CHAPTER VI.  GEOGRAPHICAL AREA

The size of the earth—­Relation of area to life—­Area and differentiation—­The struggle for space—­National area an index of social and political development—­The Oikoumene—­The unity of the human species in relation to the earth—­Isolation and differentiation—­Monotonous race type of small area—­Wide race distribution and inner diversities—­Large area a guarantee of racial or national permanence—­Weakness of small states—­Protection of large area to primitive peoples—­Contrast of large and small areas in bio-geography—­Political domination of large areas—­Area and literature—­Small geographic base of primitive societies—­Influence of small, confined areas—­The process of territorial growth—­Historical advance from small to large areas—­Gradations in area and in development—­Preliminaries to ethnic and political expansion—­Significance of sphere of influence or activity—­Nature of expansion in new and old countries—­Relation of ethnic to political expansion—­Relation of people and state to political boundary—­Expansion of civilization—­Cultural advantages of large political area—­Politico-economic advantages—­Political area and the national horizon—­National estimates of area—­Limitations of small tribal conceptions—­Evolution of territorial policies—­Colonial expansion—­The mind of colonials.

CHAPTER VII.  GEOGRAPHICAL BOUNDARIES

The boundary zone in Nature—­Oscillating boundaries of the habitable area of the earth—­Wallace’s Line a typical boundary zone—­Boundaries as limits of expansion—­Boundary zone as index of growth or decline—­Breadth of boundary zone—­Broad frontier zones of active expansion—­Value of barrier boundaries—­The sea as the absolute boundary—­Natural boundaries as bases of ethnic and political boundaries—­Primitive waste boundaries—­Alien intrusions into border wastes—­Politico-economic significance of the waste boundary—­Common boundary districts—­Tariff free zones—­Boundary zones of mingled race elements—­Assimilation of civilization in boundary zones—­Relation of ethnic and cultural assimilation—­The border zone of assimilation in political expansion—­Tendency toward defection along political frontiers—­The spirit of colonial frontiers—­Free border states as political survivals—­Guardians of the marches—­Lawless citizens deported to political frontiers—­Drift of lawless elements to the frontiers—­Asylums beyond the border.

CHAPTER VIII.  COAST PEOPLES

The coast a zone of transition—­The inner edge—­Shifting of the inner edge—­Outer edge in original settlement—­In early navigation—­In colonization—­Inland advance of colonies—­Interpenetration of land and sea—­Ratio of shore-line to area—­Criticism of the formula—­Accessibility of coasts from hinterland—­Accessibility of coasts from the sea—­Embayed coasts—­Contrasted