1. This book, while forming the second part of the author’s Story of Civilization, has been written as an independent unit, complete in itself. The next volume will probably appear in 1943 under the title of Caesar and Christ—a history of Roman civilization and of early Christianity.
2. To bring the book into smaller compass, reduced type (like this) has been used for technical or recondite material. Indented passages in reduced type are quotations.
3. The raised numbers in the text refer to the Notes at the end of the volume. Hiatuses in the numbering of the notes are due to last minute curtailments.
4. The chronological table given at the beginning of each period is designed to free the text as far as possible from minor dates and royal trivialities. All dates are B.C. unless otherwise stated or evident.
5. The maps at the beginning and the end of the book show nearly all the places referred to in the text. The glossary defines all unfamiliar foreign words used, except when these are explained where they occur. The starred titles in the bibliography may serve as a guide to further reading. The index pronounces ancient names, and gives dates of birth and death where known.
6. Greek words have been transliterated into our alphabet according to the rules formulated by the Journal of Hellenic Studies; certain inconsistencies in these rules must be forgiven as concessions to custom; e.g., Hieron, but Plato (n); Hippodameia, but Alexandr(e)ia.
7. In pronouncing Greek words not established in English usage, a should be sounded as in father, e as in neigh, i as in machine, o as in bone, u as June, y like French u or German ü, ai and ei like ai in aisle, ou as in route, c as in car, ch as in chorus, g as in go, z like dz in adze.