DIVISION OF THE HISTORY OF THE GERMANS INTO TEN PERIODS.
_First_—From the most ancient times to the conquests of the Franks, under Clovis (A. D. 486).
_Second_—From conquests of Clovis to Charlemagne (511-768).
_Third_—Charlemagne to Henry I. (768-919).
_Fourth_—Henry I. to Rodolphus of Hapsburg. The Saxon, Swabian, and Hohenstaufen houses (919-1273).
_Fifth_—Rodolphus I. of Hapsburg to Charles V. (1273-1520).
_Sixth_—Charles V. to Peace of Westphalia (1519-1648).
_Seventh_—Peace of Westphalia to French Revolution (1648-1789).
_Eighth_—French Revolution to Peace of Paris (1789-1815).
_Ninth_—Peace of Paris to Franco-Prussian War (1815-1870-1871).
_Tenth_—From Franco-Prussian War to present time.
THE PRIMITIVE POPULATIONS OF GERMANY, THEIR ORIGIN, CUSTOMS, RELIGION, ETC.
“Germany, or Deutschland, occupies a large part of Central Europe. Speaking roughly, it now reaches from the Alps to the Baltic and the North Sea, and from the valleys of the Rhine and the Maes to the Danube as far as the March and the Mur, and to the Prosna and the Lower Niemen. The country is mountainous in the south, hilly in the center, and flat in the north, where it forms part of the great plain which takes in the whole of north-eastern Europe. The western part of this plain takes in the country between the Teutoburg Wood and the North Sea. As it passes eastward it widens till it reaches from the Erz and Riesen Mountains to the Baltic. A part of South Germany slopes toward the east, and is watered by the Danube; but the general slope of the country is toward the north. Among the rivers flowing northward are the Rhine, the Ems, the Weser, the Elbe, the Oder, and the Vistula.”—_Sime._
“Germany has varied very much in extent at different times. This is due partly to the fact that it has no clearly-marked natural boundaries on the east and west, but chiefly to the peculiarity of its position. It is the central country of Europe. Being surrounded by most of the leading nations of the Continent, the Germans have been involved, more than any other people, in the general history of Europe. Of all their neighbors, the Scandinavians are most nearly allied to the Germans. Both are branches of the Teutonic race. But the Germans are also connected, although not so closely, with the other surrounding peoples. All, if we except the Magyars or Hungarians, who are Turanians, belong to the great Aryan family.”—_Sime._