The Legal Protection Of Woman Among The Ancient Germans PDF Download

Excerpt from The Legal Protection of Woman Among the Ancient Germans: A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculties of the Graduate Schools of Arts, Literature, and Science, in Candidacy for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Department or History) When the Roman people began to degenerate, the Germanic race emerged from obscurity, and supplied the vitality and vigor essential for the development of a new civilization. To this uncultured, youthful, and impulsive race was intrusted the task of destroying the decaying fabric of imperial Rome, and of reconstructing society on a new basis. From that time the Germanic people have played a predominant part in the history of the world. An inquiry into the characteristics, the special qualities, which have enabled them to exert a determining influence upon the destiny of mankind is therefore not one of mere curiosity or passing interest, but a prerequisite without which the history of modern civilization is a sealed book. Among the distinguishing traits of the ancient Germans which may be regarded as the basis of the great achievements of the race are their simple mode of life, untainted by the vices of a higher culture; their love of individual liberty and equality, expressed in their democratic institutions, and the all-controlling assembly of the freemen in arms; their love of war, fixed and inspired by their religious ideals; their purity and sanctity Of family-life, so striking in contrast with the immorality of Roman society. These traits, acquired during the pre historic period, constituted the endowment which was the earnest of a healthy and progressive development of the race. While all these characteristics were determining elements in the life of the people, the one relating to the home and the family was the most essential; for the family is the foundation of the social structure, an expression of its soundness or decay. The fate of a people is decided there; the future history of a race is written in its home-life.' But we may go a step farther. The center of the family is the wife and mother. On her depends largely the well-being of its members. Her influence is a vital force in shaping the character of those who are gathered within the family circle. Consequently the position assigned to woman in the family and society at large is of the highest significance. Her natural desire for order and stability is Opposed to the destructive and roving inclination of man; her refined and more sympathetic nature is the source of high ideals essential to the advancement of civilization. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.