3 JULY 1915, Page 31

Miletus was one of the chief commercial cities of the

Greek world. Her early history—that is, down to the time of Alexander—is investigated by Miss A. G. Dunham in her History of Miletus (Hodder and Stoughton for the University of London Press, 2s. 6d, net). She shows that Miletus was a great distributing centre, and depended for her prosperity upon her maritime carrying trade, which in its turf depended upon sea power. This she was able to maintain until her defeat by Persia in 494 B.C., after which her prosperity declined, and she was subjected in turn to tlio power of Athens, of Sparta, and of Persia. The two points which Miss Dunham chiefly emphasizes are the importance, first, of geographical position, and, secondly, of sea power, as conditions of commercial success.