QUESTIONS ON OUTLINES OF MODERN HISTORY. BY REV. ROYAL ROBBINS. INTRODUCTION.* 1. What event have some writers taken as the dividing period between Ancient and Modern History? What have others taken? Mention that which is assumed in this book. 2. Why is the Christian era the most proper separating point?-[What made it remarkable, in divine providence? Describe the state of the world in a political view?] 3. What is said of the materials of Modern History? What has diminished our means of information on this subject ?-[Mention the causes which have rendered portions of Ancient History obscure. What particulars can you relate of the library at Alexandria? What has happened to some libraries since ?] GENERAL DIVISION. -[How may Modern History be divided? By what may each period be remembered?]-What is the name and extent of the first period? Repeat this question in every period. PERIOD 1. What is the name and extent of this period? 1. With what great event does this period commence? Why does it belong to the Roman history? When did the birth of Jesus occur, in common reckoning? What is the general opinion of the learned on this subject? According to this opinion, how old was Jesus at the vulgar date 1-[What is said of the temple of Janus, at this time?] 2. How long had Rome been an empire? What was its state at the birth of Christ? What afterwards? What was one of the causes of its downfall? Why did ambassadors daily arrive at Rome? 3. Who was the first Roman emperor, and when did he die? What were the events between the birth of Christ and the death of Augustus? 4. What was the political condition of the Romans at this time 1-[On what accounts are we inclined to undervalue antiquity? How does this subject appear to a contemplative mind?] 5. Who now assumed the government? Who was Tiberius? How long did he ap pear just and moderate? After this, what was his character? Who were the first objects of his suspicions? What is said of the Roman people, upon the death of Germanicus? What did Tiberius afterwards? How did he die ?-[When did he abandon Rome, and whither did he repair? What is said of his person and habits? How long did he live and reign?] 6. What was the character of the Romans at this time?-[How did Tiberius feel in view of their character? What formed a part of the festivities of the Romans?] 7. Whom did Tiberius adopt? Who was Caligula, and why so called? When did he begin to reign, and in what manner? How did he at length act? What was Seneca's idea of him? When, and how did he die? -[What were his cruelties, impieties, folly, and prodigality? What does Heeren remark concerning his prodigality? By whom, and in what manner was his death accomplished?] 8. What followed the death of Caligula ? Who was proclaimed emperor? Who was Claudius? What was his character? -[What became of his family? By whose jealousy was he instigated to acts of cruelty?]-What particular enterprise marked his reign? How did it terminate? What became of Messalina his wife? Whom did he afterwards marry? What did Agrippina do? When was Claudius put to death? [Repeat the story of Petus and Arria.] 9. How many inhabitants did Rome at this time contain? What was its moral condition? 10. Who succeeded to the empire? To whom had Nero's education been entrusted? How long did he appear just and humane? What did he afterwards do? What is said of his flagitiousness, his meanness, and puerility? By whom was he slain? How long did he live and reign ?-[What was the cause of the burning of Rome? What is said of Piso's conspiracy against him? What was the state of Rome, and the surrounding country? Why was the despotism of the Roman emperors quietly borne by the people?]-During the reign of Nero, what occurred among the Britons? What among the Parthians? The Jews? 11. Who succeedled Nero in the empire? Who proclaimed Galba? What body sanc *It will be noticed, that the same order which prevails through the History, is preserved in the following Questions-and also that the Questions on that part of the work which is printed on the smaller type, are included in brackets, thus f.) tioned this measure? What was the cha-How long did he reign, and when did he racter of Galba, before his elevation? How die ?-[Did Trajan fear his enemies? Mendid he manifest his severity 7-[What would tion an anecdote in point. What war did have made him more acceptable as an he first engage in? Whither did he turn emperor? Mention an instance of his se- his arms afterwards? Where and how did verity. What is said of his parsimony ?]- he die? How was the estimation in which How long did Galba reign? On what ac-Trajan was held, shown?] count was he slain? What did Otho expect? Did the emperor favour this design? What followed? 12. Who was raised to the throne? What was the character of Otho? How long did he reign? What did Vitellius do?-[From whom was Otho descended? What has been observed respecting the last moments of his life?] 13. Who now assumed the government? How long did Vitellius retain it? What was his character? Under what circumstances did Vespasian appear in Italy at this time? What became of Vitellius? [What instances of his cruel disposition are here recorded? What is said of his gluttony?] 14. When and by whom was Vespasian declared emperor? By what was he distinguished? What is said of the Jewish war, during his reign? After this, what was the state of the empire?-[What were the acts of his administration? What were his feelings in regard to learning? How did he die?] 15. When did Titus succeed to the empire? What was his character? What is said of his reign? When did he die? -[What is related as an instance of the government of his passions? What is said of his tenderness? Mention some events that happened during his reign. What were the circumstances attending his last sickness? Who was suspected of having hastened his death ?] 18. Who succeeded Trajan? When? How was Adrian declared? Who was he? What did he do on his accession? Da scribe his character. When did be die? [What did he achieve in Britain What in a war with the Jews? In what manner did he travel? What is said of his endowments? Why did he wear a long beard? Whom did he adopt for his successor? In what manner did he bear the pains that preceded death? What was the character of his reign?] 19. Who succeeded to the empire? When? What was the character of Antoninus? How was his reign marked? What were the most remarkable foreign occurrences? What was the extent of his age and reign ?-[What is said of his munificence-his humanity--his love of peacehis regard of Christians? What, nevertheless, took place respecting them? What was his patronage of learned men ? Relate the circumstance respecting Apollonius. How did the emperor die ?] 20. Who now came to the throne? When? Who had been designated with Marcus ? Was Verus admitted as a partner? What was the character of the two brothers ? How did Marcus illustrate his attachment to philosophy? How did Verus conduct in war? What is said of the Parthians and Germans? After the death of Verus, what did Aurelius do? Where and when did Aurelius die? What was an infelicity of this emperor's reign? Who were the in15. When did Domitian assume the pur-struments in the persecution of Christians? ple? What were his acts after a short period? What is said of his reign? What most occupied his private hours? What is said of the persecution of Christians? Did he derive renown from the success of his general, Agricola?-[To whom was Domitian particularly hostile? What did he do to the senators, at particular times? By whom had his death been predicted? How did that circumstance affect him? What does Heeren say of the fall of Domitian? Who concerted measures to destroy him?]What race ended with Domitian? Who was the first, and who the last emperor of the Augustan family? 16. Who was now elected emperor? Who was Nerva? What unfitted him to cure the disorders of the empire? Whom did he adopt as his successor? When, and in what year of his age did he die ?-[During his reign, what commendable things did he do? Relate an instance of his lenity ?] [What is said of this emperor's love of retirement? Relate the story of a “Christian legion."]-Upon the death of Aurelius, what was the state of the empire ? At the period of Trajan's death, what countries did the empire comprehend? 21. Who now mounted the throne? When? Who was Commodus, and what his character? What is said of his administration? How and when did he perish? -[What is further said respecting his cruelty ?] 22. Who was the successor of Commodus? When was Pertinax proclaimed? Who was he? When, and by whom was he murdered? 23. Who next succeeded to the empire? When? How did Didius obtain it? What happened at the same time? Who seized the government? When and by whom was Didius put to death ?-[Relate the circumstances of his purchase of the empire. From 17. Who now possessed the throne? this period to what was he exposed? What What was the character of Trajan? In at the crisis of affairs did the senate do?] what particular was his equity implicated? 24. Who was now at the head of the RoWhat is said of the extent of the empire at man world? Who was Severus? What this time? What of Trajan's liberality is said of his military talents? His admi towards learning? What of his column?nistration of government? What work did he accomplish in Britain? Where and How did he pass his time after his elevation? when did he die? To whom did he leave How did he fall?-[What is said of his the empire -[What was the first act of Se-strength? Relate a further particular con⚫ veius! With whom did he soon after en- [cerning him?] gage in war? What is said of his activity 38. Was a new emperor immediately and love of conquest? What of the wall elected? When did Tacitus take the reins he built in Britain? What circumstances of government? What was his character? preceded his death ?] How and at what age did he die ? 25. Who were now established in the em- 39. Who succeeded Tacitus? Who, howpire? What were the characters of Cara- ever, was chosen by the army? How long calla and Geta ? What was the end of Car-did Florian enjoy this distinction? What acalla? During his reign what was the state became of him? What was the character of the empire ?-[Detail some of his bad ac- of Probus ? Why and by whom was he tions; his feelings in respect to death.] slain ?-[What is said of his parentage? Of his energy and virtue? Repeat the story of Bonosus.] 26. When was Macrinus proclained? How did he lose the affections of his army, and finally his life? How long was his reign? 27. Who was now raised to the throne ? What was the character of Heliogabalus ? How long did he reign ?-[Mention some facts respecting his effeminacy, prodigality, and cruelty. How was his death accomplished ?] 28. When was Alexander Severus proclaimed? What is said of his character and qualities? How was he cut off -[What was a specimen of his virtuous character; his reinark on a certain occasion; his intellect ual endowments? Mention some of the acts of his reign; his manner of living.] 29. How and when did Maximinus ascend the throne? What is said of his descent and person? What was his character as a sovereign? To what end did he come? How long was his reign, and what took place during it ?[In what did this emperor delight? How did he act when the senate appointed others to the supreme power? What is said of his strength and voracity ?] Who was now proclaimed? When? 40. Who succeeded Probus? Who was Carus? Who were associated with him in command? What was the character of Carus? Of his two sons? What is said of their reign? What became of Carus and his sons ?-[Tell the story of Numerian.] 41. When did Diocletian begin his reign? Whom did he associate with himself in the empire? What did they achieve? What step did they soon take? What was the state of things at this time? What did the two emperors do in a few years? How did they feel and act from that time? When did each die ?-[What was Diocletian's parentage? Why did he choose Galerius for his associate? What is further said of Diocletian? Of Maximian ?] 42. Who were now universally acknowledged emperors? Who ruled the eastern; who the western parts of the empire ? Who were the two partners whom Constantius and Galerius took in with them? What was the character of the two empe 30. When did Gordian assume the em-rors respectively? When did Constantius pire? How old was he at this time? State what he did. What part did Philip the Arabian act?-[How was Gordian's fondness for learning shown?] 31. When did Philip acquire the empire? How long did he reign? What was the manner of his death? 32. Who succeeded in the empire? When? What is said of Decius in respect to his activity? What causes were enfeebling the empire? When and how did his reign terminate? die, and whom did he leave as his successor? When and how did Galerius die? What did he instigate Diocletian to do? [Of what did the western parts of the empire consist? Of what the eastern? Relate an anecdote of Constantius.] 43. What is said of the prevalence, and number of the persecutions of Christians during this period? Name the persecuting emperors. From what motives did they act thus ? 44. When did Judea become a province 33. When and how was Gallus raised to of the Roman empire ? When did the the throne? Give an account of his char-birth of our Saviour take place? What acter and the manner of his death.-[What happened during his reign ?] 34. When did Valerian succeed to the throne? What did he suffer ?-[To what ase was he put by Sapor? What was the manner of his death ?] 35. Who was Gallienus, and when was he chosen emperor? What is said of him after his elevation? Of thirty pretenders? Of the emperor's death? 36. Who was now invested with the purple? When? What was the character of Claudius? What kind of death did he die? [What is said of his military exploits ?] 37. How and when was Aurelian chosen emperor? What is said of his parentage? did Herod do in reference to this occurrence? What happened to him ?-[In what year of the world was our Saviour born? What era do we nevertheless adopt? Can the mistake now be rectified? Who were troubled by his birth? How was Jesus in his infancy saved from the designs of Herod? What kind of life did our Saviour lead? Under whom did he suffer? What is further said of Christ ?]-Are the affairs of the Jews at this period sufficiently inportant to be particularized ?-[How was Judea divided at this time? What is a tetrarchy? Who held the different tetrarchies? Who was the successor of Archelaus } What is related concerning him? Who was the successor of Herod II. ? Mention] what is said in connexion with his name. Who was his successor, and what is said of him }} 45. When and by whom was Jerusalem atta, ked? What was the cause? How were the Jews treated ? How many of them perished? What did they suffer? What will the reader of the Bible see and learn in these events [Under what emperor did the Jewish war commence? Who was his general? Who at length prosecuted the war? Mention the particulars narrated.] 46. Was Jerusalem rebuilt after this? What followed? When was the city finally destroyed? When it was afterwards built over anew, what was it called? 47. At the beginning of this period, under what sway did Parthia continue? When did the second branch of the Arsacidæ commence [What is said of Verones 1.?] 48. Under whom did the second branch commence? How long did it last? What is further related of the Parthians 1-[What is said of Artabanus V. ?] 49. How long had Persia been subject to the Parthians from the time that it was brought under the Macedonian yoke? When and by whom was the Persian empire restored? What happened between the Persians and Romans under Artaxares? What is said of Sapores I.? By what name was the present dynasty called?-[What is further said of Sapores? What is said of Hormisdas II. ?] 50. When did the fifth dynasty of China commence ? When did it terminate? What is it called? During how many years, and under how many emperors did it last? Who was the head of it ?-[What is related of Kao-Tsou? What of Vuti ?]-When did the sixth dynasty begin and end? What is it called i How was China divided at this time? Distinguished Characters. Who were the distinguished characters of this period, and in what respects distinguished?-[1. What is said of the fame of Livy? What of his Roman history? 12. Give an account of the character of M. Antoninus. Of his Meditations. 13. Who was Tertullian, and what do his writings evince? Which are the most ez teemed of his works? 14. Give an account of the life, character, and writings of Origen. 15. What is said of Cyprian?] PERIOD II. What is the name and extent of this pe riod? 1. When was Constantine proclaimed? Who had been proclaimed before him, and who had declared himself at the same time? Whom did Galerius create emperor? Were these rivals of Constantine soon removed? What has Constantine been styled? What did he do in this character? What has been assigned as the cause of this? If the cause were real, would it account for his conduct ?-[Give an account of his seeing the cross. What occurred in 314?] 2. How was Constantine's administration at first, compared with what it was afterwards ?-[In what light has his character been considered? What ought we to think of it?]-Of what change in the empire was he the author, aside from its religious change? Can his motives for this be ascer tained? What was the effect of the measure? How and when did he die ?-[How was the new seat of empire said to have been pointed out ?]-How long are the histo ries of Rome and Constantinople blended? 3. What is said of the corruption of Rome at this time? What held the empire longer together? What specially tended to over throw the fabric at this period?-[What is said of the Roman armies ?] 4. On whom did Constantine settle the empire? When did their sovereignty com mence? Who of these remained in pos session of the whole empire, and how did it happen? How long and in what manner did Constantius reign ?-[By what enemies was the West annoyed? By what the East? Whom did Constantius create Cæsar? Describe his person and character.] 5. On what account was Julian called the 2. To what study was Ovid irresistibly apostate? When was he acknowledged by inclined? What was his fate in life? How the senate? How was he situated in reare his poems characterized? 3. Relate what is said of Tibullus. 4. What only remains of Strabo's works? Describe it. 5. Mention the circumstances in the life of Seneca. 6. Relate the facts in Lucan's life. What is the character of his Pharsalia ? 7. What is said of the studiousness of Pliny? Give an account of his work on Natural History. How did he lose his life? 8. Give the history of Quintillian. What is said of his Institutions? spect to Constantius? Describe his character. What did he do in favour of paganism? What did he attempt in respect to Jerusalem? How and at what age did he die ?-[In what manner did he treat the Christians? Which is the most fainous of his compositions? How were his last moments spent? Why did he attempt to rebuild the temple at Jerusalem? What is further said on this subject.] 6. What was the condition of things on the death of Julian? Who was finally fixed on as emperor? When? What did Jovian do 9. Give the particulars of the life of Ta-in respect to the Persians? What in res citus. Describe his writings. 10. Mention the facts in Plutarch's life. What is said of his Lives of Illustrious Men? 11. What can you say of Juvenal's life? What of his pieces? pect to the church? How long was his reign and age ?-[Mention a circumstance respecting his death.] 7. When was Valentinian I. elected? Whom did he associate with him? When QUESTIONS ON OUTLINES OF ANCIENT HISTORY. BY REV. ROYAL ROBBINS. INTRODUCTION.". [ces of the first three days? What was done on the fourth day? What on the What of Buffon and Darwin ?] 1. What does the term History compre- fifth and sixth? When, and how was man hend?-[What are the benefits to be expect- created? Mention some of the theories ed from history? What causes it to become held by ancient philosophers on this suba source of perpetual interest and enjoy-ject. What is the opinion of the Bramins ment? In what way does history improve and the negroes of Congo on this subject? our understanding, and enlarge our store of useful knowledge? How does it teach us wisdom? What is the most signal benefit to be derived from the record of past ages? What is history, speaking in the way of aphorism? What other advantages result from the study of history?] 2. How is history derived to us? What are its principal sources?-[What four other sources are mentioned? What are monuments, and what are they intended to perpetuate? In what way do ruins afford a knowledge of antiquity? What is said of coins? What are the most celebrated marbles known? Which is the most important of the Arundelian Marbles, and what does it contain?] GENERAL DIVISION. How may history be divided? How many years does ancient history include? What is its extent? What does modern history include? What is its extent? What is the name and extent of the first period?-[Repeat this question in every period. From what are the periods named?] PERIOD I. What is the name and extent of this period? 1. What is the first grand event which history presents? Why is the scriptural account the only one worthy of implicit be lief? 2. Give a brief account of that event as there related?-[What were the occurren 3. Where were Adam and Eve placed? What was their character and situation? [What opinions have been entertained relative to the situation of the garden of Eden? From the account given by Moses, where may we suppose it to have been sit uated?] 4. What were the circumstances of the first transgression ?-[What was involved in their sin? What was the effect upon creation and themselves? What promise was given in connexion with the doom of the serpent? To whom did it refer? What was the conclusion of this scene?] 5. When were Cain and Abel born 7 What crime did Cain commit? What was the occasion of it? What was his punishment? Where did he dwell after this event? For what was his family famous? [When is it supposed the murder of Abel occurred? When was Seth born? Why are his descendants styled the children of God? What prepared the way for the universal wickedness which soon prevailed?] 6. What are the next events related by the sacred historian? What is recorded of Enoch? How far is the sacred genealogy minutely given ?-[Where did Adam die? What are the conjectures respecting, his sepulchre? From whom did the giants of those days descend?]' 7. How did God determine to punish the wickedness which soon prevailed upon the Earth? How long a space did he give them for repentance? What preacher of right eousness did he send among them? Why were Noah and his family exempted from the general destruction? By what means * It will be noticed, that the same order which prevails through the History, is preserved in the following Questions-and also that the Questions on that part of the work which is printed on the smaller type, are included in brackets, thus [ ]. |