And  after  many  centuries  the  impulses  of  growth,  revolt,
and  intelligence  culminate.  History  comes  to  a  new  climax ;
a  new  theory  of  the  nature  of  the  world,  of  human  life  and
human  experience,  is  set  forth,  a  theory  that  in  dignity  and
significance  is  worthy  to  take  its  place  alongside  the  older
theory  of  the  Middle  Ages  and  to  contend  with  that  theory
for  the  allegiance  of  the  world.  History  thus  becomes  con-
scious of  its  own  movements  and  its  own  inner  workings  in
a  new  and  deeper  sense;  it  justifies  the  restlessness  of  its
past  and  becomes  avowedly  and  intentionally  evolutionary
in  its  ideals  and  its  modes.  And  from  this  time  forward
history  may  be  studied  in  the  hope  that  the  race  will  learn,
at  least  in  some  measure,  the  processes  of  making  history,
so  that  the  future  will  be  somewhat  under  the  control  of
human  intention.
