Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 6.djvu/721

 REVIEWS.

The History of Colonization, from the Earliest Times to the Present Day. By HENRY C. MORRIS. Two vols. New York : The Macmillan Co., 1900. Pp. xxiv + 459 and 383.

ESPECIALLY timely is this work of Mr. Morris. Americans are now for the first time interested in the subject of colonies for themselves, and thus acquire a new interest in those of other nations. Yet this History of Colonization is not for Americans merely or for a transient purpose, but is exactly what its title indicates.

The outline history of the colonies of all nations, from those of early Egypt and Phoenicia to the recent transfer of the Spanish colonies to the United States, is clearly traced, and with sufficient fullness to make the work an almost necessary book of reference. While the bibliography at the end of the second volume shows what a vast amount has been written on various phases of colonial life, there has no work yet appeared which so well covers all the ground desired by the general reader as this one.

The book is divided into three parts. In Vol. I there are five chapters in Part I on the colonies of antiquity Egypt, Phoenicia, Car- thage, Greece, Rome and four chapters in Part II the Middle Ages dealing chiefly with colonies of the Italian city republics. To Part III modern times is devoted more than half of Vol. I and all of Vol. II twenty-eight chapters. About one-half of Part III is given to the Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, French, and minor colo- nies, and the remainder to the English colonies in all parts of the world.

Mr. Morris treats of the rise and decadence of both Portuguese and Spanish colonization so fully that no one but those making special research need look farther. His abundant footnotes and references give the reader confidence in his conclusions.

The author must have been strongly tempted to expand the relation of Cuban affairs to include the Spanish- American war. His seriousness of purpose is shown by his resisting any such temptation. A single paragraph of less than half a page refers to the interference of the United States. A few lines quoted may serve the double purpose of

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