PREFACE: This book contains the substance of a Course of Lectures delivered last year at University College, Nottingham. It deals chiefly with the three great movements that connect "Ancient" with "Modern" History; I. The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. II. The Rise and Spread of Christianity. III. The gradual Formation of the new European Nations. To these might be added, The Rise and Spread of Mohammedanism; but I treat this rather as an exciting episode than as a main part of my story....... Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900"s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.