The many ways in which geography influences history are well
illustrated in Professor Ellen C. Semple's able and erudite Geography of the Mediterranean Region : Its Relation to Ancient History (Constable, 21s.). The American author says that the book has cost her twenty years of study and travel, and we can well believe it. Fortunately, she is not overweighted with her learning, but writes in an attractive fashion about the varied aspects of her enthralling subject. The chapters on the timber and grain trades, pleasure gardens and settlement in general are full of novel facts and suggestions. Elsewhere Miss Semple shows how and why every promontory had its temple, partly no doubt as a sea-mark as well as an
encouragement for harassed mariners. Then, again, she describes the pirate coasts, barren and indented shores whose inhabitants had to live by adventure and drew on themselves the wrath of Rome. Students of history, modern as well as ancient, will find this solid volume full of instructive comment. It is illustrated with sketch-maps.
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