tomed to it.

=Classification in topical treatment=

It will be serviceable in arranging a topical treatment of any period
of history, which shall show a sense of historical continuity and keep
in mind the fundamental stimuli and causes of human action, to note
that virtually all human interests can be classified under one of the
following six heads: physical, economic, social, religious, political,
and intellectual (or cultural). Though these are never wholly isolated
and are always interactive, one or the other may be specially
significant in a given era, and thus we speak of a religious age, an
age of rationalism, or the period of the industrial revolution.

SUGGESTED TOPICAL OUTLINE OF MODERN EUROPEAN HISTORY

To apply this more specifically to modern European history, there
follows an outline of topics. It is general to about 1789, and more
detailed for the period since that time (IV below), the endeavor being
to show how a topical treatment of the development of democracy can be
made to include practically everything of significance. There are
certain cautions necessary here: that the outline is suggestive only,
that it does not pretend or aim to be complete, that specific data
often found in the sub-heads are to serve as illustrations and not as
a complete statement of sub-topics; and that it is in fact merely a
skeleton which can be extended and amplified indefinitely by
insertions.

I. Background of the modern period.
_A._ Economic and social conditions at the close of the Middle Age.
_B._ Political nature of feudalism.
The governments of the 15th century.
_C._ The medieval church.

II. The development of religious liberty.
_A._ The Reformation.
_B._ Varieties of Protestant sects, from state churches to
individualistic sects.
_C._ The Religious Wars, and toleration.

III. Absolute monarchy.
_A._ Dynastic states.
_B._ Dynastic wars and the balance of power.

IV. The development of democracy.
_A._ The dynastic feudal state (_Ancien Regime_).
1. Description of the _Ancien Regime_.
2. Proponents of the _Ancien Regime_.
Dynasties (divine right monarchs).
Feudal landlords.
Higher clergy and state churches.
The army command (younger sons of the nobility).
The schools (education for privileged classes only).
_B._ The revolutionary elements.
1. The dissatisfied feudal serf.