5^ / PART FIRST, ANCIENT. ELEMENTS ^^ &(p-i^^4 OK ANCIENT HISTORY: ARRANGED IN CLEAR AND CONNECTED ORDER, FOR TPIE USE OF THE JUNIOR CLASSES STUDENTS. ■ ^ %v BY J. B. KIDDER, A.M.^ Classical Teacher, Neio York. NEW YORK ; PUBLISHED BY H. & S. RAYNOR, No. 7& Bowery. 1836. Entered, according to act of Congress, in the year 1836, by J. B. Kidder, in the Clerk's Office of the District Co\iit of the South- em District of New-York. ^/^^ PREFACE. The increased attention paid to the study of histo- ry, is an omen favourable to the cause of education. Parents and teachers have judged correctly in award- ing to it a high rank among the means of improving the intellectual, and moulding the moral powers. Without the least design to depreciate the many useful volumes on the subject, which have issued from the press, the author of the following pages is not without hopes, that his humble efforts may be useful in simplifying this important branch of knowledge, and extending more widely its advantages. His design has been to embody the most important events, ia clear, chronological order,so as to form in the mind of a child, on his first acquaintance with the subject, a sys- tematick outline of the whole, that when he pursues the study in larger corapends, or peruses the works of original authors, he may refer every fact to its proper place in the system, and escape the confusion which is apt to arise from so great a variety of matter as history presents. The catechetical form has been adopted, as the best calculated to include much matter in little space. It will be observed, that the answers constitute a conti- nued narrative, and make complete sense without the questions, but that the phraseology is often varied to direct the pupils attention more to the meaning than to the words by which it is conveyed. Though the work is intended for young learners, the writer has not aimed at a childish simplicity of PREFACE. Style, under a belief that plain words used in their ordinary acceptation, are equally intelligible, and more useful to such pupils, giving them a command of lan- guage, as well as a knowledge of facts. How far he has succeeded in his object, and how far the object is valuable, must be left to the impartial verdict of intelligent teachers, and to them he com- mits his little book, assured, that if it lightens their labours, or assists them in their arduous and self-de- nying duty, he shall not lose his reward. ELEMENTS OF ANCIENT fflSTORY. INTRODUCTION. Q. 1. What is History 1 A. History is an account of past events . Q. 2. How is it divided with respect to time t A. With respect to time, History is eitlier Ancient or Modern. Q. 3. What is Ancient History ? A. Ancient History extends from the creation to the time of Charlemagne about A. D. 800. All events since that period belong to Modern History. Q. 4. How long is it from the Creation to the present year 1836 .? A. About 5840 years are supposed to have elapsed since the world was created. Q. 5. How many years are included in the period of Ancient History 1 A. From the Creation to the end of Ancient His- tory are reckoned 4804 years. Q. 6. How many years from the Creation to the hirth of Christ 1 A. The Saviour appeared on earth 4004 years after its creation. 4 ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. Q. 7. How many years have since passed ? A. The Epoch from which we calculate time is the birth of Christ. According to the common reckoning, 1836 years have since passed. Q. 8. Have we reason to rely on this calcula- tion i A. Learned lax^n are generally agreed that there is a mistake of 4 years in this account, that the Saviour was born 4 years earlier or 1840 years ago, and only 4000 after the Creation. Q. 9. What is an Epoch 1 A. Any remarkable event from which time is reckoned either forward or backward, is called an epoch. Q. 10. What is an Era ? A, A long series of years calculated from any epoch is called an Era. Thus the Christian Era comprehends the period since our Saviour's com- ing. Q. 11. How is Ancient History divided as resr peats its subjects ? A. With respect to the subj ects, Ancient History is either Sacred or Profane. Q. 12. How is Sacred History distinguished fiom profane 1 A. ^ The account of God's dealings with men contained in the Bible is called Sacred History : all uninspired records belong to Profane History. Q. 13. How may ancient times he divided ? A. In order to assist the memory and render the whole subject more dear, we may consider ancient ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY, 5 times to be divided into thirteen periods ; beginning and ending with signal events. Q. 14. What are these events or epoclis 1 A. The memorable events that divide ancient times are — 1st. The Creation of the world. 2d. The Universal Deluge. 3d. The Call of Abraham. 4th. The Departure of the Israelites from . Egypt. 5th. The Building of the Temple. 6th. The Building of E-ome. 7th. The Capture of Babylon, 8th. The Battle of Arbela. 9th. The Destruction of Carthage 10th. The Birth of Christ. 11th. The Accession of Constantino. 12th. The subversion of the Roman Empire. 13th. The flight of Mahomet. 14th. The Coronation of Charlemagne. FIRST PERIOD. Q. 1. What is the extent of the First Period of ancient History 1 A. The first Period reaches from the Creation of the world to the deluge, 1656 years. Q. 2. WTience do we derive all our kriowledge of this era d 1* 6 ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. A. All our knowledge of these primitive times is derived from the first seven chapters of the book of Genesis. Q. 3. Bi/ whom was this hook composed ? A. The Book of Genesis was written by Moses under the inspiration of God. Q. 4. WTiat are the most important events that occurred during this period 1 A. The two most momentous events of this time are the Creation of the world and of Man, and the Fall of our first parents. Q. 5. What account is given of the Creation of the world 1 A. We are informed that the heavens, the earth, and all things were made by God in six days. Q. 6. Is it not wonderful that the vast frame of the universe should he created in so short a time ? A. The works of God are indeed stupendous and numberless, but when we consider that he is Al- mighty and knows all things, we shall see, it is no more wonderful that he should form the world in six days, than in any longer period. Q. 7. What is said (fthe Creation of Man ? A. Man was created on the sixth day, as the last and best of the works of God. Q. 8. How many were created ? A. Only one pair, Adam and Eve were made : from them all the human race are descended. Q. 9. Hoio was man distinguished from other animals 1 A. Man was created in the image of God, and endowed with dominion over other animals. ELEMENTS OF ANCIENT HISTORY. 7 Q. 10. In what condition did our jirst parents live ? A. Adam and. Eve were created good and happy, and were placed in an agreeable garden called Eden. Q. 11. Where was Eden situated ? A. Eden is supposed to have been near the junction of the rivers Euphrates and Tigris. Q. 12. Did tliey continue in this happy state 2 A. Our first parents lost their innocence and happiness by disobeying God ! Q. 13. "What command did they disohey ? A. As a trial of their obedience, God command- ed the first human beings, not to eat the fruit of a tree, called the tree of knowledge. They ate some of that fruit and brought on themselves and us the threatened penalty. Q. 14. What are the consequences of this sin ? A. The punishment threatened was death, but it includes all the diseases, pains, and miseries tliat we suffer, from which we should, no doubt, have been free had we persevered in obedience to God, Q. 15. What promise was made to the guilty pair ? A. God graciously promised a Saviour, who should be born of human race, and through whom they might be redeemed from the miseries of the fall. Q. 16. Who were thejirst children of Adam and Eve ? A. Cain and Abel were the first-born of mankind ; 8 ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. the former was a husbandman, the latter a shep- herd. Q. 17. Who was the first that suffered, death ? A. Abel was the first that died, being murdered by his brother Cain. Q. 18 What is there remarkable respecting the Antediluvians ? A. The most remarkable fact known of the peo- ple before the flood, is the great age, that many of them attained. Q. 19. What was the age of some of these pa- triarchs ? A. Several of the early patriarchs lived 900 years and upwards. Methuselah, the oldest that ever lived , attained the age of 969 years. Q. 20. Did knowledge and the arts flourish ? A. We are briefly told that the arts of Musick, working metals and some others were invented ; we read of no wars, and not even of government, though perhaps they existed. Q,. 21. Were the people before the flood virtuous and religious ? A. Enoch, who was born 622 years after the Creation, was a pious man : "he waited with God" and was translated to heaven without dying ; but the generality of men were extremely wicked. Q. 22. What was the consequence of this depra- vity ? A. It is said, that it grieved God that he had made man, and he revealed to Noah that he would bring a flood over the earth, to destroy the whole generation at once. ELEMENTS OF ANCIENT HISTORY. 9 Q. 23. Who was Noah? A. Noah was a righteous and pious man, and was directed by the Creator to prepare an ark or large vessel wherein himself, his family, and vari- ous kinds of animals should be preserved to re- plenish the earth with inhabitants. Q. 24. In what year did the deluge occur ? A. Agreeably to the threatening of God, the flood came and destroyed the wicked inhabitants of the Earth, 1656 years after the Creation, and 2348 before Christ. Q. 25. How long did the deluge continue ? A. The waters subsided in about a year, so that Noah and his family landed on Mount Ararat. Q. 26. Where is Mount Ararat ? A. There is a mountain in Armenia called Ara- rat, and the traditions of the neighbouring inhabitants concur with the opinions of learned men, that it is the place where the family of Noah disembarked from the ark. SECOND PERIOD. Q,. 1. What is the extent of the second Period of History. A. The second period begins with the deluge and ends at the Call of Abraham, comprehending 426 years. 10 ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. Q. 2. How many human heings survived the flood ? A. Noah and his wife, his three sons and their wives, being eight in all, remained after the gene- ral destruction, and became the ancestors of the present population of the world. Q. 3. Where was the residence of Noah ? A. It is supposed that Noah and his family re- sided for some time in the vicinity of Ararat. Q,. 4. JVhat were the names of Noah'^s sons ? A. Noah's sons were named Shem, Ham and Japhet. Their names are always mentioned in this order though Japhet was the eldest. Q. 5. What were their characters 1 A. Shem and Japhet are mentioned favourably, but Ham represented as wicked. Q. 6. What were the countries peopled hy each ? A. The most of the inhabitants of Asia are de- scendants of Shem, the Africans of Ham, and the European race of Japhet. Q. 7. What caused the dispersion of men into various regions ? A. Men attempted to build a tower that should reach to heaven, but God to punish and disperse them, confounded their language. Q,. 8. How did the confusion of tongues disperse mankind •? A. Men being no longer able to understand each other, voluntarily separated and thus founded dif- ferent nations. Q. Was true religion long preserved among men in general ? Elements of ancient history. 11 A, In the course of a few generations, almost all men forsook the true God and invented different forms of false religion. Q,. 10. What was tlie state of Society at fhis time f A. We have reason to believe that men still attained a great age and lived a pastoral life. Q. 11. W^as government yet introduced ? A. We have authentick information of the founding of several States in those early times. Q,. 12. Whatwas the Jirstjbrmqf government? A. The earliest government tvas doubtless the patriarchal, a species of monarchy, in which the lather of a family, or the head of a tribe, exercised authority over his children, servants and depend- ants. Q. 13. When do we first hear of royalty 1 A. Nimrod the grandson of Ham was the first king, and reigned at Babel or Babylon, already fa- mous for the confusion of tongues. Q,. 14. Wit7i what other city was Babylon united 1 A. Babylon was united with Nineveh which Had been already founded by Ashur* the son of Shem. Q. 15. By what name was this government calh td? * Note. Others translate Genesis X. 11. thils: "Out of that land he [Nimrod] went forth to Assyria and builded Nineveh &.C." 12 ELEMENTS OF ANCIENT HISTOHY. A. This was the foundation of the Assyrian sometimes called the first universal empire^ Q. 16. Who succeeded Nimrod ? A. Ninus succeeded his father Nimrody and reigned at Nineveh. He was followed by his wife Semiramis, an active and able princess. Q. 17. JVho loas the next monarcli 1 A. To Semiramis succeeded her son Ninyas, an inactive and effeminate prince, who shut himself up in his palace, devoted only to pleasure^asdid his successors for thirty generations, till the dissolution of the empire. Q,. 18. WTiat other hingdoms were founded ? A. Egypt was formed into a monarchy by Me- nes, supposed to be Mizraim, the son of Ham. The Chinese ]£mpire is also supposed to have been founded at this early period. Q. 19. How was true religion preserved ? A. To preserve the true religion and separate a people for himself, God called Abraham from Chaldea, into Canaan, which he promised to give him and his posterity. Q. 20. Who was Abraham ? A. Abraham was the tenth in descent from Shem, and became die ancestor of the Israelites or He brews. ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. 13 THIRD PERIOD. Q. 1. How long is this period ? A. The third period extends from the Call of Abraham to the departure of the Israelites from Egypt, 430 years. Q. 2. When did the call of Abraham occur ? A. It is thought by learned men that God's call of Abraham took place 427 years after the deluge or 1921 before the Saviour's birth. Q. 3. What promise was made to Ahraham ? A. Grod, when he commanded Abraham to de- part from his country, promised to make his pos- terity numerous as the stars, though at an advanc- ed age he had no child. Q,. 4. Was there not another promise more ex- cellent 1 A. The Creator also renewed the promise of a Saviour to Abraham, and declared that he should be born of his posterity. Q,. 5. What was the character of Abraham ? A. From his piety and steady adherence to the worship of God, Abraham was called the " Friend of God" and " Father of the faithful." Q. 6. Were the divine promises fulfilled ? A. After waiting in faith, till he was 100 years old, a son was born whom he called Isaac. Isaac was the father of Jacob. Jacob had twelve sons, from whom descended the twelve tribes of Israel. The Jews still remain a living proof of the fulfil- li ELEMENTS OF ANCIENT HISTORY, ment of the first promise. The second was also fulfilled in the birth of Jesus Christ. Q,. 7. What were the names of the twelve sons qf Jacob 1 A. Jacob's twelve sons were Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebuion, Joseph and Benjamin. Q,. 8. What is there remarkable concerning Jo- seph 1 A. Joseph was the favourite of his father, and his elder brothers, envious of this partiality, first conspired to murder him, but at length sold him for a slave to be carried into Egypt. Q. 9. What befell Joseph in Egypt 1 A. In a few years, the providence of God rais-- ed Joseph from slavery to the office of Governor of Egypt. Q. 10. What at length ensued ? A. Famine compelled his brothers with other strangers to go into Egypt to buy food ; for which they applied to Joseph without knowing who he was. Q. 11. J)id Joseph punish or forgive them ? A. Joseph, finding his brothers penitent for their crime towards him, forgave them, made him- self known to them and invited his father with his whole family to reside in Egypt. Q,. 12. What were the consequences qf this mi- gration ^ A. The Hebrews, or Israelites became very nu- merous in Egypt, and after the death of Joseph they were grievously oppressed and enslaved by ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. 15 the Egyptians. At length the Lord raised up Moses to be their deliverer from bondage and to lead them into the promised land. Q,. 13. What other nations deserve notice at this early period 1 A. Egypt seems at this period to have been the most flourishing and civilized nation. Of Babylon and Nineveh the scriptures say nothing, unless by the " King of Shinar," be meant the King of the former. Q,. 14. WJiat is the first authentich account of warl A. Almost in the commencement of this period, the king of Elam (afterward Persia) made war upon Sodom, Gomorrah and the neighbouring places, and plundered them, but Abraham armed his servants and pursued after them and recovered their booty. Q,. 15. What was the fate of Sodom, &c. ? A. On account of their extreme wickedness God punished Sodom and the neighbouring cities by a special interference of his providence, and utterly destroyed them by fire and brimstone from heaven. The Dead Sea stands on their desolated site. Q. 11. Does profane history commence in this period 2 A. We learn from profane History only that several states and cities of Greece were founded during this time. — Argos was founded by Inachus a Phoe- nician 1856, B. C. 16 ELEMENTS OF ANCIENT HISTORY. Athens by Cecrops an Egyptian, 1556, B. C. Sparta by Lelex 1516, Thebes by Cadmus a Phoenician, 1519. Q,. 17. W7iat else remarkable is ascribed to Cadmus 7 A. Cadmus is also said to have brought letters into Greece from Phoenicia. Q. 18. Who were the Pkcenicians ? A. The Phoenicians, called in Scripture Canaan- Ites, were descendants of Ham, and inhabited Syria and Judea. FOURTH PERIOD. Q. 1. What is the extent of this Period ? A. The fourth period begins with the deliver- ance of the Israelites, and ends at the Building of the temple at Jerusalem. 487 years. Q,. 2. When occurred the liberation of the Is' raelites ? A. The Israelites left Egypt 1491 years before Christ. Q. 3. Who was Moses ? A. Moses was an Israelite of the tribe of Levi, who in infancy was exposed on the banks of the Nile in obedience to the cruel order of the king ; but was preserved, educated and adopted by a daughter of the tyrant. ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. 17 Q. 4. Was he actuated hy amhitious motives ? A. When 40 years old he became an exile in Midian, where he spent 40 years more. While acting as a shepherd, the Lord revealed himself to him, and sent him to deliver his chosen people from their bondage. Q,. 5. Hoiv was tJiis deliverance accomplisTied ? A. Pharaoh the king, being unwilling to let the people depart, God, by means of Moses, inflicted on the Egyptians ten miraculous plagues, and at length divided the Red Sea, so that they march- ed across its bed, from Egypt into the desert of Arabia. Q. 6. What occurred on Mount Sinai ? A. On Mount Sinai, Jehovah appeared in awful majesty, and delivered to the Hebrews, laws for their guidance. Q. 7. Hotv many were these laws ? A. The laws given by God to Israel were three j viz. 1st. the Moral law of ten commandments ; 2d. The Ceremonial law of religious observances; 3d. A civil law for their government as a nation. Q. 8. What was the character of those delivered from slavery 7 A. The people in general, showed themselves degraded, perverse and rebellious. Q. 9. How were they punished for their crimes t A. To punish them, God detained them 40 years in the desert till all the men that came out of Egypt but two, had died. These were Joshua and Caleb. Moses and his brother Aaron, the High Priest, were not exempted from the sentence. . 2* IS ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. Q,. 10. ffoiv were the people fed in the sandy desert ? A. During the 40 years, God miraculously fed the people with manna and supplied them with water from a rock. He also preserved their cloth- ing from decay. Q. 11. When did Moses die 1 A. Moses died just before the expiration of the 40 years, in sight of th€ promised land, not being permitted to enter it. His age was 120 years. Q. 12. Who was M.oses' successor 1 A. Joshua was appointed by God, to conduct his people into Canaan, which he accomplished, after almost extirpating the inhabitants. Q,. 13. What govemmentwas established among the Israelites ? A. For 356 years, the government was a Theo- cracy, administered by the priests and the heads of tribes, and occasionally by officers appointed by God and called Judges. Q,. 14. What change then occurred 1 A. The Israelites desired to be like their neigh- bours, who were governed by kings. This dis- pleased God, though he granted their request. Q. 15. Who was appointed king ? A. At first Saul, of the tribe of Benjamin was made king but was soon deposed for disobedience, and David, of the tribe of Judah, set up in his room. Q,. 16. How did David govern the nation ? A. David was eminent for warlike abilities, ancJ" ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. 19 during a long reign, he enriched and enlarged his dominions. Q. 17. Wlmt was Ms character ? A. David was also eminent for piety, being ■styled, " The man after God's own heart;" and he received a promise that the royalty should con- tinue in his family, and that from him Christ should descend. Q. 18. WJio was David's succcessor ? A. After a prosperous reign, David left the kingdom, to his son Solomon, celebrated for wis- dom and wealth ; also for having built a magnifi- cent temple at Jerusalem, for the performance of the sacrifices of their worship. Q,. 19. What is the nature of the profane history of this time ? A. This period is called the heroick age, and its history is obscure and encumbered with fables. Q. 20. Can 910 reliance he placed on its state^ ments ? A. There are several events, celebrated in poetry that may be relied on as facts. Among these, are the Argonautiek Expedition ; the Trojan war, and the migration of ^neas to Italy. Q. 21. What was the Argonautiek Expedi^ tion ? A. The Argonautiek Expedition was a voyage from Greece to Colchis, on the Euxine Sea. Its commander was Jason and its object was " The Golden Fleece," by which is understood the rich commerce of that region, Q,. 22. What was the Trojan war ? ^0 ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. A. The Trojan war was the subject of the Iliad ofHomer. Troy, a large city of Lesser Asia, was attacked by the united forces of Greece, of which the princes were Agamemnon, Achilles, Ulysses and others. Q. 23. W7iat was tJie event ? A. The Trojans, led on by the valiant Hector, withstood all the Grecian power for ten years, but at length their city was taken by stratagem and. de- stroyed. ,Q. 24. WTio was Mneas 7 A. JEneas was a Trojan, whose migration to and settlement in Italy form the subject of Virgil's iEneid. It was a tradition among the Romans that he was the ancestor of their founder and that they were of Trojan origin. Q^ 25. Is there no notice of the eastern king do7ns at this timel A. Of Assyria there is nothing known, of Egypt nothing certain except so far as connected with the Hebraws. Q,. 26, When do we first hear of writing ? A. The first notice of writing, on which we can place perfect reliance, is that of the two tables of the law, written by God himself. Q. 27. What are the oldest hooks ? A. The first five books of the bible universally ascribed to Moses, are the most ancient books ex- tant, and probably the first ever composed. Q. 28. Are there no other hooks of this age re- maming 1 A. Several other books of the bible were com- ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. 21 posed, during this time,by tlie prophets and David ; but no other authentick compositions are so an- cient. FIFTH PERIOD. Q. 1. What is the extent of the Fifth perM 7 A. The fifth period extends from the building of Solomon's temple 1004 B. C. to the founda- tion of Rome 752 B. C. including 252 years. Q. 2. What was the character of Solomon 2 A, The early part of the life of Solomon was remarkable for wisdom and piety, but in his old age he fell into idolatry. Q. 3. How was hepunished for this sin ? A, To punish him and the people, God took from his son Rehoboam, ten of, the twelve tribes which constituted his kingdom. Q. 4. What new kingdom was founded ? A. Jeroboam of the tribe of Ephraim formed the ten tribes that revolted from Rehoboam into the independent kingdom of Israel. The family of David thenceforth reigned only over the Jews, or the tribe of Judah, ^o which that of Benjamin ad- hered. Q. 5. What is known of the kingdom of Israel t A, The kings of Israel were universally wicked idolaters who exercised tyrannical power over this 22 EI/EMEKFTS OF ANCIENT IM§TQRr. ' unhappy country, till a kttle after tlie close of this period when it was conquered by the kings of As- syria, and the inhabitants carried into captivity^ from which they never have returned. Q,. 6. What was the character of the Jewish hings ? A. Some of the princes of the house of David' were pious and religious; others wicked and idolatrous. The people led by the example of the latter into crime, often subjected themselves to punishment. Q,. 7. What celebrated poems were composed €£hout this time ? A. About 900 years B. C. were composed, the Iliad and Odyssey, by Homer, the blind poet of^ Greece. These works have ever since been es- teemed models of taste. Hesiod also wrote about this time. Q. 8. What may be said of the profane historp of this period t A. Profane History, at this time begins to at** tain a degree of certainty. Q. 9. What distinguished lawgiver flourished m Greece? A. About 884 B, C. Lyeurgus introduced hi^ celebrated system of laws at Sparta. Q,. ID. What was the nature of the Spartuw €ode? A. The laws of Lyeurgus were calculated' to- form a nation of warriours, and they gave that Republick the ascendancy in Greece for many years. ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. 23 Q,. 11. What Republich was founded in Afri- ca? A. About 869 B. C. the commercial city of Carthage was founded in the north of Africa, by Queen Dido and a colony of Phoenicians from Tyre. Q,. 12. WTiat is known of Egypt ? A. Of Egypt little is recorded. Sheshak, king of that country took and plundered Jerusalem, in the reign of E-ehoboam, son of Solomon. Q. 13. Is this king mentioned by profane his- torians 1 A. Profane history describes a famous conquer- or named Sesostris, whom some suppose to be the same as Sheshak ; others place Sesostris much earlier, 1722 B. C. Q,. 14. What other kingdom flourished in the west of Asia 1 A. The kingdom of Syria, of which the capital was Damascus, now became a formidable power. Q. 15. What is known of Assyria at this time ? A. Towards the close of this period, the Old Assyrian Empire came to its end under Sardana- palus, its last king. 0,. 16. What was his character ? A. Sardanapalus was weak and eifeminate ; in consequence a conspiracy and revolt arose, which divided the Empire into three large monarchies, the New Assyrian, the Babylonian, and the Me- dian. Q. 17. What was the fate of the king himself? A. Sardanapalus, besieged by the conspirators •^^ ELEMENTS OP ANCii..vr HISTORY. set fire to his palace and burnt himself and his treasures together. Q,. 18. What kingdom was founded in Greece? A. The kingdom of Macedonia was founded 795. B. C. by Caranus, who was ancestor of Alexander the Great. Q. 19. With what Epoch docs this period close 1 A. This period comes to an end with the found- ation of Rome, afterward metropolis of the world. It was built by Romulus and Remus, 752. B. C SIXTH PERIOD. Q. 1. How far does this period extend 1 A. The sixth period reaches from the found- ation of Rome 752, to the capture of Babylon, 538 B. C. including 214 years. Q. 2. What form of government loas first es- tablished at Rome 1 A. During all this period, Rome was governed by kings assisted by the counsels of a senate. Q. 3. How many kings reigned, there 'I A. Seveji kings succeeded each other in the following order : Romulus 37 years ; Numa 43 ; Tullus 32 ; Ancus 24 ; Tarquin the First 38 ; Servius Tullius 44. Tarquin the Second began to reign about the close of this time. ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. 25 Q. 4. What was the condition of tJie Roman 2>ow€r 1 A. Rome was a small, poor and rude, but war- like state, occupying only an inconsiderable part of Italy, and engaged in continual quarrels with the neighbouring tribes. ■Q,. 5. Wliat luas the condition of Greece ? A. Greece was divided into many small states but was flourishing in arts and arms, and its insti" tutions became gradually more free. Q,. 6. What loars occurred in Greece ? A. Three desperate wars occurred between the Spartans and Messenians, the latter were at length vanquished and reduced to slavery. Q. 7. What celebrated lawgiver flourished in this period ? A, At Athens, the famous Solon enacted a system of laws for the government of that repub- lick. Q. 8, What form of government prevailed at Athens 1 A. Athens was at first a monarchy, but was afterward governed by magistrates called ar- ehons, chosen, at first for ten years, finally for one year. Q. 9. Wliat ivas the condition of Judah and Israel 2 A. At the beginning of this time Jotham was king of Judah and Pekah of Israel. The latter kingdom was destroyed a few years after and the inhabitants carried captive by Shalmaneser king of Assyria. 3 26 ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. Q. 10. Wliai enemy invaded Judah ? A. The kingdom of Judah was invaded by its powerful neighbour Sennacherib, king of Assy- ria. Q. 11. How were they defended 1 A. Hezekiah, the pious king had recourse to God for protection. Accordingly an angel des- troyed in one night, 185,000 men in the Assyrian camp, and compelled their proud monarch to return home in disgrace. Q, 12. Did tlie Jewish kingdom long subsist ? A. At length, about, 600 B. C. the Jews for being guilty of idolatry were punished by the sub- version of their state. Q. 13. Hoto was this effected ? A. Nebuchadnezzar, the powerful king of Ba- bylon invaded and took the kingdom, demolished Jerusalem and carried the people captive to his own country. Q. 14. How long did the captivity continue ? A.. The Lord had foretold by the prophet Jere- miah that this captivity should last seventy years, accordingly at the expiration of that period, Cyrus having overturned the Babylonian kingdom, gave the Jews permission to return to their own country, 536, B. C. Q,. 15. What isknoivn of the Assyrian kingdom at Nineveh 1 A. Of the New Assyrian Empire, profane his- tory is entirely silent, but several kings are men- tioned in the scriptures, and for half this period, it ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. 27 seems to have been the most powerful kingdom of the east. Q,. 16. Who were these kings ? A. Tiglathpilezer reigned at the beginning of this period, after him Shalmaneser, Esarhaddon and Sennacherib, all mentioned as invaders of Judah or Israel. Q. 17. For what is Shalmaneser famous 1 A. Shalmaneser conquered and made captive the kingdoms of Syria and Israel. Q. 18. For what is Sennachcrih notorious ? ' A. Sennacherib is famous for presumptuously blaspheming the true God and attacking his peo- ple. For this impiety he met the signal overthrow already mentioned. Q. 19. Is nothing more known of Nineveh ? A. This event seems to have been fatal to the greatness of that city, but soon after we find Ba- bylon at the head of a powerful monarchy called the Assyrian. Q. 20. Were the Assyrian and 'Babylonian em- fires the same ? A. At the beginning of this period Babylon was independent for 70 years : it was then subjected to the king of Nineveh. Q. 21. What at length occurred 7 A. Nabopolassar, governor of Babylon, rebel- led against Sarac, the last king of Nineveh, van- quished him, and made Babylon the capital of the empire. Q. 22- WTio was the most celebrated kins of Babylon / 28 ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. A. The monarcli who raised Babylonto its high- est glory was Nebuchadnezzar, the conqueror of Judea, Tyre, Egypt, and other surrounding na- tions. Q,. 23. What was the extent of Babylon 7 A. Babylon was fifteen miles square, surround- ed by walls 350 feet high, made of bricks cement- ed with bitumen. These walls are reckoned one of the seven wonders of the world. Q. 24. What was the character of Nehuchad- nezza7' ? A. Nebuchadnezzar was warlike and prudent, but imperious and proud. For his vain glory he was punished by the loss of reason, and was driven from the society of men till he acknowledged his dependance upon the Lord. Q. 25. How was he made acquainted with the true God 1 A. There was in captivity at Babylon, a Jew, named Daniel, a prophet, who gave the king the knowledge of Jehovah, and foretold events rela- ting to the kingdom : he was also placed in a high station in the government of the realm. Q. 26. Whatwasthecharacter of the succeeding kings of Babylon 7 A. The successors of Nebuchadnezzar were weak, effeminate and wicked. Q. 27. Who was the last Icing ? A. Belshazzar, supposed to have been the grandson of Nebuchadnezzar, by his impiety, subjected himself to the vengeance of God who brought on him the victorious arms of Cyrus. ELEMENTS OF ANCIENT HISTORY. 2D Q. 28. Who was Cyrus ? A, Cyrus was the son of Cambyses, king of Persia and Mandane daughter of the king of Me- dia. Q,. 29. What was the condAtion of these coun^ tries ? A. Media was a powerful kingdom ; Persia, was at that time tributary to Astyages king of Media. Q. 30. What conquests did Cyrus 'previously make ? A. Cyrus was a consummate general and led the forces of his grandfather Astyages, to the con- quest among others of Croesus, king of Lydia. Q,. 31. How did, Cyrus take Babylon ? A. The height of the walls made it impossible to take the city by force, and the supply of provisions was such that it could not be compelled to surren- der by famine, Cyrus, therefore, had recourse to stratagem. Q,. 32. What stratagem did he conceive 1 A. The river Euphrates flowed through the city; Gyrus dug another channel for the river, and di- verted its waters, then entered the city with his army, through the channel. Q,. 33. Hoio did he succeed I A. Cyrus found the king and his officers engaged in celebrating a festival, and overcome with drunk- enness. By the death of Belshazzar he destroyed the Babylonian empire and set up the Persian in its room. 3* 30 ELEMENTS OF ANCIENT HISTORY* SEVENTH PERIOD. Q. 1. How is this period divided 1 A. The seventli period begins witK the capture of Babylon^ and ends with the destruction of the Persian empire ; including 207 years. Q. 2. WTiat event signalized the first year oj Cyrus % A. Cyrus having ascended the united throne of Media and Persia, and probably being made ac- quainted with the prophecies concerning himself, issued at the beginning of his reign, the famous decree to rebuild the temple at Jerusalem. Q. 3. What was the extent of the Medo- Per- sian empire ? A. The Persian empire, sometimes called the Second Universal Monarchy, included all the southwest of Asia. Q.. 4. What was the character of the Persian Jcings ? A. After Cyrus, these kings were noted only for luxury and tyranny : the empire was formida- ble only by its numbers and wealth. Q. 5. Who was the successor of Cyrus ? A. To Cyrus succeeded Cambyses, a madman and tyrant, who conquered Egypt, and reigned eight years. Q,. 6. Who was the third king ? A. For about a year after Cambyses, the royal- ty was usurped by Oropastes, a magian, who ^mi, ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. 31 pretended to be Smerdis son of Cyrus, that had been murdered by his wicked brdther. Q,. 7. Who next ascended the throne t A. When the cheat was discovered, seven no- bles conspired against the Magian, put him to death, and made Darius one of their own number the 4th King. Q. 8. How did Dariits signalize his reign ? A. The reign of Darius is noted for the invasion first of Scythia and afterward of Greece. Q. 9. JVas he successful in his wars ? A. Darius gained no glory by his wars, he re- turned from both in disgrace. Q. 10. What noted hattle was fought in Greece ? A. In the Grecian war was fought the battle of Marathon, in which the numerous Persian host was routed by a handful of Greeks under Miltiades, 490 B. C. He reigned 36 years. Q. 11. Who was the Fifth King 1 A, To Darius succeeded his son Xerxes, a vain and weak prince, who prosecuted the Grecian war in person with the largest army ever collected, consisting, with all its attendants, of 2,000,000 persons. Q. 12. Was his success equal to his numbers 1 A. The multitude of this army rather increased its weakness. Leonidas, king of Sparta, withstood Xerxes at Thermopylas with only 300 men. Q. 13. Wliere were battles fought 1 A, A sea-fight took place at Salamis, and a land battle at Platasa, in both which the Persians were defeated by much inferior forces. ^Jt6^M 32 ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. Q,. 14. TVhat teas the termination of the expedi^ tlon ? A. At length the humbled monarch escaped into Ms own dominions in a fishing boat, and died after a reign of 20 years. Q,. 15. ^ywhom icas Greece defended against Xerxes ? A. The genius who chiefly defended his country against such imequal numbers was Themistocles the Athenian. Q,. 16. Who next assumed the royalty of Persia 1 A. The son and heir of Xerxes was Artaxerxes, surnamed Longimanus. He is supposed to be Ahasuerus mentioned in the book of Esther. Q. 17. What are the most famous events of his reign t A. Artaxerxes gave liberty to the Jews to re- build the city of Jerusalem ; he also continued the war with Greece, and governed 40 years. Q,. 18. Who succeeded Artaxerxes .? A. Xerxes the second succeeded, but was soon murdered by his brother Sogdianus, who in turn was put to death by Darius 2d, surnamed Nothus. He ruled 19 years. Q,. 19. What other Persian kings succeeded 1 A. After Darius, Artaxerxes Mnemon reigned 40 years : then Artaxerxes Ochus 26. Arses 4 ; Darius Codomannus6. Q. 20. What was the end of this empire 7 A. Under Darius the kingdom ^was invaded and utterly destroyed by Alexander the Great 331 B.C, ELEMENTS OF ANCIENT HISTORY. 33 Q,. 21. What were the most distinguished events in Greece 1 A. The events most deserving of notice were the successful resistance of the Persian invasion, the Peloponnesian war, the short elevation of The- bes, and the battle of Cheronea, which subjected all Greece to the power of Macedon. Q,. 22. Wliat city was taken hy the Persians ? A. During the invasion of Xerxes, the Atheni- ans carried their wealth on board their ships and suffered their city to be taken and burnt by the en- emy. After their defeat it was rebuilt with greater splendour. Q. 23. What was the Peloponnesian war? A. The Peloponnesian war was fought betwen Sparta and Athens, and lasted 28 years, commenc ing 431 B. C. Q. 24. What ivas the issue ? A. This war was waged with uncommon fury, and ended in the humiliation of Athens, under the 30 Lacedemonian tyrants. Q. 25. Who was king of Sparta ? A. Lysander, at this time ruled Sparta, a cele- brated general who warred against the Persian power in Asia Minor. Q,. 26. Who were the Athenian leaders 1 A. During this war the Athenian democracy was led by Pericles and Alcibiades. At an earlier period Miltiades, Aristides, Themistocles and Cimon were famous. Phocion, Demosthenes and iEschines flourished at the close of this period. 34 ELEMENTS OF ANCIENT HISTORY. Q. 27. W%at Jiistorians wrote at this time % A. The three most noted historians of this age were Herodotus, Thucydides, and Xenophon. Q,. 28. Wliat did Herodotus ivrite .^ A. Herodotus is styled the " father of history," because he is the earliest profane historian. He wrote of the early times of Babylon, Persia, Egypt, Greece, and the neighbouring nations, and most we know of their early history is derived from his works. Q,. 29. WTiat is the work of Thucydides 1 A. Thucydides composed an account of the Peloponnesian war, of which he was a witness and partaker. Q. 30. Who was Xenophon ? A. Xenophon was an Athenian philosopher, general and historian ; his works are among the most elegant compositions in the Greek language. Q. 31. What are some of his works'} A. Among other works, Xenophon wrote the life of Cyrus, and an account of the retreat of 10,000 Greeks from Babylon to the Black Sea, pursued by all the power of Persia. This was one of the most famous warlike transactions of antiquity, of which the author was eye-witness and chief leader. Q,. 32. What was the state of literature and art 1 , A. This was the most celebrated age of Gre- cian literature and art, which were cultivated with attention, and carried to great perfection at Athens. ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. 35 Q. 33. What celehrated poets lived at tMs era ? A. There flourished at this period, the tragedi- ans, iEschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides — Aris- tophanes the comick poet, and Pindar, famous for odes. Q,. 34. What arts JlourisJied ? A. At this age, sculpture and architecture were carried to a pitch of perfection which was never before or since attained. Q, 35. When arose Greek philosophy ? A. Thales and Pythagoras, the earliest philo- sophers, lived before this period ; but Socrates the most celebrated philosopher flourished at this time : Plato and Aristotle his pupils, — Diogenes, Zeno and others towards its close. Q,. 36. What was the leading state of Greece ? A. Before the long and disastrous Peloponne- sian war, the chief rank was disputed by the Athenians and Lacedemonians. After that event, the latter bore unrivalled sway. Q. 37. What other state possessed a s7wrt supre- macy ? A. For a little time Thebes bore rule, having vanquished the Spartans in the battles of Leuctra and Mantinea, under their generals Pelopidas and Epaminondas. Q,. 38. What obscure state north of Greece he- camefamous 1 A. The kingdom of Macedon attracted little notice till towards the close of this period, when Philip, its king, began to interfere in the affairs of Greece. 36 ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. Q. 39. What at length occurred ? A. At length, Philip, though opposed by tho eloquence of Demosthenes, overthrew the com- bined forces of Greece, and subverted their liber- ties in the battle of Cheronea 338 B. C. Q. 40. Did Philip long survive this victory ? A. Philip was assassinated soon after, but his son Alexander, the heir of his ambition as well as of his power, collected the forces of Greece and led them to the conquest of Asia. Q,. 41. What tvas the date oj this conquest ? A. Alexander entered the Persian dominions 335 B. C His small but veteran army overcame the forces of Darius in three great battles. The last was at Arbela, 331 B. C. 40,000 Persians were slain, and the empire was destroyed. Q. 42. What was the condition of the Jeivs ?■ A. Agreeable to divine prediction, the Jews were restored to their own country, permitted to rebuild their temple and re-establish their worship. Q,. 43. Were they note independent 1 A. The Jev/s were tributary to Persia, and en- joyed peace in submission to their sway. Q,. 44. Whence do we derive this knowledge ? A. Sacred history ceases with the books of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther. which relate to this period, about the time that profane history be- comes authentick. Q. 45. What was the condition of Rome at this time 1 A. At the commencement of this period, Tar- quin the Proud, the last Roman King, sat on the ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. 37 throne, whicli he had mounted by the murder of his father-in-law, Servius Tullius. Q. 46. How was his administration conducted 1 A. Tarquin governed with tyranny, and at length an outrage, committed by his son upon Lu- cretia, a noble lady, provoked the people to revolt. Q,. 47. What was the result of this revolt ? A. The citizens, headed by Brutus, expelled the Tarquin family, abolished royalty, and established a republick, of which the chief magistrates, two in number were called consuls, and elected annually. Q,. 48. Wlio first held the consular office 1 A. Brutus and Collatinus were the first consuls 509 B. C. Q. 49. Were they in a state of peace ? A. The new commonwealth was soon involved in war, first with the banished king, and then with the Etrurians and Latins. The Roman for- ces were generally victorious. Q. 50. Did they enjoy domestich tranquillity 1 A. There arose internal dissensions betv/een the patricians or nobles, and the plebeians or common people. Q,. 51. What nearly ruined Rome about the year 490 1 A. About twenty years after the banishment of Tarquin, Coriolanus, a noble Roman was banished, and joined their enemies the Volscians ; by them he was chosen general, and entered his native country with a powerful army. Q. 52. Wliat was the result ? A. Rome was in the power of the enemy, and \ ' 38 ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. had no other means of defence than the supph ca- tions of his mother, who was sent to depre- cate his wrath. Coriolanus yielded to her entrea- ties, spared his country, and was himself put to death by the Volscians as a traitor. Q,. 53. How did the jRx)man constitution change 7 A. The republickwas at first an aristocracy, but the people, by dissensions and revolts, gradu- ally increased their power in the state, till it be- came almost a democracy. Q. 54. Wlien were laws enacted at Rome ? A. 301 years after the foundation of the city, and 450 B. C. Ten men entitled decemvirs were chosen to frame a code of laws. Q. 55. Whence did they derive their laws 1 A. From Greece chiefly, they borrowed an ex- cellent system of laws entitled the Twelve Tables, because engraved on twelve tables of brass. Q,. 56. How did the decemvirs abuse tJieir power ? A. The decemvirs were chosen for only a year, but under various pretences they retained their power to the third year, and exercised it in a ty- rannical manner, Q,. 57. W7iat put an^end to their power ? A. After three years an insurrection was made, the decemvirs were compelled to resign and t ELEMENTS ,#F ANCIENT HISTORY. Q,. 20. How was the Persian war conducted f A. Heraclius invaded the Persian dominions^ defeated tliem in several bloody battles, and forced them to conclude a peace. Q. 21. What famous nation is now first men" tioned in history 7 A. The Turks, a tribe of Tartars, assisted the emperor in this war, with an army of 40,000 men. Q. 22. What is known of Persia at this time ? A. Persia, during- much of this period, was en- gaged in war with the eastern empire. It was go- verned by seven kings in succession, of whom the most famous was Chosroes the Oreat. Q. 23. What other nations deserve a separate notice ? A. Italy, Britain, Gaul or France, and Spain, formerly provinces of the western empire, must now be noticed as independent states. Q. 24. What kingdom was founded in Italy ? A. Odoacer, king of the Heruli, when he de- posed the western emperor, founded the kingdom of Italy, which subsisted only 19 years. Q,. 25. How was it overthrown ? A. Italy was now invaded by Theodoric, king of the Ostrogoths, that is Eastern Goths. He con- quered the Heruli, and set up the Gothick king" dom of Italy, A. D. 493. Q. 26. By ivhom were the Goths dispossessed ? A. After Theodoric, seven kings reigned in Ita- ly, when Belisarius and Narses, generals of the eastern empire, after several years of war, finally .destroyed their power. ELEMENTS OF ANCIENT HISTORY. 87 Q,. 27. Who loere ilic next invaders of Italy ? A. In A. D. 568, Alboin, king of the Lombards, invaded this unhappy country, and set up a king- dom, which lasted 200 years. Q. 28. What was the condition of Britain 1 A, The Saxons and other tribes of Germans, held possession of the southern part of the island of Britain, during the whole of this period. Q,. 29. What name was now given to this country 1 A. The country occupied by the Saxons was called England, from the Angles, who were one of their tribes. Q. 30. Did they enjoy tranquillity ? A. The princes of the heptarchy were often en- gaged in war among themselves, and against the native Britons. Q,. 31. What were their religion and manners ? ^. At the invasion, the Saxons were pagans and barbarians, but they gradually became con- verts to Christianity, and more humane and civil- ized. Q. 32. From whom does France derive its name ? A. The Franks, a warlike tribe of Germans, es- tablished the kingdom of France, to which they gave name. Q. 33. W?io is considered the founder of the kingdom ? A. Clovis, A. D. 481, is generally called the founder of the monarchy of the Franks, because ISS ELEMENTS OP AXCIENT IIISTORT. before him, tliey possessed only a small district, but he took possession of almost all the country. Q,. 34. How long did the family of Clovis reign ? A. The family of Clovis, commonly called the Merovingian race, were kings of France till after the close of this period. Q. 35. What was their religion ? A. Clovis, at first a pagan, was converted to Christianity, by the influence of Clotilda, his wife. His subjects also came over to the true faith. Q. 36. What was the condition qf Spain 1 A, At the beginning of this period, Spain was mostly held by the Suevi, a barbarous nation from the north. Q. 37. By whom were they vanquished ? A. In A. D. 531, Spain was entered by the Vi- sigoths, or western Goths; after 50 years they got possession of the country, which they retained till the end of this period. Q,. 38. What signalized the close of this period? A. The epoch that closes this period is the ori- gin of a new religion and empire among the Sa- racens or Arabs. Q,. 39. Fro7n whom are the Arahs descended? A. The Arabs are descendants of Ishmael, the son of Abraham ,• they had always lived a pastoral life, and had never been subdued by any foreign power, being defended by their deserts, inaccessi- ble to armies. Q. 40. Whatreligion did they profess ? A, The Arabs were mostly idolaters, though ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. S9 they practised some rites similar to those of the Jews, and some of them were converts to Chris- tianity. Q. 41. Who was the founder of the new re- ligion ? A. Mahomet, or Mohammed, born at Mecca, A. D. 569, became the founder of an empire which governed a great part of the known world, and of a religion which is still professed by many mil- lions of men. Q,. 42. What means did he at first employ f A. In A. D. 609, when Mahomet was 40 years old, he pretended that he was sent by God, as a prophet, superior to Moses, or Christ, commissioned to establish a religion that should supersede the christian and all others, Q. 43. Was the imposture well received at first 1 A. For many years, Mahomet gained few disci- ples. So much was he opposed in his native place, that he was compelled to flee for his life *o Me- dina, A. D. 622. Q. 44. Why is this event important ? A. This flight of Mahomet is considered by Mahometans as the epoch of the foundation of their religion, from it therefore they reckon time, as we do from the birth of Christ. 8* •90 ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. THIRTEENTH PERIOD. Q,. 1. When does the last period of ancient "his- tory begin and end? A. The 13th period begins at the flight of Ma- homet, A. D. 622, and ends A. D. 800, with the co- ronation of Charlemagne ; a duration of 178 years. Q. 2. What was the most formidable power of this period 1 A. The new empire of the Saracens became the most extensive government, and first deserves at- tention. Q,. 3. How was Mahomet received at Medina ? A. Mahorget was well received at Medina ; he formed his adherents into a military band, with which he returned and took Mecca. Q. 4. By what means was his religion propa- gated'? A. This imposture was extended by force of arms ; idolaters, if conquered, were compelled to embrace it, or be put to death ; christians migiit live on condition of paying tribute. Q,. 5. How did he inspire his followers with courage 1 A. Mahomet promised those of his disciples that should fall in battle, the enjoyment of a sen- sual paradise, and made them bold by inculcating the doctrine of fatality. Q. 6. Did his power spread rapidly ? A. In a few years, all Arabia embraced the ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORYi. 9| doctrines of Mahomet; he then invaded Syria, and died A D. 632, in the midst of his victorious ca- reer. Q. 7. JVhai are the successors of Mahomet called ? A. Those who succeeded Mahomet as heads of his empire and religion, are called caliphs, that is successors. Q. 8. Who was the first caliph ? A. Abubeker, the father of one of the prophet's wives, was his first successor : he engaged in war with the eastern empire. He reigned 2 years, and was succeeded by Omar. Q,. 9. What conquests did Omar make ? A. This caliph subdued Syria^ Persia, Egypt, and all the north of Africa. He reigned 12 years, till A. D. 645. Q. 10. What library did he destroy ? A. By order of Omar, the great library of Alex- andria was burnt. It consisted at one period of 700,000 volumes. Q. 11. Who was the next caliph 7 A, Othman was the next caliph; he carried his victorious arms into Tartary. After a short reign he was succeeded by Ali, son-in-law of Mahomet. Q. 12. What is related of'^^. xeign of Mi 1 A. This caliph removed 0W^^. of government from Mecca to Cuja, on the ^fe^STates. He ruled 5 years. Q,. 13. Who next ascended the throne 1 A, After Ali's death, the family of Omar were .92 ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. restored to tlie caliphate. Of this family, 19 ca» liphs reigned in succession, till about A. D. 750. Q,. 14. What further conquests did they make ? A. In A. D. 712, the Saracens invaded Spain, of which they took possession ; 20 years after ,they entered France, but were soon repulsed. Q,. 15. How were their dominions divided ? A.. About A. D. 755, the Saracen dominions were divided into 3 distinct caliphates, or king doms ; the first, of which Bagdad was capital, comprised their Asiatickpossessions ; the second included Egypt and the states of Barbary, and the third, Spain. Q,. 16, JVhat is Tinovm of their manners and learning 1 A. About this time the Saracens acquired a taste for learning, and for a long period were the most civilized and enlightened people in the world. Q. 17. What brandies of literature did they study 1 A. The Saracens studied Medicine, Geometry, and Astronomy. The science of Algebra was in- vented or improved by them; they also wrote po- etry and fictitious tales. The " Arabian Nights" IS one of the compositions of this period. Q. 18. Who was the last caliph of this time ? A. At the close of this period, the caliph of Bagdad was Haroun, «urnamed Al Ii,aschid,that is, the just ; he was a famous patron of learning. Q. 19. What was the condition of the eastern empire 1 A. The Greek empire was reduced to compa» ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. 0S rative weakness by the victories of tlie Saracens, who took from it a great part of its territory. ^Q, 20. Did the Saracens attempt to'^'tahe the capital 2 » A, Twice the Saracens laid siege to Constanti- nople, viz., aboat A. D. 670 and 716. The last time, their fleet of 1800 ships was destroyed by a peculiar substance called Greek fire. Q. 21. By who7n was the empire governed! A. After Heraclius, several emperors succes- sively filled the throne ; they were weak and ty- rannical princes. Q,. 22. What internal disturhances arose 1 A. The peace of the empire was much disturb- ed by theological controversies. Leo, who reigned A. D. 723, was called the Iconoclast, that is, image breaker, because he destroyed the images of Christ and the saints, and opposed the worship of them.. Q. 23. What female of the royal family he- came notorious ? A. Irene, the wife of Leo 4th, and mother of Constantino 5th, murdered her own son. She was soon after deposed and banished. Q. 24. What was the state of Italy ? A. The Lombard kingdom of Italy continued till A.D. 774, under 17 successive kings, the last of whom was Didier. Q. 25. How did the kingdom come to its end ? A. The Lombard king became involved in a dispute with the Pope, or Bishop of Rome, who solicited the aid of Charlemagne, king of France. Q. 26. What was the consequence ? 94 ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. ♦ A. Charlemagne conquered and deposed tlie liombard king, and added Italy to his own domi- nions. In- Q,. 27. In wliat condition was Spain 1 Ji. The kingdom of the Visigoths continued in Spain till A. D. 712. Roderick was their last king. Q. 28. "By what means was it destroyed, 1 A. Count Julian, whose daughter Roderick had dishonoured, invited the Moors, or Saracens of Africa, into Spain. Q. 29. Did they accept the proposal? A. The Saracens, commanded by Tarik, inva- ded and took all the country, except a small region' in the north. Spain adopted the religion of the conquerors. Q. 30. What occurred on the division of the Sa- racen power ? A. About A.D. 756, Abdalrahman erected Spain into an independent kingdom, of which the capital was Cordova. At the close of this period this kingdom was flourishing both in power and learning. Q,. 31. In what condition was England? A. The seven Saxon kingdoms subsisted till s little after the close of this period, disturbed by their own disputes, and the depredations of the Danes and Normans. Q. 32. What was the state of France ? A. The family of Clo vis, or Merovingian race, were sovereigns of France till A. D. 751 ; but. ELEMENTS OF ANCIENT HISTORY. 95^ for tlie last hundred years, tliey enjoyed only the title of kings, without the power. Q,. 33. Who managed ilie affairs of tJie king- dom ? A. The supreme power was in the hands of offi- cers, styled mayors of the palace ; their office was hereditary. Q. 34. Who held this office in France ? A Th e first mayors of the palace that became famous, were Pepin d'Heristal, and his son, Charles M artel. Q. 35. What formidahlc power invaded France^ A. In A. D. 732, while Charles Martel was mayor of the palace, the Saracens invaded France from Spain, with great force. Q,. 36. How were they opposed 1 A. The Saracens met a signal defeat fromCharles, in the battle of Poictiers, and were not long" after driven out of France. Q,. 37. To whom did Charles leave his power ? A. Charles Martel was succeeded by his two sons, Pepin and Carloman. The latter resigned his office and became a monk. Q. 38. What title did Pepin assume? A. Pepin deposed Childeric 3d, the last of the Merovingian race, and was proclaimed king of France, A. D. 751. Q. 39. By what name is this family known ? •5. This new race of kings is called the Carlo- vingian, from Charles Martel. Q,. 40. With whom was Pepin engaged in war ? A. Pepin made war upon the Lombards, in Ita- 96 ELEMENTS OP ANCIENT HISTORY. ly, and defeated thetn. He gave the district of Ravemia to the pope, who thus became a tempo- ral prince. Q,. 41. Who S2icceeded to this king 1 A. Upon the death of Pepin, A. D. 768, his two sons, Charles and Carloman, succeeded, but Car- loman died two years after, and left the whole kingdom to Charles. Q,. 42. By what name is this monarch called ? A. On account of his talents and power, this king was called Charlemagne, that is, Charles tho great, by which name he is generally known. Q. 43. W7iat conquests did he make 1 A. Charlemagne, besides France, became mas- ter of Germany, Italy, and a part of Spain. Q. 44. How did he rule his extensive dominions ? A. Through a long reign, Charlemagne con- ducted with great wisdom and justice, and though so illiterate that he could scarce write his own name, he was a great patron of learning. Q. 45. With what epoch does this period end? A. In the year 800, Charlemagne was crowned •by the pope, and the title of Roman Emperor of the west restored in his person. This memorable event is generally considered as the boundary of Ancient and Modern History. 97 BRIEF CHRONOLOGICAL TABLK OF THE Trtncipal Events of Ancient History, FIRST PERIOD, 1656 yean }. Years of Years the World B.C. The Creation, First Epoch 4004 130 Birth of Seth 3874 235 Birth of Enos , , 3769 325 Birth of Cain an , 3679 395 Birth of Mahaleel , 3609 460 Birth of Jared , , 3544 622 Birth of Enoch , , 3382 687 Birth of Methuselah , 3317 874 Birth of Lamech 3130 987 Translation of Enoch 3017 1056 Birth of Noah 2948 1536 Prediction of the Deluge . 2468 1656 The Deluge, Second Epoch SECOND PERIOD; 42^ years 2348 3. 1658 Birth of Arphaxad . 2346 1693 Birth of Salah 2311 1723 Birth of Eber 2281 1757 Birth of Peleg 2247 1757 Confusion of Tongueis at Babel . 2247 1787 Birth of Reu 2217 1787 Nineveh founded 2217 m CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE. Years of Years the World. B.C. 1787 Kingdom of Egypt founded , 2217 1819 Birth of Serug 2185 1849 Birth of Nahor 2155 1878 Birth of Terah 2126 1915 Sicyon founded 2089 2008 Abraham born 1996 2083, Call of Abraham, Third Epoch 1921 THIRD PERIOD, 430 years. 2108 Isaac botn .... 1896 2168 Jacob and Esau born . 1836 2259 Joseph born . . , . 1745 2275 Joseph sold as a slave 1729 2288 Joseph made governor of Egypt , 1716 2298 Jacob goes down to Egypt . 1706 2315 Death of Jacob 1689 2369 Death of Joseph 1635 2433 Birth of Moses 1571 2448 Athens founded by Ce crops 1556 2473 Moses flees into Midian 1531 2511 Thebes founded by Cadmus 1493 2513 Departure from Egypt, Foui rth Epoch 1491 FOURTH PERIOD, 487 year 3. 2514 Sparta founded by Lelex . 1490 2553 Death of Moses 1451 2554 Conquest of Canaan . 1450 2560 Division among the tribes . 1444 2567 Death of Joshua 1437 2600 Minos King of Crete . 1404 2628 Corinth founded by Sisyphus 1376 CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE. Years of Years the World , B.C, 2692 Marriage of Ruth with Boaz 1312 2740 The Argonautick Expedition 1264 2767 Death of Gideon . , 1237 2820 Capture of Troy 1184 2822 Death of Jephthah . , 11,82 2829 Arrival of JEneas in Italy . 1175 2847 Eli, High Priest 1157 2884 Death of Samson 1120 ■2887 Samuel, Prophet and Judge 1117 2909 Saul, King of Israel . 1095 2934 Athens became a Republick 1070 2949 David made King of Judah 1055 2989 Solomon made King 1015 •3000 The Building of the Temple, Fifth Epoch 1004 FIFTH PERIOD, 252 years. 3029 Death of Solomon O'ys 3029 Revolt of the 10 Tribes . 975 .3033 Jerusalem taken by Sheshak, or Se- sostris 971 3080 Samaria founded 924 3104 Homeric poems composed . 900 3120 Laws of Sparta, by Lycurgus 884 3135 Carthage founded by Dido . 869 3209 Kingdom of Macedon founded 795 3^33 Israel invaded by Pul, King of As- syria .... 771 3252 Rome founded by Romulus, Sixth Epoch 752 100 CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE. SIXTH PERIOD, 214 years. Years B.C. First Messenian "War begins . . 743 The ten tribes taken captive by Shalmaneser 721 Sennacherib's army destroyed . • 715 Death of Romulus . . . • 715 Second Messenian War begins . . 685 Babylon and Assyria united . . . 681 Captivity of Manasseh, King of Judah . 677 Death of Numa . . . . . 672 Josiah, King of Judah .... 641 Death of Tullus Hostilius ... 640 Death of Ancus Martius . . . 616 Josiah slain by Pharaoh-Necho . . 610 Captivity of the Jews by Nebuchadnezzar 600 Solon gives laws to Athens . . . 594 Jerusalem destroyed .... 588 Death of Tarquin 1st, ... 578 Pisistratus becomes Tyrant of Athens . 560 Poems of Homer collected . . . 560 Capture of Baeitlon by Cyrus, Seventh Epoch . .... 538 SEVENTH PERIOD, 207 years. Decree for rebuilding the temple . . 536 Death of Servius Tullius . . . 534 Expulsion of Tarquin 2d . . . 509 Battle of Marathon .... 490 Coriolanus banished .... 485 Battlesof Thermopylae and Salamis . 480 Rome becomes a democracy . . . 471 The Old Testament collected by Ezra . 458 Decemvirs appointed at Rome . . . 451 CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE. 101 Jerusalem rebuilt by Nehemiah Peloponnesian war begins The Old Testament history ends . Athenians defeated by the Spartans Retreat of the 10,000 under Xenophon Home taken by the Gauls Battle of Leuetra; Elevation of Thebes First Plebeianconsul at Rome Battle of Mantinea War with the Samnites begins Battle of Cheronea, Philip victorious Invasion of Persia, Battle of Granicus Battle or Arbela, Eighth Epoch EIGHTH PERIOD, 185 years. Yeara B.C.j 445 430 430 405 403 390 371 367 363 343 338 334 530 Death of Alexander . . • . S24 Division of Alexander's dominions . . 312 The Scriptures translated into Greek . 284 Invasion of Italy by Pyrrhus . . . 280 First Punick War begun . . . 264 Duilius conquers the Carthaginians at sea 260 Kingdom of Parthia founded . . 256 Regulus defeated by the Carthaginians . 255 Temple of Janus shut . • . 235 Invasion of Italy by Hannibal, 2d Punick War 218 The Romans defeated at Cannas . . 216 Syracuse taken by the Romans, . . 212 Scipio defeats Hannibal at Zama , » 202 Macedonians defeated by the Romans . 197 Syrians defeated by the Romans . . 192 Jerusalem plundered by Antiochus, king of Syria . . . . . . 170 Macedonia made a Roman Province , 167 102 CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE. Years B.C. The Syrians expelled from Judea . . 166 Third Punick War begun . - . 149 Greece subdued by the Romans . . 146 Destruction of Carthage, Ninth Epoch 146 NINTH PERIOD, 146 years. Siege of Numantia ; Spain made a Province 134 Death of Tiberius Gracchus . . . 133 Kingdom of Pontus founded . . . 123 Jugurtha subdued by Marius ... 106 Social war in Italy .... 91 War with Mithridates, king of Pontus , 89 Civil war between Marius and Sylla . 88 Servile war in Italy . , . . 73 Syria made a Roman Province ? . 64 Mithridates subdued by Pompey . . 63 Conspiracy of Cataline quelled by Cicero 63 First Triumvirate of Pompey, Ceesar and Crassus ...... 60 Invasion of Britain by Csesar ... 25 Gaul subdued by Caesar ... 51 Civil war; battle ofPharsalia . . 48 Csesar assassinated by Brutus and Cassius 44 Second Triumvirate, Octavius, Antony, and Lepidus ...... 43 Battle of Philippi .... 42 Herod made king of Judea ... 37 Battle of Actium ; Roman Empire begins 31 Egypt made a Province of Rome ; death of Cleopatra 30 Temple of Janus again shut ... 10 True date of the birth of Christ . . 4 Birth of Christ, common reckoning, Tenth Epoch ..... CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE. 103 TENTH PERIOD, 306 years. A.D. Death of Augustus ; Tiberius succeeds . 14 John the Baptist beheaded . ... 32 Crucifixion of the Saviour ... 33 Tiberius dies, succeeded by Caius CaUgula 37 Death of CaUgula ; Claudius emperor . 41 Invasion of Britain .... 43 Claudius killed ; Nero made Emperor . 54 First persecution of the Christians . 64 Nero's death. Short reign of Galba . 68 Short reigns of Otho and Vitellius . 69 Vespasian succeeds ; Jerusalem destroyed 70 Vespasian dies ; Titus succeeds . 79 Domitian succeeds his brother Titus . 81 Second persecution. The book of Revelation written .... 95 Domitian's death ; Nerva made Emperor 96 Nerva dies ; Trajan follows . , 98 Third persecution . . . 107 Trajan dies ; succeeded by Adrian . 118 Fourth persecution ..." Adrian's death ; Antoninus Pius succeeds 138 Pius dies ; followed by Marcus Aurelius An- toninus . . , , 161 Aurelius dies ; Commodus Emperor . 180 Death of Commodus ; short reigns of Pertinax and Didius Julianas ; Septimius Severus suc- ceeds ..... 193 Fifth persecution of Christians . . 202 Severus dies ; succeeded by Caracalla and Geta . . . . .211 Death of Caracalla ; Macrinua Emperor . 217 Maximus succeeded by Heliogabalus . 218 Heliogabalus dies; Alexander Sevems suc- ceeds .... 222 104 CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE. Kingdom of Persia foiinded by Artaxarea 223 Severus murdered ; Maximinus Emperor 235 Maximinus slain ; Gordian chosen Emperor 238 Philip murders and succeeds Gordian . 244 Philip dies ; Decius succeeds . . 249 Seventh persecution . . . 250 Gallus succeeds on the death of Decius . 251 Valerian emperor. Death of Gallus. . 254 Eighth persecution . • . 257 Gallienus succeeds. Valerian killed by the Persians . . . . 261 Claudius 2d succeeds Gallienus , , 268 Claudius dies. Aurelian chosen . , 270 Ninth persecution . , . 272 Zenobia taken prisoner , . 273 Tacitus succeeds Aurelian ,. . 275 Florian Emperor on the death of Tacitus 276 Probus succeeds Florian . . 277 Probus dies. Short reign of Carus, and his sons, Carinus and Numerian . , 282 Diocletian succeeds Carinus . . 284 Maximian associated with Diocletian . 286 Tenth and last persecution of Christians . 302 Diocletian and Maximian resign . . 304 Constantius and Galerius succeed . 304 Accession of Constantine, Eleventh Epoch . . . .306 ELEVENTH PERIOD, 170 years. Christianity the religion of the empire , 325 Constantinople founded . . . 330 Constantine dies ; Constantius succeeds , 337 Julian the apostate succeeds Constantius . 361 Attempt to rebuild the temple of Jerusalem 363 CHUONOIiOGICAL TAELK. 105 A.D, Julian killed in battle ; Jovian succeeds . 363 Talentinian and Valens succeed Jovian . 364 Valentinian dies; succeeded by Gratian 375 Valens defeated and killed by the Goths . 378- Theodosius made emperor of the East . 379 Gratian dies. Valentinian 2d, emperor of the West . . . . .383 Valentinian 2d dies ; Theodosius sole Em- peror .... 392 Honorius emperor of the West ; Arcadius of the East . . . .395 Alaric, king of the Goths, invades Italy . 403 Spain taken by the Suevi . . 406 Thedosius 2d, Emperor of the East . 408 Rome taken by Alaric. Britain forsaken 410 Valentinian 3d, emperor of the West . 424 Vandal kingdom founded in Africa by Genserie 42S^ Aitila, king of the Huns, invades the Eastern empire .... 435 The Huns ravage the Western empire . 445 Marcian, emperor of the East . . 450 The Huns defeated in the battle of Chalons 451 The Saxons begin the conquest of Britain 455 Maximus and Avitus emperors of the West, 455 Home taken by Genserie . . 455 Leo, emperor of the East; Majorian of the west . . , 457 Severus, emperor of the West ^ 461 Athemius, emperor of the West ^ 467 Olybrius do. . . 472 Glycerius do. . , 473 Nepos do. Zeno of the east 474 Augustulus do. . . 475 Subversion of the Western Empire by Odoacer, Twelfth Epoch . 476- 106 CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE. TWELFTH PEUIOD, 146 years. A. D. I French monarchy founded by Clovis . 481 Conquest of Britain completed by the Saxons 485 Anastasius, emperor of the East . 491 Italy conquered by Theodoric, the Goth 493 Time begun to be computed from the Birth of Christ . . . .516 Justin 1st, emperor of the East . 518 Justinian succeeds Justin as emperor . 527 Vandal kingdom of Africa, taken by Belisarius 534 Narses re-conquers Italy . . , 552 Justin 2d, emperor of the East . . 565 Alboin, king of the Lombards, conquers Italy 568 Tiberius 2d, emperor of the East . 578 Latin language ceases to be spoken . 5S0 Maurice, emperor of the East . . 582 Kingdom of the Visigoths founded in Spain 585 Christianity planted in England by Augustine 597 Phocas puts Maurice to death and succeeds him . . . 602 Heraclius, emperor of the East . . 610 Great victory over the Persians . . 616 Flight of Mahomet, Thirteenth Epoch 622 THIRTEENTH PERIOD, 178 years. Death of Mahomet . . '632 Alexandria taken ; its library burnt . 640 Constantine 3d, and Heracleonas, emperors of the East .... 641 Constans 2d, emperor . . . 642 Ali, Caliph of the Saracens . . 655 Constantine 4th, Pogonatus, emperor . 668 Constantinople besieged by the Saracens . 672 Justinian 2d, emperor . „ . 685 CHlRO^OLOGiCAL TABLE. 107 A.D. JLeontius, emperor . . 695 Justinian restored . . . 698 Apsimarus Tiberius, emperor . . 705 Anastatius 2d, emperor . . , 705 Philippicus, emperor. . . • 711 Spain invaded by the Saracens . . 712 Anastasius 2d, emperor, • . 713 Theodosius 3d, emperor . . 714 Leo 3d, the Isaurian, emperor . . 716 Controversy concerning image worship . 727 Battle of Poictiers . . . 732 Constantino 5th, ettiperor . . 741 Pepin proclaimed Icing of France . 751 Kingdom of the Moors founded at Cordova, in Spain . . . • 755 'Tempoiral power of the Pope begins . 755 Bagdad founded by the caliph, Almansor 762 Charlemagne, king of France - . 768 Charlemagne conquers Italy , . 774 Leo 4th, the Iconoclast, emperor . 775 Constantino 6th, Porphyrogenitus . 781 £taroun Al Raschid, caliph of Bagdad . 786 Irene, empress, by the murder of her son 788 Charlemagne crowned emperor, Four- teenth Epoch . , . 80O 108 GEOGRAPHICAL NOTES, IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER. A. ACTIUM, a town of Epirus, famous for the naval vietory which Augustus gained over Antony, B.C. 31. AFRIC A,_ one of the grand divisions of the ancient world ; the name is often restricted to the northera parts. ALEXANDRIA, a large and opulent city of Egypt, founded by Alexander the Great, B. C. 332, the capital of the king- dom of the Ptolemies. ALPS high mountains, chiefly situated between Italy and Gaul. ASIA, the largest division of the eastern continent; Asia Mi- nor, or simply Asia, is a name applied to the peninsula si- tuated between the Euxine and Mediterranean seas. ASSYRIA, an extensive county in the south-west of Asia, the seat of the first Universal Empire. ATHENS, the most celebrated city and republick of Greece, founded by Cecrops 1556 B.C. It was particularly noted for literature and the elegant arts. B. BABYLON, a large and splendid city, one of the capitals of the Assyrian Empire, situated on the Euphrates, by means of which it was taken by Cyrus. BAGDAD, the capital of the Saracen Empire, built by the ca- liph Almansor,and distinguished for wealth and learning. BETHLEHEM, a small town of Judea, celebrated as the birth-place of the Lord Jesus Christ. BITHYNIA, a province of Asia Minor, bordering on the Black sea and the sea of Marmora. BOSPHORUS, there are two straits called by this name ; the Thracian Bosphorus, which unites the sea of Marmora with the Euxine, and the Cimmerian connecting the Euxine with the sea of Azoph. BRITAIN, a large island in the Atlantlck; the southern part since called England, was first inhabited by the Celts, it was then made a Roman Province ; when abandoned by the Romans it was occupied by the Saxons. 1G9 GEOGRAPHICAL TABLE. C. CANAAN, a region on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean, so called from Canaan, the grand-son of Ham. It was promised to Abraham for his posterity, and accordingly ta- ken by Joshua and divided among the Israelites. CAPPADOCIA, a country of Asia Minor, on the Euxine sea. CARTHAGE, a commercial and wealthy city of the north of Africa, founded by Dido 869 B.C. It was the rival of Rome till its destruction by Scipio, 146 B. C. It was af- terwards rebuilt, and became tlie capital of* the Gothick kingdom of Africa. CHALDEA, a region situated between the rivers Euphrates and Tigris, of which the capital was Babylon. CHiERONEA, a city of Boeotia, celebrated for the victory of Philip of Macedon over the combined forces of the Atheni- ans and Thebans, 338 B. C. COLCHIS, a country of Asia, on the coast of the Euxine, fa- mous for the Argonautick expedition. It is now called Mingrelia. CONSTANTINOPLE, formerly Byzantium, a city on the Thracian Bosphorous, enlarged by Constantine, from whom, it received its present name. CORDOVA, called Corduba in more ancient times, a large city of Spain, the capital of the Moorish Kingdom. CTESIPHON, the capital of Parthia, situated on the eastern bank of the Tigris. CUJA, a town on the Euphrates, the capital of the Saracen empire before the foundation of Bagdad. D- DACIA, a large country of Europe, on the west of the Black sea, conquered by Trajan. It included Wallachia, Molda- via, Transylvania, and apart of Hungary. DAMASCUS, one of the most ancient cities of the world, the capital of ancient Syria. It is now a considerable town, the capital of a Turkish Pachalick, and called by the Arabs, El Sham. E. EDEN, the garden in which our first parents lived, when in a state of innocence. EGYPT, an extensive country in the north-east of Africa, call- ed by the Hebrews, Mizraim, from a sen of Ham, who is supposed to be the same as Menes,it3 first king. ffEOGRAPHICAL TABLE. 110 ENGLAND, the southern part of the island of Britain, so callr ed from the Angles, or Engles, one of the German tribes that took possession of it. EPIRUS, a province or kingdom in Greece, situated on the eastern shore of the Adriatick, included in the modern Albania. EUPHRATES, a large river of Asia, now called Frat,by the inhabitants of its banks. It rises in Annenia, and flows a southerly course into the Persian Gulf. EUXINE, a large inland sea situated between Asia and Eut rope, usually called the Black Sea. F. FRANCE, a large country of modem Europe, formerly Gaul. It was settled and nanied by the Franks from Germany. G. GANGES, a large river of India, flowing from the Himmaleh mountains into the Bay of Bengal. It was imperfectly known by the ancients. GAUL, a large country of ancient Europe, nearly correspond- ing to France. It was made a Roman province by Caesar. GERMANY, an extensive country in the interior of Europe, which we call by its ancient name, inhabited by a rude an4 warlike people. GREECE, a celebrated region in the southeast of Europe, fa- mous for learning and the arts. It was divided into seve- ral siiqall states. H. HERCULANEUM, a city in the west Qf Italy, near Mount Vesuvius, destroyed by an eruption of that mountain, A.D. 79. L J. IDUMEA, a small region of Asia, now included in the north of Arabia; it was settled by Esau, or Edom, the brother of Jacob. JERUSALEM, an ancient and famous city, made by David the capital of the Jewish kingdom, now a small town in the possession of the Turks. INDIA, a large region in the south of Asia, visited by the an? cients, but iniperfectly known. Ill GEOGRAPHICAL TABLE. ITALY, a country of Europe, which still bears the name, a peninsula of the Mediterranean sea, celebrated for its fine soil and climate, and for being the seat of the most power- ful empire of the ancient world. L. LYDIA, a country of Asia Minor, conquered by Cyrus. Ijf last king was Croesus, proverbial for riches. M. MACEDONIA, a country of Europe, north of Greece, and west of Thrace. It subsisted as a kingdom from the time of Caranus, 814B. C. to the battle of Pydna, 163, when Perseus, its last king, was made captive by the Romans. MANTUA, a small town in the north of Italy, famous chiefly as the birth-place of Virgil. MARATHON, a village of Greece, 10 miles from Athens, where Miltiades gained a great victory over the Persians. MECCA, a town of Arabia, a little distance from the Red Sea, the birth-place of Mahomet, and the principal town in the country. MEDIA, a country of Asia, south of the Caspian sea, now in the limits of Persia. MEDINA, a small town of Arabia near the Red Sea, to which Mahomet fled, and where he was buried. N. NIGOMEDIA, a large city near the Euxine, the capital of Bithynia. Constantino often resided here, and died here. NINEVEH, or NINUS, the capital of the Assyrian empire, one of the largest and most splendid cities' of the East^ founded by Ashur, or as some think by Nimrod. NUMANTIA, a town of Spain, near the source of the rive? Durius, or Douro, celebrated for a siege of 14 years by the Romans, but at length destroyed by Scipio. j^UMIDIA, a country in the north of Africa, now Algiers. If was for some time an allied kingdom, then a province of Rome. P. PALMYRA, a city on the eastern boundary of Syria, whose splendid ruins are still visible. It was built by Sol omo?i, and many years after was the papital of the celebrated queen Zenobia. 11.:^ GEOGRAPHICAL TABLE. PANNONIA, a province of the Roman empire, including Scla- vonia and a part of Hungary. PARTHIA, a province of Persia, which became the seat of a powerful empire, with which the Romans were often at war. PATMOS, a small island east of Greece, whither the Apostle John was banished by Doraitian. PERGAMUS, a city of 'Asia Minor, near the Black sea, the capital of a powerful kingdom which subsisted 150 years. PERSIA, at first a small district of the country that now bears the name. The Persian empire founded by Cyrus extend- ed over all the neighbouring regions. PHARSALIA, a plain of Thessaly, celebrated for a great bat- tle between Pompey and Ceesar, in which the latter was victorious. PLATyEA, a small town of Greece noted for a great victory of the Greeks over the army of Xerxes, king of Persia. POICTIERS, a small town in the south of France, near which the Saracens were defeated by Charles Martel. POMPEII, a large city of Italy, overwhelmed by an eruption of Vesuvius. PONTUS, a kingdom of Asia Minor, on the south of the Eux- ine ; under Mithridates, it endured a long war with Rome. PYRENEES, a lofty chain of mountains dividing France from Spain. R. RAVENNA, a town of Italy on the Adrlatick, inaccessible by land, and therefore made the seat of government under the last emperors and the Gothick kings. ROME, a famous city of Italy, still retaining many remains of its ancient splendour. In its most prosperous days it is said to have contained 7,000,000 of citizens, but this nuni- ber probably includes many who had the privilege of citi- zenship, but_were never residents within its walls. S. SAGUNTUM, a large city in the eastern part of Spain, famous for being the cause of tlie second Punick war. SALAMIS, an island on the eastern coast of Greece, famous for a sea fight, in which the Persian fleet of 2000 ships was vanquished by that of the Greeks, consisting of only 300. SARDINIA, a lai-ge island in the Mediterranean, which still bears the same name, possessed by the Carthaginiansi, and taken by the Romans. • GEOGRAPHICAL TABLE. 113 SICILY, also an ialand, the largest in the Mediterranean, set- tled chiefly by Grecian colonies, and made a Roman pro- vince in the second Punick war. SICYON, a small city of Greece, the capital of a small king- dom, which is thought to be the most ancient in Greece, and one of the most ancient in the world. SPAIN, called by the ancients Hispania, a large country of Europe, including a large peninsula in the south-west. The Cai-thaginians took possession of its coasts, but were su- pxerseded by the Romans. SPARTA, called also Lacedsemon, a powerful city and repul>- lick of Greece. SYRIA, an extensive country in the west of Asia, the seat in different ages of powerful kingdoms. T. TARENTUM, a city in the south-east of Italy, noted for lux- ury, and for having invited the aid of Pyrrhus against the Romans. THERMOPYLAE, a narrow passage between Mount CEta and the sea, on the eastern coast of Greece. It was here that Leonidas, king of Sparta, with only 300 men, engaged with the numerous army of the Persians. THRACE, a country of Europe, east of Macedonia, now Ro- melia, a part of Turkey. TIGRIS, a large and rapid river of Asia, rising in Armenia, and uniting with the Euphrates not far from its mouth. TROY, an ancient and celebrated city of Asia, situated nea¥ the straits now called Dardanelles, taken by the united forces of Greece, after a siege of 10 years. TYRE, a large and splendid city of Asia, on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean, taken by Nebuchadnezzar, and after- wards by Alexande;r the Great. Y. YORK, a modern city of Britain, called Eboracum by the an- cients. It was the second town in importance on the island. Z. ZAMA, a town of Numidia, 300 miles south-west of Carthage, famous for the victory of Scipio Africanus over Hannibal. 10*^ IMVy. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS ]||ilil!!!|!!!i| iiiii iiin iiiii luu {lill ilH! III!! {||{! "{I I!!! 018 458 453