Outline of Universal History

Universal History, by George
Park Fisher

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Title: Outline of Universal History
Author: George Park Fisher
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Transcriber's Comment
In the original text, the author sought, "by the use of different sorts of
type, ... to introduced a considerable amount of detail without breaking
the main current of the narrative, or making it too long". In the text
below, paragraphs in the smallest type have been indented.

OUTLINES OF UNIVERSAL HISTORY
Designed as a Text-book and for Private Reading
By
George Park Fisher, D.D., LL.D. Professor in Yale University
Inscribed by the author as a token of love and thankfulness to his
daughter
C. R. F.

PREFACE.
In writing this work I have endeavored to provide a text-book suited to
more advanced pupils. My idea of such a work was, that it should
present the essential facts of history in due order, and in conformity to
the best and latest researches; that it should point out clearly the
connection of events and of successive eras with one another; that
through the interest awakened by the natural, unforced view gained of
this unity of history, and by such illustrative incidents as the brevity of
the narrative would allow to be wrought into it, the dryness of a mere
summary should be, as far as possible, relieved; and that, finally, being
a book intended for pupils and readers of all classes, it should be free
from sectarian partiality, and should limit itself to well-established
judgments and conclusions on all matters subject to party contention.
Respecting one of the points just referred to, I can say that, in
composing this work, I have myself been more than ever impressed
with the unity of history, and affected by this great and deeply moving
drama that is still advancing into a future that is hidden from view. I
can not but hope that this feeling, spontaneous and vivid in my own
mind, may communicate itself to the reader in his progress through
these pages.
The most interesting object in the study of history is, to quote Dr.
Arnold's words, "that which most nearly touches the inner life of
civilized man, namely, the vicissitudes of institutions, social, political,
and religious." But, as the same scholar adds, "a knowledge of the
external is needed before we arrive at that which is within. We want to
get a sort of frame for our picture....And thus we want to know clearly
the geographical boundaries of different countries, and their external
revolutions. This leads us in the first instance to geography and military
history, even if our ultimate object lies beyond." Something more is
aimed at in the present work than the construction of this "frame,"
without which, to be sure, a student wanders about "vaguely, like an
ignorant man in an ill-arranged museum." By the use of different sorts
of type, it has been practicable to introduce a considerable amount of
detail without breaking the main current of the narrative, or making it

too long. By means of these additional passages, and by appending lists
of books at the close of the several periods, the attempt has been made
to aid younger students in carrying forward the study of history beyond
the usual requirements of the class-room. I make no apology for the
sketches presented of the history of science, literature, art, and of moral
and material decline or improvement. Professor Seeley, in his
interesting book on The Expansion of England, is disposed to confine
history to the civil community, and to the part of human well-being
which depends on that.