THE GEOGRAPHIC BASIS OF HISTORY 363
by geographic environment, why is not Rome as great to-day as in the past ? Or why has Persia, which once shared many of the virtues of ancient Rome, now become one of the most degenerate of nations ? I do not underrate the influence which growing wealth and luxury doubtless exerted. They were due in part to the growth of commerce, and in that respect were geographic. A more potent cause, especially in the case of Rome, was the invasion of barbarians, due apparently, as various writers have suggested, to changes of climate. Another possibility, applicable particularly to Persia, is illustrated by a story told by Malcolm. An English resident in Persia fell into a discussion with a neighbor there over the native habit of lying. He insisted that lying was a sin.
" It is all very well for the English to say that," replied the Persian. " But the fact is, they cannot tell lies and we can. It is entirely a matter of climate."
" In that case, Persians ought to speak the truth," said the Englishman. " One of the ancient Greek historians declared that Persians were remarkable for telling the truth."
" That is very true," said the native. " But who does not know that the climate of a country changes entirely in two thousand years ? "
Humorous as the story is, I believe that it expresses an important truth. Dexter, in his book on " Weather Influences," has made a careful study of the influence of various meteorological conditions upon the conduct of schoolchildren, upon the occurrence of crime, and upon the number of errors made by bank clerks. His investigations were made in New York and Denver. His results confirm the
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