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3dly, of Africa; connecting the æras, mentioned in the account of Syria, with the rise and fall of Nineve, Babylon, Rome, and Constantinople, to which Syria was successively subject; and the æras, mentioned in the account of Persia, with the leading events of Greece and Rome, antecedent to the same period; and in the account of Africa, shortly pointing out the principal occurrences in the history of that country, before its invasion by the disciples of Mahomet: II. Some mention will then be made of the events which facilitated the conquest of the east by the religion and arms of Mahomet; these are, 1st, the political weakness of the western and eastern empires; and 2dly, the religious disputes among the christians of the east: III. Some account will then be given of the rise and first progress of the Mahometan religion; containing a view, 1st, of the Geography, 2dly, of the Early History of Arabia; 3dly, of the Hegira and the mode of computing it; and

4thly, of the extent of the conquests made by Mahomet and his immediate successors: IV. Mention will then be made of the principal Mahometan states; containing an account of the dynasties and fortunes,-1st, of the Universal Caliphs; 2dly, of the Sultans and Sophis of Persia; 3dly, of the Sultans and Mamlouc Governors of Egypt; 4thly, of the Caliphs and Sheriffs of Morocco, and the States of Barbary; 5thly, of the Caliphs of Spain; 6thly, of the Mahometan Princes, who have reigned in Hindustan; and 7thly, of the Ottoman Emperors: V. The irruptions of the Mogul Tartars under Gengiskhan and Timour into the Asiatic territories, conquered by the disciples of Mahomet, will then be mentioned: VI. Notice will then be taken of some of the principal attempts of the princes of Christendom to repel the Mahometans; under this head mention will be made, 1st, of the Crusades; 2dly, of the military orders established for the defence of Christendom

against the Mahometans; and 3dly, of the most important victories which have been gained by the Christians over the Mahometans since the crusades: VII. A view will then be given of the religious tenets and literary history of the Mahometans; comprising an account, 1st, of the creed, opinions, and rites of the followers of Mahomet; 2dly, of the Koran; 3dly, of the Sects of the Mahometans; 4thly, of the Turkish Language; and 5thly, of Turkish Literature: VIII. A short view will then be offered of the actual extent and state of the countries where the Mahometan Religion is professed: IX. Mention will then be made of the principal authors, from whose writings the account of the Koran has been compiled: X. An article will follow, comprising some account of the ZendAvesta, the Vedas, the Kings and the Edda.

In perusing these sheets, the reader will derive much assistance from a Map, published by Mr. Wilkinson, with the title,

"Eslam, or the Countries, which have pro❝fessed the Faith of Mahomet."

I.

WITH respect to the ANTIENT HISTORY OF THE COUNTRIES, WHERE THE RELIGION AND EMPIRE OF MAHOMET TOOK

THEIR RISE:

I. 1. The modern word, answering to the country called Syria, is Barr-el-sham, or the country to the left, with a reference to Mecca. It is bounded by the Mediterranean on the west, by the Euphrates on the east, and from north to south it fills the space between Cilicia and Mount Amanus, to a line which may be supposed to be drawn from Gaza to the desert. A chain of mountains runs through it from north to south, with many ramifications: its most elevated point is the Lebanon. Under the Roman Empire it was divided into four parts, Commagêne, Seleucis, or the Syria Propria, Cole-Syria, or the hollow Syria,

from its being inclosed between the Lebanon and the Antilebanon, a mountain that runs parallel with it, and Phoenicia. Cole-Syria contains Damascus, and the ruins of Palmyra; Palestina was added to Syria in later times.

Christ.

The scripture informs us that Achaz, Before the king of Judah, being powerfully attacked by Razin the king of Syria, and by Phaceas, son of Romelias, thẹ king of Israel, invited Theglatphalasar, the king of Assyria or Nineve, to his assistance, and that he possessed himself of the greatest part of Syria.

His son Salmanazar conquered Judæa, and carried the ten tribes into captivity to Nineve. Major Rennell, (Geography of Herodotus, section 15), has produced strong arguments to prove, that they were afterwards distributed in Media.

The Chaldæans or Babylonians, under Asaraddon, who was the grand

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