ther
parts of the world. A careful study of the Greek philosophy brings
clearly before us the influence of the Egyptian learning. Thus Thales,
the first of the philosophers to break away from the Grecian religion
and mythology to inquire into the natural cause of the universe, was a
student of Egyptian life and philosophy.

SUBJECTS FOR FURTHER STUDY

1. What are the evidences of civilization discovered in
Tut-Ankh-Amen's tomb?

2. Give an outline of the chief characteristics of Egyptian
civilization?

3. What caused the decline of Egyptian civilization?

4. What did Oriental civilization contribute to the subsequent welfare
of the world?

5. The influence of climate on industry in Egypt and Babylon.

6. Why did the Egyptian religion fail to improve the lot of the common
man?

7. Retarding influence of the caste system in India and Egypt.

[1] See Chapter VII.

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CHAPTER XI

BEGINNINGS OF CIVILIZATION IN AMERICA

_America Was Peopled from the Old World_.--The origin of the people of
America has been the subject of perennial controversy. Gradually,
however, as the studies of the human race and their migrations have
increased, it is pretty well established that the one stream of
migration came from Asia across a land connection along the Aleutian
Islands, which extended to Alaska. At an early period, probably from
15,000 to 20,000 years age, people of the Mongoloid type crossed into
America and gradually passed southward, some along the coast line,
others through the interior of Alaska and thence south. This stream of
migration continued down through Mexico, Central America, South
America, and even to Patagonia. It also had a reflex movement eastward
toward the great plains and the Mississippi valley. There is a
reasonable conjecture, however, that another stream of migration passed
from Europe at a time when the British Islands were joined to the
mainland, and the great ice cap made a solid bridge to Iceland,
Greenland, and possibly to Labrador. It would have been possible for
these people to have come during the third glacial period, at the close
of the Old Stone Age, or soon after in the Neolithic period. The
traditions of the people on the west coast all state their geographical
origin in the northwest. The traditions of the Indians of the Atlantic
coast trace their origins to the northeast.

The people of the west coast are mostly of the round-headed type
(brachy