The Great Events by Famous Historians, Vol. 1 | Page 5

than any later
account built up on this; Pliny's picture of the destruction of Pompeii,
for Pliny was there and saw the heavens rain down fire, and told of it as
no man has done since. So, too, we give a literal translation of the
earliest known code of laws, antedating those of Moses by more than a
thousand years, rather than some modern commentary on them. At
other times the same principles have led to the other extreme, and on
modern events, where there seemed no wholly satisfactory or standard
accounts, we have had them written for us by the specialists best
acquainted with the field.
As the work thus grew in hand, it became manifest that it would be, in
truth, far more than a mere story of events. With each event was
connected the man who embodied it. Often his life was handled quite
as fully as the event, and so we had biography. Lands had to be
described--geography. Peoples and customs--sociology. Laws and the
arguments concerning them--political economy. In short, our history
proved a universal cyclopædia as well.
To give it its full value, therefore, an index became obviously
necessary--and no ordinary index. Its aim must be to anticipate every
possible question with which a reader might approach the past, and
direct him to the answer. Even, it might be, he would want details more
elaborate than we give. If so, we must direct him where to find them.
Professional index-makers were therefore summoned to our help, a
complete and readable chronology was appended to each volume, and
the final volume of the series was turned over to the indexers entirely.
We believe their work will prove not the least valuable feature of the
whole. Briefly, the Index Volume contains:

1. A complete list of the Great Events of the world's history. Opposite
each event are given the date, the name of the author and standard work
from which our account is selected, and a number of references to other
works and to a short discussion of these in our Bibliography. Thus the
reader may pursue an extended course of study on each particular
event.
2. A bibliography of the best general histories of ancient, mediæval,
and modern times, and of important political, religious, and educational
movements; also a bibliography of the best historical works dealing
with each nation, and arranged under the following subdivisions: (_a_)
The general history of the nation; (_b_) special periods in its career;
(_c_) the descriptions of the people, their civilization and institutions.
On each work thus mentioned there is a critical comment with
suggestions to readers. This bibliography is designed chiefly for those
who desire to pursue more extended courses of reading, and it offers
them the experience and guidance of those who have preceded them on
their special field.
3. A classified index of famous historic characters. The names are
grouped under such headings as "Rulers, Statesmen, and Patriots,"
"Famous Women," "Military and Naval Commanders," "Philosophers
and Teachers," "Religious Leaders," etc. Under each person's name is
given a biographical chronology of his career, showing every important
event in which he played a part, together with the date of the event, and
the volume and page of this series where a full account of it may be
found. This plan provides a new and very valuable means of reading
the biography of any noted personage, one of the great advantages
being that the accounts of the various events in his life are not all in the
language of the same author, not written by a man anxious to bring out
the importance of his special hero. The writers are mainly interested in
the event, and show the hero only in his true and unexaggerated relation
to it. Under each name will also be found references to such further
authorities on the biography of the personage as may be consulted with
profit by those students and scholars who wish to pursue an exhaustive
study of his career.

4. A biographical index of the authors represented in the series. This
consists of brief sketches of the many writers whose work has been
drawn upon for the narratives of Great Events. It is intended for ready
reference, and gives only the essential facts. This index serves a double
purpose. Suppose, for instance, that a reader is familiar with the name
of John Lothrop Motley, but happens not to know whether he is still
living, whether he had other occupation than writing, or what offices he
held. This index will answer these questions. On the other hand, an
admirer of Thomas Jefferson or Theodore Roosevelt may wish to know
whether we have taken anything--and, if so, what--from their writings.
This index will answer at once.
5. A general index covering every reference in the series to