The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-11-28

hlgnly productive section, Its greatness
and wealth sprang largely from its ad-
Vantageous position for trade between
and with the caravans. It was prac-
tically in the very highway of COM
merce, as conducted under the methods
then prevailing.
Boats Of light wood, covered with
skins, were used In the navigation of
the Euphrates and the Tigris. AS an
indication of the rudeness of the meth
DDS employed, it is recorded that, ow-
ing to the force of the currents of the
Euphrates, these craft could not be
employed in ascending the stream.
When, therefore, the descent of the
river was completed, the boats were
broken up, the wood bartered away
and the skins were packed on the
backs of asses, which carried them to
the point of departure for use in COW
ering newly created craft. Later, how
ever, the traders learned to set sails
in their boats, and the passage was
effected in either direction
1t was Nebuchadnezzar VINO gave to
Babylon its greatest era Of prosperity
But later its moral corruption led to
It's downfall. The course of the Eu-
pirates was diverted from its bed
D
G. Alexander the Great attempted a
restoration Of its commerce, but died
before completion Of his plans, and
by the beginning of the Christian era
Babylon was little more than a mass
Of ruins, and by 800 A. D. the entire
Assyrian trade had practically sunk
into a condition of decay from which
1t never revived.
THE TRADE OF EGYPT.
The character and quality of the
Egyptian trade is probably better COM
pretended than that Of any other ma
tion, because Of the frequent references
thereto found In the Bible. This peo-
pie were slow to trade beyond the bor-
ders Of their own country. Egypt SEEM
ed to shrink from outer intercourse,
notwithstanding it's great productive
ness. From 1900 B. c. to the begin
ming Of the Christian era the advance
ment OF this nation in trade was prac-
tically unbroken. Thence forward,
however, it declined abruptly until 200
A. D., when II became extinct, only to
again attain any subsequent signih-
canoe during the past fifty years of the
present century, The Nile valley Is
famous for its varied gifts OF the ma
terial for commerce, and it's future I'M
portance to trade cannot be estimat-
ed. Egyptian fabrics were the best
known among the Oriental races. The
people were Industrious, temperate,
readily amenable to laws, self-support-
ing and Of grave demeanor. They
established a system for negotiating
loans on security; they prohibited usury
and limited the rights Of creditors only
to the property Of their debtors. Not
withstanding the double seacoast of
Egypt, her people were, In ancient
times, averse to navigation, and the
country being untimbered they were
not possessed Of material of which to
create vessels. Hence the trading was
carried on chiefly by caravans. Later
however, under the stimulation afforded
by intercourse with the Phoenicians, Of
whom the wood, iron and copper neces-
sary were obtained, Egypt became pos
sessed Of a fleet of some 400 vessels, and
by this means carried on a valuable
coasting trade and even extended COM
merce as far as India In 526 B. c. the
mouths OF all rivers Of Egypt were
opened to navigation, and this fact led
to the innovation of Greeks as mer-
chants. The conquest by the Persians
next two centuries and until its con-
quest by Alexander the Great Egyp-
tian manufacturing was greatly accel-
Grated, and wealth increased manifold.
The conQueror founded the city of
Alexandria, and It's convenience as
mart for trade between the East and
the West enabled 1t to easily assume
Importance as a center of trade.
PfnipT1ov 10 COS maa ono Of ha lot
princes who paid special attention to
the development of the commerce of
his country. He created a strong navy,
established superb merchant marine
and entered into commercial treaties
with other nations; and his son Phila-
delphus caused a ship canal to be
opened connecting the Red sea with
the Nile,
Alexandria from 300 b. G. TO 700 A. D.,
occupied a commanding position, but at
the last named date It's commerce be-
came extinct, to revive again at the be-
ginning of the twelfth century, and from
that time to the present it's Importance
has been variable, with some improve
ment within the past century.
THE COMMERCE OF GREECE.
1t Is generally believed by historians
largely indebted for the quickening of
her trade inspiration, but there is an
abundance of evidence that the instinct
was native to the race. Their accom-
plishments in connection with COM
merce have reared many monuments
to the activity of the nation, and,
while 1t is historically admitted that
mo single city Of Greece ever contain
ed within itself the wealth of Carthage
or Tyre, the republic Of Athens, In its
best days, attained q prosperity never
reached even by Babylon"
Greece is seated in the Mediterran-
can, with three sides Of her shore line
bathed by the waters of that sea- It
was not unnatural, therefore, that the
proverbially restless spirit of that pee-
pie should impel them to the waves
OF the ocean. and that these should be
possessed of many attractions, especial
ly for the more adventurous. We know
regretfully, that they were disposed
too freely to sail the seas for booty
and with piratical purpose. But the
legitimate commerce of Greece, with its
resulting accumulation of great wealth.
used with intelligence combined with
the most exalted taste, made contri-
buttons to the worlds refinement and
culture In a larger degree than that
derived from any other community Of
antiquity. The Athenians made no re-
strictions upon trade, and, as a conse-
quence, their harbors were crowded
with the craft OF every trading nation.
Corn was imported from Egypt, Pal