MODERN HISTORY EUROPE FROM CHARLEMAGNE TO THE PRESENT TIME BY WILLIS MASON WEST PROFESSOR OF HISTORY IN THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA Boston ALLYN AND BACON'S SERIES OF SCHOOL HISTORIES 12mo, half leather, numerous maps, plans, and illustrations ANCIENT HISTORY. By Willis M. West of the University of Minnesota. MODERN HISTORY. By Willis M. West. HISTORY OF ENGLAND. By Charles M. Andrews of Bryn HISTORY OF GERMANY. By Victor C. Coffin of the University of Wisconsin. In preparation. HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. By Charles K. Adams, COPYRIGHT, 1903, BY WILLIS MASON WEST. Norwood Press J. S. Cushing & Co.- Berwick & Smith Co. Norwood, Mass., U.S.A. PREFACE. My Ancient History closed with the epoch of Charlemagne. The present volume traces the interaction and development of the various forces which the ancient world had brought together and which had been partially fused in the Empire of Charlemagne. The treatment covers eleven centuries; but as much space is given to the last hundred years as to the preceding thousand, and, throughout, an unusual amount of attention is paid to the history of England. It seems fitting to offer a brief explanation for these two departures from custom. (a) For American students some knowledge of English history is essential. Much of that history, however, is meaningless or misleading, apart from its setting in the history of the continent of Europe; and, whatever be ideally desirable, many secondary schools find it impossible to devote one year to modern Europe and another to England. Therefore I have tried to combine in some measure the advantages of the two separate subjects. If the result be satisfactory, vexing problems of time and arrangement are simplified. On the other hand, as American history more and more is gaining an important place for itself in high school courses, that subject need be touched upon in a book of this kind only for illustration or where the connection of events requires it. (b) Four years ago, when I was asked to write a Modern History for high schools, I agreed to do so provided I might give half my space to the period since the beginning of the French Revolution. There was then no text-book upon any such plan, but within a few months past two excellent books have 1 This use of the term "Modern History" is discussed in § 4. |