Such was the condition of the Hellenic nation during the
early portion of the historic period. The spontaneous and
almost unrestrained natural impulses of the heroic ages, under
the influence of written laws and advancing civilization, had
become crystallized into definite social and political institu-
tions, and the unrefined virtues of former years were now
regulated by the graces of cultivated thought and speech.
At the same time the wonderful instinct of expansion, that
had formed for itself a vent in the establishment of colonies
throughout the vast basin of the Mediterranean, had the
effect not of weakening, but rather of lArengthening, the
bonds of the Hellenic race. For that race, which now com-
prised about twenty millions of people, although scattered



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122 THE DAWN. OF HISTORY.
from Olympus to Kyrene, and from Marseilles to Asia Mi-
nor, although divided into many independent states of every
possible political complexion, from the narrow oligarchy of
Sparta to the liberal democracy of Athens, was neverthe-
less united by strong moral and social ties, far outweighing
in political importance the lack of political consolidation.
Herodotus reckons these ties as fourfold — ^namely, those of
common blood, of common language, of common institutions,
and of common worship.
CHAPTER VI.
LITERATUEE — SOCIAL AND EELIGIOUS B0ia)S.
