We are able to distinguish _four
principal epochs_: 1. The age of pioneers, the ocean navigators, like
Columbus, Drake, and Magellan, and the explorers of the continent like
Smith, Champlain, LaSalle, and Fremont. 2. The period of settlements,
of colonial history, and of French and Indian wars. 3. The Revolution
and life under the Articles of Confederation till the adoption of the
Constitution. 4. Self-government under the Union and the growth and
strengthening of the federal idea. While drawing largely upon general
history for a full and detailed treatment of a few important topics in
each of these epochs, we should make a still more abundant use of the
_biographical_ and _literary_ materials furnished by each. The
concentration of school studies, with a historical series suggested by
the culture epochs as a basis, would utilize our American history,
biography, and literature in a manner scarcely dreamed of heretofore.
We shall attempt to illustrate briefly this concentration of studies
about materials selected from one of the culture epochs. Take, for
example, _the age of pioneers_ from which to select historical
subject-matter for children of the fourth and fifth grades.
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