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prove。 He analyses the results which follow inevitably from
certain antecedents； in order that on a recurrence of the same
crisis men may know how to act。
His object was to discover the laws of the past so as to serve as a
light to illumine the future。 We must not confuse the recognition
of the utility of history with any ideas of a didactic aim。 Two
points more in Thucydides remain for our consideration： his
treatment of the rise of Greek civilisation； and of the primitive
condition of Hellas； as well as the question how far can he be said
really to have recognised the existence of laws regulating the
complex phenomena of life。
CHAPTER III
THE investigation into the two great problems of the origin of
society and the philosophy of history occupies such an important
position in the evolution of Greek thought that； to obtain any
clear view of the workings of the critical spirit； it will be
necessary to trace at some length their rise and scientific
development as evinced not merely in the works of historians
proper； but also in the philosophical treatises of Plato and
Aristotle。 The important position which these two great thinkers
occupy in the progress of historical criticism can hardly be over…
estimated。 I do not mean merely as regards their treatment of the
Greek Bible； and Plato's endeavours to purge sacred history of its
immorality by the application of ethical canons at the time when
Aristotle was beginning to undermine the basis of miracles by his
scientific conception of law； but with reference to these two wider
questions of the rise of civil institutions and the philosophy of
history。
And first； as regards the current theories of the primitive
condition of society； there was a wide divergence of opinion in
Hellenic society； just as there is now。 For while the majority of
the orthodox public； of whom Hesiod may be taken as the
representative； looked back； as a great many of our own day still
do； to a fabulous age of innocent happiness； a BELL' ETE DELL'
AURO； where sin and death were unknown and men and women were like
Gods； the foremost men of intellect such as Aristotle and Plato；
AEschylus and many of the other poets （1） saw in primitive man 'a
few small sparks of humanity preserved on the tops of mountains
after some deluge；' 'without an idea of cities； governments or
legislation；' 'living the lives of wild beasts in sunless caves；'
'their only law being the survival of the fittest。'
And this； too； was the opinion of Thucydides； whose ARCHAEOLOGIA as
it is contains a most valuable disquisition on the early condition
of Hellas； which it will be necessary to examine at some length。
Now； as regards the means employed generally by Thucydides for the
elucidation of ancient history； I have already pointed out how
that； while acknowledging that 'it is the tendency of every poet to
exaggerate； as it is of every chronicler to seek to be attractive
at the expense of truth； he yet assumes in the thoroughly
euhemeristic way； that under the veil of myth and legend there does
yet exist a rational basis of fact discoverable by the method of
rejecting all supernatural interference as well as any
extraordinary motives influencing the actors。 It is in complete
accordance with this spirit that he appeals； for instance； to the
Homeric epithet of ＇Greek text which cannot be reproduced＇； as
applied to Corinth； as a proof of the early commercial prosperity
of that city； to the fact of the generic name HELLENES not
occurring in the ILIAD as a corroboration of his theory of the
essentially disunited character of the primitive Greek tribes； and
he argues from the line 'O'er many islands and all Argos ruled；' as
applied to Agamemnon； that his forces must have been partially
naval； 'for Agamemnon's was a continental power； and he could not
have been master of any but the adjacent islands； and these would
not be many but through the possession of a fleet。'
Anticipating in some measure the comparative method of research； he
argues from the fact of the more barbarous Greek tribes； such as
the AEtolians and Acarnanians； still carrying arms in his own day；
that this custom was the case originally over the whole country。
'The fact；' he says； 'that the people in these parts of Hellas are
still living in the old way points to a time when the same mode of
life was equally common to all。' Similarly； in another passage； he
shows how a corroboration of his theory of the respectable
character of piracy in ancient days is afforded by 'the honour with
which some of the inhabitants of the continent still regard a
successful marauder；' as well as by the fact that the question；
'Are you a pirate？' is a common feature of primitive society as
shown in the poets； and finally； after observing how the old Greek
custom of wearing belts in gymnastic contests still survived among
the more uncivilised Asiatic tribes； he observes that there are
many other points in which a likeness may be shown between the life
of the primitive Hellenes and that of the barbarians to…day。'
As regards the evidence afforded by ancient remains； while adducing
as a proof of the insecure character of early Greek society the
fact of their cities （2） being always built at some distance from
the sea； yet he is careful to warn us； and the caution ought to be
borne in mind by all archaeologists； that we have no right to
conclude from the scanty remains of any city that its legendary
greatness in primitive times was a mere exaggeration。 'We are not
justified；' he says； 'in rejecting the tradition of the magnitude
of the Trojan armament； because Mycenae and the other towns of that
age seem to us small and insignificant。 For； if Lacedaemon was to
become desolate； any antiquarian judging merely from its ruins
would be inclined to regard the tale of the Spartan hegemony as an
idle myth； for the city is a mere collection of villages after the
old fashion of Hellas； and has none of those splendid public
buildings and temples which characterise Athens； and whose remains；
in the case of the latter city； would be so marvellous as to lead
the superficial observer into an exaggerated estimate of the
Athenian power。' Nothing can be more scientific than the
archaeological canons laid down； whose truth is strikingly
illustrated to any one who has compared the waste fields of the
Eurotas plain with the lordly monuments of the Athenian acropolis。
（3）
On the other hand； Thucydides is quite conscious of the value of
the positive evidence afforded by archaeological remains。 He
appeals； for instance； to the character of the armour found in the
Delian tombs and the peculiar mode of sepulture； as corroboration
of his theory of the predominance of the Carian element among the
primitive islanders； and to the concentration of all the temples
either in the Acropolis； or in its immediate vicinity； to the name
of ＇Greek text which cannot be reproduced＇ by which it was still
known； and to the extraordinary sanctity of the spring of water
there； as proof that the primitive city was originally confined to
the citadel； and the district immediately beneath it （ii。 16）。 And
lastly； in the very opening of his history； anticipating one of the
most scientific of modern methods； he points out how in early
states of civilisation immense fertility of the soil tends to
favour the personal aggrandisement of individuals； and so to stop
the normal progress of the country through 'the rise of factions；
that endless source of ruin'； and also by the allurements it offers
to a foreign invader； to necessitate a continual change of
population； one immigration following on another。 He exemplifies
his theory by pointing to the endless political revolutions that
characterised Arcadia； Thessaly and Boeotia； the three richest
spots in Greece； as well as by the negative instance of the
undisturbed state in primitive time of