The book is particularly rich in what the Germans have aptly styles "kulturgeschichte," as evidence such titles as "Social and Economic Conditions of the Roman Empire in the Fourth Century," "Thoughts and Ideas of the Period," "Early Christian Art." History is life and is as diverse and varied as human life itself. Not only have these writers given us a record of events, they have erected a stage whereon we see the past go on before us expressed not in statistics but in actual living personalities. As the consummation of the life described, the chapter on "Early Christian Art" closes the volume. The tone of the age was theological, the art could not be other than ecclesiastical. There is no longer a distance between Greek and Roman or between Roman and Christian art. Archaeology has filled up the gaps and made the account a continuous process. "Early Christian art is Roman art in the widest sense, purified, orientalised, and informed with a new and epical content which held as seed the possibilities of the mighty cycle of Byzantine and Medieval art." Nor does the book deal in generalities. The catacombs, sarcophagi, gems, ivories, gilt glasses, terra cotta objects, and mosaics are all dealt with fully and in order. The writer accepts the recent theory of the derivation of the basilica from the private house. "More true it is that the greater private houses had triclinia and halls which were themselves called basilicas, and it is probable that these were actually used for assemblies of Christians. It is possible, further," he adds, "that there may be some sympathetic relation retween the developed church plan and the basilica of justice (Cf. Kraus, Gesch. d. Christ. Kunst, I., pp. 272 ff.). The makeup of the volume is sumptuous and well comports with the dignity of the subject treated. The use of non-bibulous paper might while less attractive in appearance-have rendered the ample margins more available for notes. The full and carefully selected bibliographies at the close of each volume constitute by no means the least merit of the work. Scientific accuracy with clarity of statement, comprehensiveness with brevity, order and due proportion mark the volume thruout. "Nihil est in historia pura et illustri brevitate dulcius." Department of History, University of North Dakota A HISTORY OE SUMER AND AKKAD: LEONARD W. KING, M. A., F. S. A., Assistant in the Department of Egyptian and Assyrian Antiquities, British Museum. Pp. xxiii+380. 34 plates, 69 illustrations, 12 maps and plans. Stokes Company, N. Y., 1910. Price, $5. Frederick A. The author of this regal volume has already made a reputation for comprehensive knowledge, judicious criticism, and clear, convincing manner of putting results obtained. The fragments of research and discovery hitherto scattered thru the journals and magazines are here collected and set in order; tablets, statues, the stray bits of pottery are fitted into their proper niches. Inscriptions are interpreted and sculptures are made to tell their story. The wealth of the British Museum is ransacked, as are also the Imperial Ottoman Museum and those of Western Europe. To the scholar the volume is a welcome summary of a mass of journals, bulletins, and memoirs; for the student with limited resources this book is priceless; for the general reader it is not only a historical record but a fascinating story. The man whose mind is settled and lecture notes written will feel a jar. In the light of these new books, others not yet old seem puerile, so great have been the changes, tho so quietly made. It was common knowledge that the two rivers of Mesopotamia both entered the Persian Gulf which once extended about a hundred and thirty miles further north. Now we have the old channels of the Euphrates traced and we find the ancient boundaries of Sumer and Akkad much more limited than the Babylonia of later times. This twin title, Sumer and Akkad was first regularly used of the entire lower valley by the kings of Ur, c. B. C. 2400 (Ur-Engur). Especially clear is the influence of the low, level plain country on the people and the contrast of these people with the wild mountain tribes around. them. The volume affords an excellent view of the rise of city states, including Lagash, Erech, Larsa, Ur, Eridu, Sippar, Nippur, Agade, Cutha, Kish, Opis, and Babylon. The excavations of Germans, French, English, and Americans are dealt with at length, and the results then interpreted and woven into the narrative. Helpful, too, are the accompanying small maps, illustrating the several groups of mounds and the excavating of the ancient sites. It is the story of the valley from primitive culture to the supremacy of the old Babylonian monarchy. A further step is the influence of Sumerian culture on the succeeding Babylonian. The code of Hammurabi sums up Sumerian legislation and counts Urukagina's work as its forerunner. Sumerian originals underlie much of Babylonian and Assyrian literature, Sumerian cults lived on in the later temple rituals. "Sumer, in fact, was the principal source of Babylonian civilizatiton, and a study of its culture supplies a key to many subsequent developments in Western Asia." Not the least was the adoption of the Sumerian cuneiform script by the Babylonians and Assyrians, and its influence on later systems. Not the least of the changes is in the chronology. Thus Dynasty II. of early Babylon has been shown to be synchronous with Dynasties I. and III. Synchronisms are traced within the Sumerian period, and successive rulers and even houses are now believed to have been contemporaneous. Thus Shar-Ganisharri (Sargon I.) has been differentiated from Sharru-Gi and his date changed from 3800 B. C. to 2650 B. C., almost 1200 years. With due allowance for future excavations, our author sets down the first date as 3000 B. C., tho several more or less shadowy names must be counted before this. In practical agreement with this author is Meyer (Gesch. d. Altertums, I., ii., §§323, 383 A): “Die ältesten bekanntere Könige und Denkmäler von Tello Können also fruhestens um 2900-2800 v. Chr. angesetzt werden." A hint of what ancient history is yet to be, appears in the first appendix on recent explorations in Turkestan. We have thus far studied only the western half of the development of the ancient world. What ancient history is to become is still hidden in the deserts and mountains of Central Asia. A full chronological outline and an excellent map close the volume. Department of History, University of North Dakota W. N. STEARNS BEGINNER'S CIVICS FOR NORTH DAKOTA: JAMES E. BOYLE, Professor of Economics and Political Science, University of North Dakota. American Book Company, Chicago, 1911. Pp. 285. Price, $1.00.. This book is written to meet the needs of pupils in the grammar grades of our public schools. The language is simple and direct, the illustrations many and appropriate, and the subject matter wisely selected and well arranged. This subject matter is treated under four heads: (1) "Government," largely introductory, dealing for the most part with definitions, needs and kinds of government; (2) "Framework of our Government," giving the constitutions of the United States and of the State in their entirety; (3) "Workings of the Federal Government," and (4) "Workings of the State Government." These latter treat of the three coordinate branches of government under each of the two divisions. In each division is found a chapter on finances written in an instructive manner. Chapters on railroads, public health, and educatiton add interest and value, as also do the lists of references found at the close of many of the chapters. Looking at the book from a pedagogical point of view, a few features are worthy of notice; the printing of the two constitutions in the body of the work instead of at the close, as tho an afterthought, and the parallel outline that accompanies them greatly aid the pupil in gaining a clear perspective. And the apt quotations that introduce the several chapters together with the lists of searching questions that close the same add both dignity and clearness. The book maker, too, has done his part equally well. The book is printed in good sized type, on a good quality of paper, and well bound. Dr. Boyle has made a noteworthy contribution to the literature of elementary civics. N. C. McDONALD State Inspector of Graded and Rural Schools, North Dakota Commons University Notes In the course of the last two months a number of well-known men, among them Dr. Gordon of Winnipeg and Dr. Lansing of the Men and Religion Forward Movement, have spoken at noon in the great dining-hall of the Commons. This feature of University life has really added a new forum, where the members of the University body can come to know somewhat informally the men who are worth hearing. Added to the more formal addresses of the Saturday Convocation hour, the noon-time talks make an ideal opportunity to hear present-day messages. Little by little the "Round-table" idea suggested by President McVey some time ago is making headway. Two efforts to bring together those interested in special lines of work have been met with fair success. As yet the informality of a round-table is not understood; in time there will be in the center of the dining hall at noon on each day a group engaged in lively discussion, and as this becomes true the University Commons will carry out the larger functions included in the original purpose in its erection. Freshman The guiding hand of fate is supposed to rest heavily on the shoulders of freshmen, and as a consequence their conduct is not determined by reason but by because. Particularly is this said to be true of students entering the engineering courses. We are asked how can they know whether they should be sanitary engineers (let us hope they all are!), electric, mining, mechanical, civil, or engage in the many specialties in the engineering field? They should at any rate have an opportunity to look around and pass their original purpose thru thoro inspection before determining finally the field of the profession they will occupy. To this end the curriculum of the first year in all engineering courses has, by vote of the University Council, been made the same, so that after a year of preliminary work, the student is still in a position to determine what he will do without prejudice to the course he may follow. This is good; it should go farther and attempt to give the freshman engineering student a larger background of language, literature, history and social science before plung |