Wor'thily, ad. suitably, justly, deservedly Wot, v. n. to know, to be aware of Wov'en, the part. of Weave [-pret. of Wind Wound, s. a hurt.-v. a. to hurt by violence, Woun'ding, s. act of cutting the skin Wrack, s. ruin, destruction; see Wreck Wraith, s. the pretended apparition of a person about to die Wran'gle, s. a perverse dispute; a quarrel. Wrestler, s. one skilled in wrestling Wright, s. a workman; an artificer in wood -v. a. to cause creases or wrinkles Wrist, s. the joint of the hand to the arm Wris'tband, s. the band of the shirt at the hand Writ, s. scripture; a legal process, &c.; as a pret. of Write now obsolete Write, v. to express by means of letters Writing-master, s. one who teaches to write Wriz'zled, a. wrinkled, withered, shrunk -a. not right, unfit.-v. a. to injure Wrong, Wrong'ly, ad. amiss, improperly Wrong'ful, a. unjust, dishonest, injurious Wrong headed, a. self-opinionated, perverse Wrote, pret. of Write Wroth, a. angry, enraged, provoked Wrung, pret. and part. of Wring X. as a Roman numeral, stands for 10; when X, laid horizontally, for 1000; and with a dash over it for 10,000; as an abbreviation X stands for Christ, Xn. for Christian, and Xm. for Christmas. As an initial it is pronounced like Z. Xang'ti, s. the name of God among the Chinese Xan'thic, a. tending to yellow, an acid combined of sulphur, carbon, &c. Xan'thine, s. a yellow colouring matter, discovered in madder Xantho'sia, s. a genus of plants covered with yellow down [the name of Socrates' wife Xantippe, s. a scold, a quarrelsome woman; Xebec', s. a small three-masted vessel Xenod'ochy, s. hospitality, kind treatment of strangers Xeroph'agy, s. the eating of dry meats a kind of fast among the primitive Christians, who in Lent ate only of bread and dry fruits Xero'des, s. any tumour "ttended with dryness Xero'tes, s. a want of moisture, a dry habit of body Xes'ta s. a liquid measure of 20 ounces Xiph'ias, . the sword-fish; a sword-shaped comet Xi'phoid, a. sword-like Xylog'raphy, s. the art of engraving on and printing from wood-blocks Xyne'cia, s. an Athenian festival Xys'ter, s. a surgeon's instrument for scraping bones Xys'tus, s. a walking place or gallery Y. FACHT 8. a small ship with one deck, richly | Yard, s. ground enclosed adjoining to a houses adorned, and contrived for swiftness and pleasure Yam, s. an American root a measure of three feet; supports for a vessel's sails Yar'dwand, . a measure of a yard Yarn, s. spun wool; woollen thread Year, s. the term of twelve calendar months Yea'rly, ad. once a year.-a. lasting a year Yearn, v. n. to feel great uneasiness Year'ning, s. an emotion of tenderness Yeo'man, s. a gentleman farmer; a freeholder; an officer in the king's court, &c. Yet, conj. nevertheless, notwithstanding. Yew'en, a, made or or resembling yew Yoke, s. a bandage for the neck: a mark of servitude; a chain; bond; couple, pair -v. a. to couple together; to enslave Yest, s. the froth in the working of new ale Yo'kefellow, s. a companion in labour or beer; spume on a troubled sea Yeas'ty, a. frothy; smeared with yest Yolk, s. the yellow part of an egg Yell. v. n. to make a howling noise.-s. a cry of horror or distress Yellow, a. of a bright glaring colour, as gold Yellowish, a. approaching to yellow Yelp'ing, s. act of barking as a dog after its prey Yeo'manry, s. a collective body of country gentlemen and farmers subjected to specific military regulations Yon, Yon'der, a. being within view Young, a youthful, not old; tender.-s. the offspring of any creature Younger, a. more young, not so old Yourself, pron. even you, you only Yule, s. the time of Christmas Z. ZAC'CHO, & in architecture, the lowest part Zincography, s. the art of drawing and print of the pedestal of a column Zaffar, Zaf fir, s. a factitious mineral Za'ny, s. a buffoon, a silly person, a merry andrew Zar nich, s. a solid substance in which orpiment is frequently found Zeal, . a passionate ardour; warmth Zealous, a. ardently passionate in a cause Zeph'yr, Zeph'yrus, s. the west wind on Zo'cle, s. a small sort of stand or pedestal, being a low square piece or meniber, used to support a bust or statue, &c. Zo'diac, s. a great circle of the sphere, containing the twelve signs Zodiacal, ". relating to the zodiac Zone, s. a girdle; a divis on of the earth Zoog'rapher, s. one who describes the nature, properties, and forms of animals Zoog'raphy, s. a description of the forms, natures, and properties of animals Zoological, a. describing living creatures Zoologist, s. one who treats of living crea tures Zest, s. the peel of an orange squeezed into Zooi'ogy, s. a scientific treatise of animals wine; a relish; a taste added -v. a. to heighten by auded relish Ze'ta, s. a Greek letter; a dining room Zetetic, a. proceeding by inquiry; seeking Zeu'gma, s. a figure in grammar, when one verb agrees with divers nouns Zig zag, a. turning short, winding Zigzags, s. pl. in fortification a series of diverging trenches, or paths, so cut that the besieged are prevented from enfilading the besieger in his approaches Zinc, Zink, s. a kind of fossil substance Zo'ophytes, s. pl. vegetables partaking of the nature both of plants and animals Zoophoric, s. statuary column, or a columa supporting the figure of an animal Zoophorus, s. a part between the architraves and cornice, so called on account of the ornaments carved on it, among which are the figures of animals Zoot'omist, s. one who dissects brute beasts Zoot'omy, s. a dissection of the bodies of brute beasts Zounds, interj. expressing anger or wonder A COMPENDIOUS TABLE OF UNIVERSAL HISTORY, DIVIDED INTO CHRONOLOGICAL ERAS; SHEWING THE MOST IMPORTANT EPOCHS AND STRIKING EVENTS IN THE ANNALS OF THE WORLD. B. C. THE FIRST PERIOD OF HISTORY. 4004 The Creation of the world, according to the best calculation, was in the 710th year of the Julian Period.* Adam and Eve created. 3879 Cain and Abel, the sons of Adam, offer sacrifice to God. 3875 Abel murdered by Cain. 3874 Birth of Seth, the second of the Patriarchs before the deluge. 3769 Birth of Enos, the third patriarch; probably the first mortal who instituted a general form of religious worship and sacrifice. 3679 Cainan, the fourth patriarch, born. 3609 Mahaleel, the fifth patriarch, born.-3544 Jared, the sixth patriarch, born. 3382 Enoch, the seventh patriarch, born. 3317 Methuselah, the eighth patriarch, born.-3130 Lameel, the ninth patriarch. 3074 Death of Adam, at the age of 930 years. 3017 Enoch, for his piety, translated to heaven in his 365th year. 2962 Seth dies, at the age of 912 years. 2949 Noah, the tenth patriarch before the flood, born. 2864 Enos dies, aged 962 years. 2852 Fuh-li, ascends the throne of China; and with him the recognized history of that empire may be said to commence. 2469 God reveals to Noah his purpose of destroying the human race by a general deluge, and commands him to prepare an ark. 2461 A conjunction of the planets. 2352 The world destroyed by a deluge. 2302 During the reign of Yu, emperor of China, a tremendous deluge is recorded to have taken place. 2245 Nimrod begins the kingdom of Babylon; and Ashur eommences that of Assyria. 2234 Celestial observations of the Chaldeans are begun at Babylon. 2205 Yu, emperor of China, commonly called "the Great, succeeds to the throne, which from this period became hereditary in the eldest son. This monarch was the first of the celebrated dynasty of" Hia." 2188 The kingdom of Egypt begins under Misraim, the son of Ham. 2124 Belus the Assyrian begins to reign at Nineveh, and largely extends his dominions. This is a very remarkable epoch in astronomical history. The Julian period is the product of three Cycles, the Solar, Lunar, and Indiction, or of 28, 19, and 15 years, which amount to 7980. The first year of the Christian era corresponds to the 4714th of the Julian Period. If, therefore, we add 4713 to any given year of this era, the sum will be the year of the period required. Thus, 4713+1855 6568, the year of the Julian Period corresponding to 1855. Hence it appears, that, according to our computation, the Julian Period extends to 710 complete years. beyond the creation, or the world was created in the 710th year of this period. The celebrated Joseph Scaliger was the inventor of the system of years, which has been very generally adopted by Chronologists. It comprehends all time; and the different epochs, eras, and computations may be referred and adjusted to it. Such are the first dawnings of primeval history, which are chiefly derived from the sacred records; and in the fragments of profane history we discover many traces of the events there recorded, though disguised by traditionary legends, and mixed with fable. Berosus, the Babylonian historian, makes ten generations between Alorus and Xisuthrus, kings of Chaldea, who reigned before the flood; which corresponds with the ten generations of the scriptures from Adam to Noah. Sanchoniathon of Phoenicia, Manetho the Egyptian, and the Chinese chronologers commence their annals not only at a period antecedent to the flood, but several thousand years prior to the Creation itself! Although the diffe ent divisions of time are frequently arbitrary, and vary. ing with different nations, there are. notwithstanding, many important epochs, independently of the Creation and the Deluge, from which historians have dated post diluvian events. The principal of these, among the Greeks, was the establishment of the Olympic games, B.C. 884 (called the Olympiads), and among the Romans, the building of Rome, B.C. 753 (ANN. ROMÆ). The most useful, however, as well as the most intelligible division of time, is the Birth of Christ (B.c. or A.D., before or after, as the event may be). There are also different Ages, or historical periods of time, which are mentioned by historians. as the Heroic ages, which were anterior to the Trojan war; the Classical ages, from the period of Homer and Hesiod to the decline of Roman literature under the Emperors; the Middle ages, which embrace the period from the fall of the Roman empire to the revival of learning in Western Europe during the fifteenth century. The most important and distinctive periods, in the historical division of time, since the Deluge, may be classed under seven CHRONOLOGICAL Eras. The first may be calculated from the establishment of the Assyrian and Egyptian monarchies, about 2200 B.C., to the grand epoch of the Trojan war, B.c. 11941184 (occupying a period of about 1000 years);-the second, from that period to the destruction of the great Babylonian empire by Cyrus, king of Persia, B.C. 538; the third, to the death of Alexander the Great, B.C. 323; - the fourth, to the Birth of Christ, or the Augustan age of Rome;-and the fifth, from that time to the fall of the Roman empire in the fifth century, when classical literature became extinct. The sixth era, from this last period to the REFORMATION (occupying a space of 1000 years), is called the MIDDLE OF FEUDAL AGES.- After this period, MODERN HISTORY, extending from the fifteenth century to the present time, may be said to commence. Agreeably to these Eras, or grand divisions of time in the annals of nations, the following Chronological View of History (compiled from the most authentic sources) has been arranged.* ERA I. From the foundation of the Assyrian and Egyptian monarchies, about 2200 years B.C. to the siege of Troy B.c. 1194-1184; which forms the most prosperous periods in the histories of Assyria and Egypt. Assyria. B. C. 2290 The first Assyrian empire was founded by Nimrod, or Belus; and Nineveh, the capital of the empire, was built by Ninus, the son of Nimrod. Semiramis, the queen of Ninus, raised the celebrated city of Babylon, which has justly been considered one of the seven wonders of the world. Ninyas, the son of Semiramis, succeeded her as King of Assyria; but the history of the successors of Ninyas, though Assyria held the rule of all Asia for ages, is, for thirty generations, entirely unknown, with the exception of Paul and Sardanapalus.† The leading events of classical antiquity have been chiefly gleaned from the "Introduction" to the "Classical and Archæological Dictionary," lately published by the Editor. † Continued in the succeeding Chronological Eras. B. C. Egypt. 2188 Menes, or Misraim, was the founder of the Egyptian monarchy. The succeeding kings were Busiris, Osymandias, Uchoreus, and Moris. 2084 The shepherd kings seize Lower Egypt; where they reign 260 years. 1920 Abraham enters Egypt. 1822 Memnon inventor of letters. 17:0 Joseph founds political institutions at Memphis. 1575, Moses born in Egypt, was instructed in their learning. 1555 He conducts the Israelites (who had obtained their settlement under Joseph 1750,) out of Fgypt. 1485 Individual Egyptians extend laws and ordinances, especially into Greece. Danaus, brother of Sesostris, emigrates with his fifty daughters, and lands at Rhodes in the first ship which appeared in Greece. 1200 Pheron. Proteus. Rhampsinit. Cheops. Cephren. Mycerinus. Asychis. The six preceding reigns occupied 170 years in duration. The Pyramids supposed to be built about this period.† China.* 2200 The national annals of China at this period begin to assume a more regular and authentic shape, the names of the sovereigns being at the same time reduced to a probable duration. The founder of the Hia dynasty, "Yu the Great," is generally represented as being the leader of the first band of colonists from the west after the deluge, which took place about 140 years before. 1766 Chintang founded the Shang dynasty about 120 years before the Exodus of the Israelites from Fgypt. He is said to have paid religious worship to Shangti, the Supreme Ruler of the world. This family ruled over the feudal states of the Chinese empire for a period of 644 years. But the names of Chausin and Tauki are synonymous in the Chinese annals for every thing cruel and licentious, as Nero and Messal na are in Ron an History; and the "Book of Records" dwells largely on their horrible crimes and debauchery, apparently in order to exculpate the conduct of Wu-Wang who dethroned them, and founded the illustrious Chau dynasty.† Phoenicia. 2000 The Phoenicians are celebrated as the most skilful and ancient navigators; Sidon and Tyre being their principal cities. The traffic by sea. 1493 Cadmus emigrates to Boeotia; introduces the Phoenician letters into Greece; founds Thebes. 1252 Tyre, the rival city of Sidon, built, afterwards the emporium of the world. Syrophoenicia. 1200 The north coast of Africa and Sicily colonized from Tyre. Phoenicians extend navigation beyond the Mediterranean; importing silver from Tarshish (Spain), tin from England, electrum from Holland and Germany. The products of the interior of Asia and Africa are brought by caravans to the mediterranean coast; as spices, drugs, gold, ivory, &c. evere It has not been usual with chronologers to enter upon the regular history of China, because, during the classical and mediæval ages, that ancient empire was entirely unknown. But since the vast extension of our commercial and political relations in the East, and the recent contests in which we have been engaged, China has a sumed a degree of importance that induces us to give it a prominent position in our chronological table. + Continued in the succeeding Chronological Eras. |