nd there never has been, one jot of scientific
evidence for the existence of these intangible anthropomorphic powers
back of nature that is not susceptible of scientific challenge and
of more logical interpretation. In despite of which the superstitious
beliefs are still as firmly fixed in the minds of a large majority of
our race as they were in the mind of our prehistoric ancestor. The fact
of this baleful heritage must not be forgotten in estimating the debt of
gratitude which historic man owes to his barbaric predecessor.

II. EGYPTIAN SCIENCE

In the previous chapter we have purposely refrained from referring to
any particular tribe or race of historical man. Now, however, we are
at the beginnings of national existence, and we have to consider the
accomplishments of an individual race; or rather, perhaps, of two or
more races that occupied successively the same geographical territory.
But even now our studies must for a time remain very general; we shall
see little or nothing of the deeds of individual scientists in the
course of our study of Egyptian culture. We are still, it must be
understood, at the beginnings of history; indeed, we must first bridge
over the gap from the prehistoric before we may find ourselves fairly on
the line of march of historical science.

At the very outset we may well ask what constitutes the distinction
between prehistoric and historic epochs--a distinction which has been
constantly implied in much that we have said. The reply savors somewhat
of vagueness. It is a distinction having to do, not so much with facts
of human progress as with our interpretation of these facts. When we
speak of the dawn of history we must not be understood to imply that, at
the period in question, there was any sudden change in the intellectual
status of the human race or in the status of any individual tribe or
nation of men. What we mean is that modern knowledge has penetrated the
mists of the past for the period we term historical with something more
of clearness and precision than it has been able to bring to bear upon
yet earlier periods. New accessions of knowledge may thus shift from
time to time the bounds of the so-called historical period. The clearest
illustration of this is furnished by our interpretation of Egyptian
history. Until recently the biblical records of the Hebrew captivity or
service, together with the similar account of Josephus, furnished about
all that was known of Egyptia