The Great Events by Famous Historians, Vol. 1 | Page 3

only is to get distorted views, to exaggerate our own
importance, to remain often in densest ignorance of the real meaning of
what we read. The ideas American school-boys get of the Revolution
are in many cases simply absurd, until they have been modified by
wider reading.
From this it becomes very evident that a good history now must be, not
a local, but a world history. The idea of such a work is not new.
Diodorus penned one two hundred years before Christ. But even then
the tale took forty books; and we have been making history rather
rapidly since Diodorus' time. Of the many who have more recently
attempted his task, few have improved upon his methods; and the best
of these works only shows upon a larger scale the same dreariness that
we have found in other masters.
Let us then be frank and admit that no one man can make a thoroughly
good world history. No one man could be possessed of the almost
infinite learning required; none could have the infinite enthusiasm to
delight equally in each separate event, to dwell on all impartially and
yet ecstatically. So once more we are forced back upon the same
conclusion. We will take what we already have. We will appeal to each
master for the event in which he did delight, the one in which we find
him at his best.
This also has been attempted before, but perhaps in a manner too
lengthy, too exact, too pedantic to be popular. The aim has been to get
in everything. Everything great or small has been narrated, and so the
real points of value have been lost in the multiplicity of lesser facts,
about which no ordinary reader cares or needs to care. After all, what
we want to know and remember are the Great Events, the ones which
have really changed and influenced humanity. How many of us do
really know about them? or even know what they are? or one-twentieth
part of them? And until we know, is it not a waste of time to pore over
the lesser happenings between?
Yet the connection between these events must somehow be shown.
They must not stand as separate, unrelated fragments. If the story of the
world is indeed one, it must be shown as one, not even broken by

arbitrary division into countries, those temporary political constructions,
often separating a single race, lines of imaginary demarcation, varying
with the centuries, invisible in earth's yesterday, sure to change if not to
perish in her to-morrow. Moreover, such a system of division
necessitates endless repetition. Each really important occurrence
influences many countries, and so is told of again and again with
monotonous iteration and extravagant waste of space.
It may, however, be fairly urged that the story should vary according to
the country for which it is designed. To our individual lives the events
happening nearest prove most important. Great though others be, their
influence diminishes with their increasing distance in space and time.
For the people of North America the story of the world should have the
part taken by America written large across the pages.
From all these lines of reasoning arose the present work, which the
National Alumni believe has solved the problem. It tells the story of the
world, tells it in the most famous words of the most famous writers,
makes of it a single, continued story, giving the results of the most
recent research. Yet all dry detail has been deliberately eliminated; the
tale runs rapidly and brightly. Whatever else may happen, the reader
shall not yawn. Only important points are dwelt on, and their relative
value is made clear.
Each volume of THE GREAT EVENTS opens with a brief survey of
the period with which it deals. The broad world movements of the time
are pointed out, their importance is emphasized, their mutual
relationship made clear. If the reader finds his interest specially roused
in one of these events, and he would learn more of it, he is aided by a
directing note, which, in each case, tells him where in the body of the
volume the subject is further treated. Turning thither he may plunge at
once into the fuller account which he desires, sure that it will be both
vivid and authoritative; in short, the best-known treatment of the
subject.
Meanwhile the general survey, being thus relieved from the necessity
of constant explanation, expansion, and digression, is enabled to flow
straight onward with its story, rapidly, simply, entertainingly. Indeed,

these opening sketches, written especially for this series, and in a
popular style, may be read on from volume to volume, forming a book
in themselves, presenting a bird's-eye view of the whole course of earth,
an ideal world history which leaves the