Antediluvian World.-Surface of the Earth, Seasons, Population and Longevity, : : : : : : : : : : : : : : 154 Assyria, (including Babylonia)-Government and Laws, Religion, Customs, Phoenicians.-Country, Cities and Remains, Navigation and Colonies, Sciences, Arts and Manufactures, Religion, Lydians.-Country, Cities, Character, Customs, INTRODUCTION. 1. The term History comprehends a record of all the remarkable transactions which have taken place among the human family. It is the collected result of individual experience in every age and nation; and is, consequently, a source of practical wisdom to legislators and rulers, and of profitable reflection to private persons. The benefits to be expected from history deserve a few remarks in detail. When it is written with a proper spirit, and in strict agreement with facts, there is scarcely any branch of letters so well calculated to furnish an agreeable relaxation to the student; to improve his understanding and enlarge his stores of useful knowledge; or, in general, to subscrve the cause of morality and religion in human society. From the infinite variety of aspects in which history presents the dealings of Providence, and from the immense number of characters and incidents which it brings into view, it becomes a source of perpetual interest and enjoy ment. The novelist, with all the license he possesses to imagine such physical and moral combinations as he pleases, cannot clothe his subject with half the attractions which a reflecting mind attaches to true narrative. The view of past ages fills the mind with a sublime and pleasing melancholy. We dwell with deep and tender emotion on the actions, sufferings, and changes of those who were "bone of our bones, and flesh of our flesh"-we regret that some of them should ever have lived to disorder the world with their crimes, and that others should have died, to leave it without the benefit of their continued active labours. History improves our understanding, and enlarges our stores of useful knowledge, by bringing to our assistance the experience of others-the expeience of all time; by making us acquainted with human nature; by delivering the mind from bigotry and prejudice-from narrow and sectional feelings; by opening to us the springs of human affairs, and the causes of the rise, greatness, decline, and fall of empires. There is something in the picture of the generations before us, of their achievements and projects; of their manners, pursuits, and attainments; of their mode of thinking and acting; of their religion, government, and literature; which, going beyond the gratification of curiosity, or storing the mind with mere ideas, teaches us wisdom, by the comparison of their situation with our own, and by a great variety of interesting reflections naturally suggested to our thoughts. From the whole that history presents us, we deduce conclusions that have an important bearing on human happiness and virtue. This we consider as the most signal benefit derivable from the record of past ages. It gives us, in connexion with revelation, which furnishes a most interesting portion of the world's history, a correct estimate of life and of human nature in all its variety. It shows us how man has acted according to his own pleasure, whether uprightly or wickedly, and, at the same time, how God has conducted the train of events to bring about the purposes of His wisdom and grace. Speaking in the way of aphorism, history is a record of what God has donc, and of what he has either enabled or suffered man to do, on the stage of the world. Even, therefore, without the direct comments of the writer, which nevertheless are duc, we can derive important instruction from it; and can hardly help being impressed with the grandeur or solemnity of the movements of Providence, in the destiny of nations. In short, it is here that we are supplied with the most rational entertainment, and our faculties of imagination, memory, reason, and judgment, are put to a most agreeable and salutary exercise. It is here we learn political science and philosophy; we ascertain the necessity of government, the blessings of civilization, the progress of reason and society; and especially it is here we see "a God employed In all the good and ill that chequer life," and in all the events that have a bearing on the interests of true religion. 2. History is derived to us from various sources, differing in degrees of authenticity, but in general illustrating and confirming one another. The principal sources are the narratives of writers, whose knowledge of the events they describe may have been acquired by personal observation; inspection of public documents; poetic legends; and oral tradition. In addition to these, there are several other sources that are highly valuable, supplying the want of direct and regular narrative, such as monuments, ruins, coins, &c. Monuments on the surface of the ground, such as pillars and heaps of stone or earth, since they are intended to perpetuate the knowledge of important events, throw some light on the proper subjects of history. Ruins indicate the existence of arts and wisdom in ancient times, which are still astonishing to the civilized world. They afford a knowledge of antiquity, which description, in many cases, could never supply. Such are the ruins that exist in Egypt, the Holy Land, Greece, and Italy, in their cities, temples, aque ducts, columns, &c. Coins and medals offer very valuable means of historical information. They have often been examined and studied for that purpose, are abundant, and some of them possess considerable antiquity. The oldest known, belong o the 5th century B. C. Inscriptions on marble may be mentioned as another source of history. The Arundelian marbles, so called from the earl of Arundel, who brought them from Greece into England, are the most celebrated collection of marbles bearing inscriptions, and thus communicating knowledge of antiquity. The Chronicle of Paros is the most important of these inscriptions, as it contains the chronology of Athens, from the time of Cecrops 1582, commonly put 155€ B. C., to 264 B. C. ANCIENT HISTORY. GENERAL DIVISION. HISTORY may be divided into two great parts, viz. An cient and Modern. Ancient History includes a period of 4004 years, and extends from the Creation of the World to the Nativity of Jesus Christ. Modern History includes a period of 1829 years, and extends from the Nativity of Jesus Christ, to the present time. Observations. Ancient History, which is the subject of this volume, comprehending an account of the Creation, and the grand events connected with it; of the fall of man; of the deluge; of the origin of nations; and of the principles, achievements, manners, habits, religion, learning, &c. of the early race of mortals, is equally curious and instructive. PERIOD I. will extend from the Creation of the World, 4004 years, B. C., to the Deluge, 2348 years B. C. This is the Antediluvian Period. This is the PERIOD II. will extend from the Deluge, 2348 years B. C., to the Calling of Abraham, 1921 years B. C. period of the Confusion of Languages. PERIOD III. will extend from the Calling of Abraham, 1921 years B. C., to the Departure of the Israelites from Egypt, 1491 years B. C. This is the period of Egyptian Bondage. PERIOD IV. will extend from the Departure of the Israelites from Egypt, 1491 years B. C., to the Dedication of Solomon's Temple, 1004 years B. C. This is the period of the Trojan War. PERIOD V. will extend from the Dedication of Solomon's Temple, 1004 years B. C., to the Founding of Rome, 752 years B. C. This is the period of Homer. PERIOD VI. will extend from the Founding of Rome, 752 years B. C., to the Battle of Marathon, 490 years B. C. This is the period of Roman Kings. |