The¡¡Rise¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Dutch

Kingdom£»¡¡The¡¡Golden¡¡Book¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Dutch¡¡Navigators£»

A¡¡Short¡¡Story¡¡of¡¡Discovery£»¡¡Ancient¡¡Man¡£

















To¡¡JIMMIE

¡®¡®What¡¡is¡¡the¡¡use¡¡of¡¡a¡¡book¡¡without¡¡pictures£¿''¡¡said¡¡Alice¡£









FOREWORD



For¡¡Hansje¡¡and¡¡Willem£º





WHEN¡¡I¡¡was¡¡twelve¡¡or¡¡thirteen¡¡years¡¡old£»¡¡an¡¡uncle¡¡of

mine¡¡who¡¡gave¡¡me¡¡my¡¡love¡¡for¡¡books¡¡and¡¡pictures¡¡promised

to¡¡take¡¡me¡¡upon¡¡a¡¡memorable¡¡expedition¡£¡¡I¡¡was¡¡to¡¡go¡¡with

him¡¡to¡¡the¡¡top¡¡of¡¡the¡¡tower¡¡of¡¡Old¡¡Saint¡¡Lawrence¡¡in¡¡Rotterdam¡£



And¡¡so£»¡¡one¡¡fine¡¡day£»¡¡a¡¡sexton¡¡with¡¡a¡¡key¡¡as¡¡large¡¡as¡¡that

of¡¡Saint¡¡Peter¡¡opened¡¡a¡¡mysterious¡¡door¡£¡¡¡®¡®Ring¡¡the¡¡bell£»''

he¡¡said£»¡¡¡®¡®when¡¡you¡¡come¡¡back¡¡and¡¡want¡¡to¡¡get¡¡out£»''¡¡and¡¡with

a¡¡great¡¡grinding¡¡of¡¡rusty¡¡old¡¡hinges¡¡he¡¡separated¡¡us¡¡from¡¡the

noise¡¡of¡¡the¡¡busy¡¡street¡¡and¡¡locked¡¡us¡¡into¡¡a¡¡world¡¡of¡¡new¡¡and

strange¡¡experiences¡£



For¡¡the¡¡first¡¡time¡¡in¡¡my¡¡life¡¡I¡¡was¡¡confronted¡¡by¡¡the¡¡phenomenon

of¡¡audible¡¡silence¡£¡¡When¡¡we¡¡had¡¡climbed¡¡the¡¡first

flight¡¡of¡¡stairs£»¡¡I¡¡added¡¡another¡¡discovery¡¡to¡¡my¡¡limited

knowledge¡¡of¡¡natural¡¡phenomenathat¡¡of¡¡tangible¡¡darkness¡£¡¡A

match¡¡showed¡¡us¡¡where¡¡the¡¡upward¡¡road¡¡continued¡£¡¡We¡¡went

to¡¡the¡¡next¡¡floor¡¡and¡¡then¡¡to¡¡the¡¡next¡¡and¡¡the¡¡next¡¡until¡¡I¡¡had

lost¡¡count¡¡and¡¡then¡¡there¡¡came¡¡still¡¡another¡¡floor£»¡¡and¡¡suddenly

we¡¡had¡¡plenty¡¡of¡¡light¡£¡¡This¡¡floor¡¡was¡¡on¡¡an¡¡even¡¡height¡¡with

the¡¡roof¡¡of¡¡the¡¡church£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡was¡¡used¡¡as¡¡a¡¡storeroom¡£¡¡Covered

with¡¡many¡¡inches¡¡of¡¡dust£»¡¡there¡¡lay¡¡the¡¡abandoned¡¡symbols

of¡¡a¡¡venerable¡¡faith¡¡which¡¡had¡¡been¡¡discarded¡¡by¡¡the¡¡good

people¡¡of¡¡the¡¡city¡¡many¡¡years¡¡ago¡£¡¡That¡¡which¡¡had¡¡meant¡¡life

and¡¡death¡¡to¡¡our¡¡ancestors¡¡was¡¡here¡¡reduced¡¡to¡¡junk¡¡and¡¡rub¡­

bish¡£¡¡The¡¡industrious¡¡rat¡¡had¡¡built¡¡his¡¡nest¡¡among¡¡the¡¡carved

images¡¡and¡¡the¡¡ever¡¡watchful¡¡spider¡¡had¡¡opened¡¡up¡¡shop¡¡between

the¡¡outspread¡¡arms¡¡of¡¡a¡¡kindly¡¡saint¡£



The¡¡next¡¡floor¡¡showed¡¡us¡¡from¡¡where¡¡we¡¡had¡¡derived¡¡our

light¡£¡¡Enormous¡¡open¡¡windows¡¡with¡¡heavy¡¡iron¡¡bars¡¡made

the¡¡high¡¡and¡¡barren¡¡room¡¡the¡¡roosting¡¡place¡¡of¡¡hundreds¡¡of

pigeons¡£¡¡The¡¡wind¡¡blew¡¡through¡¡the¡¡iron¡¡bars¡¡and¡¡the¡¡air¡¡was

filled¡¡with¡¡a¡¡weird¡¡and¡¡pleasing¡¡music¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡the¡¡noise¡¡of¡¡the

town¡¡below¡¡us£»¡¡but¡¡a¡¡noise¡¡which¡¡had¡¡been¡¡purified¡¡and¡¡cleansed

by¡¡the¡¡distance¡£¡¡The¡¡rumbling¡¡of¡¡heavy¡¡carts¡¡and¡¡the¡¡clinking

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sound¡¡of¡¡the¡¡patient¡¡steam¡¡which¡¡had¡¡been¡¡set¡¡to¡¡do¡¡the¡¡work

of¡¡man¡¡in¡¡a¡¡thousand¡¡different¡¡waysthey¡¡had¡¡all¡¡been

blended¡¡into¡¡a¡¡softly¡¡rustling¡¡whisper¡¡which¡¡provided¡¡a¡¡beautiful

background¡¡for¡¡the¡¡trembling¡¡cooing¡¡of¡¡the¡¡pigeons¡£



Here¡¡the¡¡stairs¡¡came¡¡to¡¡an¡¡end¡¡and¡¡the¡¡ladders¡¡began¡£¡¡And

after¡¡the¡¡first¡¡ladder¡¡£¨a¡¡slippery¡¡old¡¡thing¡¡which¡¡made¡¡one¡¡feel

his¡¡way¡¡with¡¡a¡¡cautious¡¡foot£©¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡new¡¡and¡¡even¡¡greater

wonder£»¡¡the¡¡town¡­clock¡£¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡heart¡¡of¡¡time¡£¡¡I¡¡could¡¡hear

the¡¡heavy¡¡pulsebeats¡¡of¡¡the¡¡rapid¡¡secondsonetwothree

up¡¡to¡¡sixty¡£¡¡Then¡¡a¡¡sudden¡¡quivering¡¡noise¡¡when¡¡all¡¡the¡¡wheels

seemed¡¡to¡¡stop¡¡and¡¡another¡¡minute¡¡had¡¡been¡¡chopped¡¡off¡¡eternity¡£

Without¡¡pause¡¡it¡¡began¡¡againonetwothreeuntil

at¡¡last¡¡after¡¡a¡¡warning¡¡rumble¡¡and¡¡the¡¡scraping¡¡of¡¡many¡¡wheels

a¡¡thunderous¡¡voice£»¡¡high¡¡above¡¡us£»¡¡told¡¡the¡¡world¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was

the¡¡hour¡¡of¡¡noon¡£



On¡¡the¡¡next¡¡floor¡¡were¡¡the¡¡bells¡£¡¡The¡¡nice¡¡little¡¡bells¡¡and

their¡¡terrible¡¡sisters¡£¡¡In¡¡the¡¡centre¡¡the¡¡big¡¡bell£»¡¡which¡¡made

me¡¡turn¡¡stiff¡¡with¡¡fright¡¡when¡¡I¡¡heard¡¡it¡¡in¡¡the¡¡middle¡¡of¡¡the

night¡¡telling¡¡a¡¡story¡¡of¡¡fire¡¡or¡¡flood¡£¡¡In¡¡solitary¡¡grandeur¡¡it

seemed¡¡to¡¡reflect¡¡upon¡¡those¡¡six¡¡hundred¡¡years¡¡during¡¡which

it¡¡had¡¡shared¡¡the¡¡joys¡¡and¡¡the¡¡sorrows¡¡of¡¡the¡¡good¡¡people¡¡of

Rotterdam¡£¡¡Around¡¡it£»¡¡neatly¡¡arranged¡¡like¡¡the¡¡blue¡¡jars¡¡in

an¡¡old¡­fashioned¡¡apothecary¡¡shop£»¡¡hung¡¡the¡¡little¡¡fellows£»¡¡who

twice¡¡each¡¡week¡¡played¡¡a¡¡merry¡¡tune¡¡for¡¡the¡¡benefit¡¡of¡¡the

country¡­folk¡¡who¡¡had¡¡come¡¡to¡¡market¡¡to¡¡buy¡¡and¡¡sell¡¡and¡¡hear

what¡¡the¡¡big¡¡world¡¡had¡¡been¡¡doing¡£¡¡But¡¡in¡¡a¡¡cornerall¡¡alone

and¡¡shunned¡¡by¡¡the¡¡othersa¡¡big¡¡black¡¡bell£»¡¡silent¡¡and¡¡stern£»

the¡¡bell¡¡of¡¡death¡£



Then¡¡darkness¡¡once¡¡more¡¡and¡¡other¡¡ladders£»¡¡steeper¡¡and

even¡¡more¡¡dangerous¡¡than¡¡those¡¡we¡¡had¡¡climbed¡¡before£»¡¡and

suddenly¡¡the¡¡fresh¡¡air¡¡of¡¡the¡¡wide¡¡heavens¡£¡¡We¡¡had¡¡reached

the¡¡highest¡¡gallery¡£¡¡Above¡¡us¡¡the¡¡sky¡£¡¡Below¡¡us¡¡the¡¡city

a¡¡little¡¡toy¡­town£»¡¡where¡¡busy¡¡ants¡¡were¡¡hastily¡¡crawling¡¡hither

and¡¡thither£»¡¡each¡¡one¡¡intent¡¡upon¡¡his¡¡or¡¡her¡¡particular¡¡business£»

and¡¡beyond¡¡the¡¡jumble¡¡of¡¡stones£»¡¡the¡¡wide¡¡greenness¡¡of¡¡the

open¡¡country¡£



It¡¡was¡¡my¡¡first¡¡glimpse¡¡of¡¡the¡¡big¡¡world¡£



Since¡¡then£»¡¡whenever¡¡I¡¡have¡¡had¡¡the¡¡opportunity£»¡¡I¡¡have

gone¡¡to¡¡the¡¡top¡¡of¡¡the¡¡tower¡¡and¡¡enjoyed¡¡myself¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡hard

work£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡repaid¡¡in¡¡full¡¡the¡¡mere¡¡physical¡¡exertion¡¡of¡¡climbing

a¡¡few¡¡stairs¡£



Besides£»¡¡I¡¡knew¡¡what¡¡my¡¡reward¡¡would¡¡be¡£¡¡I¡¡would¡¡see¡¡the

land¡¡and¡¡the¡¡sky£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡would¡¡listen¡¡to¡¡the¡¡stories¡¡of¡¡my¡¡kind

friend¡¡the¡¡watchman£»¡¡who¡¡lived¡¡in¡¡a¡¡small¡¡shack£»¡¡built¡¡in¡¡a

sheltered¡¡corner¡¡of¡¡the¡¡gallery¡£¡¡He¡¡looked¡¡after¡¡the¡¡clock

and¡¡was¡¡a¡¡father¡¡to¡¡the¡¡bells£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡warned¡¡of¡¡fires£»¡¡but¡¡he

enjoyed¡¡many¡¡free¡¡hours¡¡and¡¡then¡¡he¡¡smoked¡¡a¡¡pipe¡¡and

thought¡¡his¡¡own¡¡peaceful¡¡thoughts¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡gone¡¡to¡¡school¡¡almost

fifty¡¡years¡¡before¡¡and¡¡he¡¡had¡¡rarely¡¡read¡¡a¡¡book£»¡¡but¡¡he

had¡¡lived¡¡on¡¡the¡¡top¡¡of¡¡his¡¡tower¡¡for¡¡so¡¡many¡¡years¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had

absorbed¡¡the¡¡wisdom¡¡of¡¡that¡¡wide¡¡world¡¡which¡¡surrounded¡¡him

on¡¡all¡¡sides¡£



History¡¡he¡¡knew¡¡well£»¡¡for¡¡it¡¡was¡¡a¡¡living¡¡thing¡¡with¡¡him¡£

¡®¡®There£»''¡¡he¡¡would¡¡say£»¡¡pointing¡¡to¡¡a¡¡bend¡¡of¡¡the¡¡river£»¡¡¡®¡®there£»

my¡¡boy£»¡¡do¡¡you¡¡see¡¡those¡¡trees£¿¡¡That¡¡is¡¡where¡¡the¡¡Prince¡¡of

Orange¡¡cut¡¡the¡¡dikes¡¡to¡¡drown¡¡the¡¡land¡¡and¡¡save¡¡Leyden¡£''

Or¡¡he¡¡would¡¡tell¡¡me¡¡the¡¡tale¡¡of¡¡the¡¡old¡¡Meuse£»¡¡until¡¡the¡¡broad

river¡¡ceased¡¡to¡¡be¡¡a¡¡convenient¡¡harbour¡¡and¡¡became¡¡a¡¡wonderful

highroad£»¡¡carrying¡¡the¡¡ships¡¡of¡¡De¡¡Ruyter¡¡and¡¡Tromp¡¡upon

that¡¡famous¡¡last¡¡voyage£»¡¡when¡¡they¡¡gave¡¡their¡¡lives¡¡that¡¡the

sea¡¡might¡¡be¡¡free¡¡to¡¡all¡£



Then¡¡there¡¡were¡¡the¡¡little¡¡villages£»¡¡clustering¡¡around¡¡the

protecting¡¡church¡¡which¡¡once£»¡¡many¡¡years¡¡ago£»¡¡had¡¡been¡¡the

home¡¡of¡¡their¡¡Patron¡¡Saints¡£¡¡In¡¡the¡¡distance¡¡we¡¡could¡¡see¡¡the

leaning¡¡tower¡¡of¡¡Delft¡£¡¡Within¡¡sight¡¡of¡¡its¡¡high¡¡arches£»

William¡¡the¡¡Silent¡¡had¡¡been¡¡murdered¡¡and¡¡there¡¡Grotius¡¡had

learned¡¡to¡¡construe¡¡his¡¡first¡¡Latin¡¡sentences¡£¡¡And¡¡still¡¡further

away£»¡¡the¡¡long¡¡low¡¡body¡¡of¡¡the¡¡church¡¡of¡¡Gouda£»¡¡the¡¡early¡¡home

of¡¡the¡¡man¡¡whose¡¡wit¡¡had¡¡proved¡¡mightier¡¡than¡¡the¡¡armies¡¡of

many¡¡an¡¡emperor£»¡¡the¡¡charity¡­boy¡¡whom¡¡the¡¡world¡¡came¡¡to

know¡¡as¡¡Erasmus¡£



Finally¡¡the¡¡silver¡¡line¡¡of¡¡the¡¡endless¡¡sea¡¡and¡¡as¡¡a¡¡contrast£»

immediately¡¡below¡¡us£»¡¡the¡¡patchwork¡¡of¡¡roofs¡¡and¡¡chimneys

and¡¡houses¡¡and¡¡gardens¡¡and¡¡hospitals¡¡and¡¡schools¡¡and¡¡railways£»

which¡¡we¡¡called¡¡our¡¡home¡£¡¡But¡¡the¡¡tower¡¡showed¡¡us

the¡¡old¡¡home¡¡in¡¡a¡¡new¡¡light¡£¡¡The¡¡confused¡¡commotion¡¡of¡¡the

streets¡¡and¡¡the¡¡market¡­place£»¡¡of¡¡the¡¡factories¡¡and¡¡the¡¡workshop£»

became¡¡the¡¡well¡­ordered¡¡expression¡¡of¡¡human¡¡energy

and¡¡purpose¡£¡¡Best¡¡of¡¡all£»¡¡the¡¡wide¡¡view¡¡of¡¡the¡¡glorious¡¡past£»

which¡¡surrounded¡¡us¡¡on¡¡all¡¡sides£»¡¡gave¡¡us¡¡new¡¡courage¡¡to¡¡face

the¡¡problems¡¡of¡¡the¡¡future¡¡when¡¡we¡¡had¡¡gone¡¡back¡¡to¡¡our¡¡daily

tasks¡£



History¡¡is¡¡the¡¡mighty¡¡Tower¡¡of¡¡Experience£»¡¡which¡¡Time

has¡¡built¡¡amidst¡¡the¡¡endless¡¡fields¡¡of¡¡bygone¡¡ages¡£¡¡It¡¡is¡¡no¡¡easy

task¡¡to¡¡reach¡¡the¡¡top¡¡of¡¡this¡¡ancient¡¡structure¡¡and¡¡get¡¡the¡¡benefit

of¡¡the¡¡full¡¡view¡£¡¡There¡¡is¡¡no¡¡elevator£»¡¡but¡¡young¡¡feet¡¡are

strong¡¡and¡¡it¡¡can¡¡be¡¡done¡£



Here¡¡I¡¡give¡¡you¡¡the¡¡key¡¡that¡¡will¡¡open¡¡the¡¡door¡£



When¡¡you¡¡return£»¡¡you¡¡too¡¡will¡¡understand¡¡the¡¡reason¡¡for

my¡¡enthusiasm¡£

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡HENDRIK¡¡WILLEM¡¡VAN¡¡LOON¡£







CONTENTS





1¡£¡¡¡¡THE¡¡SETTING¡¡OF¡¡THE¡¡STAGE

2¡£¡¡¡¡OUR¡¡EARLIEST¡¡ANCESTORS

3¡£¡¡¡¡PREHISTORIC¡¡MAX¡¡BEGINS¡¡TO¡¡MAKE¡¡THINGS¡¡FOR¡¡HIMSELF

4¡£¡¡¡¡THE¡¡EGYPTIANS¡¡INVENT¡¡THE¡¡ART¡¡OF¡¡WRITING¡¡AND¡¡THE¡¡RECORD

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡OF¡¡HISTORY¡¡BEGINS

5¡£¡¡¡¡THE¡¡BEGINNING¡¡OF¡¡CIVILISATION¡¡IN¡¡THE¡¡VALLEY¡¡OF¡¡THE¡¡NILE

6¡£¡¡¡¡THE¡¡RISE¡¡AND¡¡FALL¡¡OF¡¡EGYPT

7¡£¡¡¡¡MESOPOTAMIA£»¡¡THE¡¡SECOND¡¡CENTRE¡¡OF¡¡EASTERN¡¡CIVILISATION

8¡£¡¡¡¡THE¡¡SUMERIAN¡¡NAIL¡¡WRITERS£»¡¡WHOSE¡¡CLAY¡¡TABLETS¡¡TELL¡¡US

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡THE¡¡STORY¡¡OF¡¡ASSYRIA¡¡AND¡¡BABYLONIA£»¡¡THE¡¡GREAT¡¡SEMITIC

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡MELTING¡­POT

9¡£¡¡¡¡THE¡¡STORY¡¡OF¡¡MOSES£»¡¡THE¡¡LEADER¡¡OF¡¡THE¡¡JEWISH¡¡PEOPLE

10¡£¡¡THE¡¡PHOENICIANS£»¡¡WHO¡¡GAVE¡¡US¡¡OUR¡¡ALPHABET

11¡£¡¡THE¡¡INDO¡­EUROPEAN¡¡PERSIANS¡¡CONQUER¡¡THE¡¡SEMITIC¡¡AND¡¡THE

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡EGYPTIAN¡¡WORLD

12¡£¡¡THE¡¡PEOPLE¡¡OF¡¡THE¡¡AEGEAN¡¡SEA¡¡CARRIED¡¡THE¡¡CIVILISATION

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡OF¡¡OLD¡¡ASIA¡¡INTO¡¡THE¡¡WILDERNESS¡¡OF¡¡EUROPE

13¡£¡¡MEANWHILE¡¡THE¡¡INDO¡­EUROPEAN¡¡TRIBE¡¡OF¡¡THE¡¡HELLENES¡¡WAS

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡TAKING¡¡POSSESSION¡¡OF¡¡GREECE

14¡£¡¡THE¡¡GREEK¡¡CITIES¡¡THAT¡¡WERE¡¡REALLY¡¡STATES

15¡£¡¡THE¡¡GREEKS¡¡WERE¡¡THE¡¡FIRST¡¡PEOPLE¡¡TO¡¡TRY¡¡THE¡¡DIFFICULT

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡EXPERIMENT¡¡OF¡¡SELF¡­GOVERNMENT

16¡£¡¡HOW¡¡THE¡¡GREEKS¡¡LIVED

17¡£¡¡THE¡¡ORIGINS¡¡OF¡¡THE¡¡THEATRE£»¡¡THE¡¡FIRST¡¡FORM¡¡OF¡¡PUBLIC

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡AMUSEMENT

18¡£¡¡HOW¡¡THE¡¡GREEKS¡¡DEFENDED¡¡EUROPE¡¡AGAINST¡¡AN¡¡ASIATIC¡¡INVASION¡¡AND

DROVE¡¡THE¡¡PERSIANS¡¡BACK¡¡ACROSS¡¡THE¡¡AEGEAN¡¡SEA

19¡£¡¡HOW¡¡ATHENS¡¡AND¡¡SPARTA¡¡FOUGHT

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