The Mediterranean from very earliest epoch of a civilisation was the main highway of trade, and

The Mediterranean from very earliest epoch of a civilisation was the main highway of trade, and along its coast each kind of commercial activity has been pursued on court. Within many centuries and centuries of the nation on borders, especially those on its northern borders, were the leading nations of the world, and their empire, really, included world empire. But within last two or three centuries, and especially within the nineteenth century, commercial advantage and advantage in empire have receded from the Mediterranean. Italy, the governor of the whole ancient world, and even during modern times the governor of almost equal potentiality; Turkey, during the Middle Ages the main power both in Europe and in Asia; Spain, within two centuries in the beginning of our modern epoch the main power in Europe and the mistress of almost whole Western world also, - these countries all have decreased to positions of comparative insignificance, and one only Italy shows signs of effective regeneration. And still on a surface of the whole earth there are no earths more richly provided by the nature as a residence for the person than Italy, Turkey, and Spain.
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SPAIN: ITS TRADE AND ITS SPECIAL SHOPPING CENTERS