The Prehistoric World: or, Vanished Races | Page 3

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"Prehistoric World: or Vanished Races" by E. A. Allen Processed by D.R. Thompson [email protected]

THE PREHISTORIC WORLD: or VANISHED RACES.
By E. A. ALLEN, Author of "The Golden Gems of Life."
Each of the following well-known Scholars reviewed one or more
Chapters
, and made valuable suggestions:
C. C. ABBOTT, M.D., Author of "Primitive Industry."
Prof. F. W. PUTNAM, Curator of Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University.
A. F. BANDELIER, Explorer for Archaeological Institute of America, author of "Archaeological Tour in Mexico."
Prof. CHARLES RAU, Curator of Archaeological Department of Smithsonian Institution.
ALEXANDER WINCHELL, LL.D., Professor of Geology and Paleontology, University of Michigan.
CYRUS THOMAS, PH.D., Of the Bureau of Ethnology.
G. F. WRIGHT, Of the United States Geological Survey, Professor in Theological Seminary, Oberlin, Ohio.

NASHVILLE: CENTRAL PUBLISHING HOUSE, 1885.
Copyright by FERGUSON, ALLEN, AND RADER, 1885.

END OF TITLE***********************

The Prehistoric World: or, Vanished Races by E. A. Allen
Processed by D.R. Thompson [email protected]

PREFACE
In this volume the author has sought to lay before the reader a description of life and times lying beyond the light of history. This is indeed an extensive subject, and calls for some explanation, both as to the general design of the work and what steps have been taken to secure correct information.
History is a word of varied import. In general, when we talk about history, we mean those accounts of past events, times, and circumstances of which we have written records. Not necessarily meaning alphabetical writing, because hieroglyphic records have furnished much true history. Hieroglyphic writing, which long preceded alphabetical writing, is itself a comparatively recent art. In no country do we find any records carrying us further back than a few thousand years before the Christian era. We have every reason to believe that the historical part of man's life on the globe is but an insignificant part of the whole. This historic period is not the same in all countries. It varies from a few centuries in our own country to a few thousands of years in Oriental lands. In no country is there a hard and fast line separating the historic period from the prehistoric. In the dim perspective of years the light gradually fades away, the mist grows thicker and thicker before us, and we at last find ourselves face to face with the unknown past.
This extensive period of time is not, however, utterly lost to us. We have simply to gather our information in some other way. Enthusiastic explorers, digging beneath the ashes of Vesuvius, have brought to light the remains of an entombed city. Of this city we indeed have historic records, but even if