Introductory

Chapter I.

NATURAL ADVANTAGES OF THE TERRITORY OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE—PHYSICAL DECAY OF THAT TERRITORY AND OF OTHER PARTS OF THE OLD WORLD—CAUSES OF THE DECAY—NEW SCHOOL OF GEOGRAPHERS—REACTION OF MAN UPON NATURE—OBSERVATION OF NATURE—COSMICAL AND GEOLOGICAL INFLUENCES—GEOGRAPHICAL INFLUENCE OF MAN—UNCERTAINTY OF OUR METEOROLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE—MECHANICAL EFFECTS PRODUCED BY MAN ON THE SURFACE OF THE EARTH—IMPORTANCE AND POSSIBILITY OF PHYSICAL RESTORATION—STABILITY OF NATURE—RESTORATION OF DISTURBED HARMONIES—DESTRUCTIVENESS OF MAN—PHYSICAL IMPROVEMENT—HUMAN AND BRUTE ACTION COMPARED—FORMS AND FORMATIONS MOST LIABLE TO PHYSICAL DEGRADATION—PHYSICAL DECAY OF NEW COUNTRIES—CORRUPT INFLUENCE OF PRIVATE CORPORATIONS, note.