4 history of states, is given, and the subject is divided into ten periods, each The periods are then being distinguished by some characteristic trait. carried on separately. The important facts of each are stated in large type, and explanations, observations, anecdotes, adventures, and interesting particulars, illustrative of the events, manners, feelings, and opinions of the age, added in the smaller type. The matter in the smaller type is properly als expansion of that in the larger, or carries on the history merely by tracing its minuter features. At the close of the period, the lives of the illustrious persons who flourished during the same, are introduced, inasmuch as the constitute, in some instances, a portion of the world's political history. Having in this way gone through the ten periods, then the reader, under the GENERAL VIEWS, is instructed in the geography, politics, religion, military and naval affairs, arts, literature, manners, &c. of ancient nations. By this means he is brought into a close and intimate acquaintance with those communities whose political history he has read, and can picture to himself their manner of living, thinking, feeling, and acting. This latter part of the book includes nearly such a subdivision of the general history of the human race, as Heeren calls "the history of culture, or of humanity, which investigates the history of men as men, without further reference to political relations." A portion, however, of the first part of the work, particularly the biographical details, would be included, perhaps, in the professor's definition of the history of culture. 3 A plan of this kind, it is thought, if faithfully executed, must render history clear and intelligible; give vividness and interest to its various topics; enable the student to surmount the difficulties arising from dates; present a general view of the subject that may be easily comprehended and permanently established in the memory; and thus lay a strong and lasting foundation for a knowledge of history. The subject is so arranged, that the whole body of ancient history may be reviewed in its progress, embracing under one continuous aspect, the principal nations of the earth. And also, as already mentioned, the history of any particular nation may be taken up, and contemplated by itself. The student or reader having once mastered this outline, (if the plan have been executed in any measure answerable to the author's wishes, and to the importance of the subject,) will be qualified to enter upon the perusal of more extended and elaborate works of ancient history. Having the grand features of the subject distinctly arranged in his mind, he will readily class whatever additional facts he may obtain. He may thus accumulate knowledge without danger of confusion, and increase his power of recollection by multiplied associations. Though the work here presented to the public is especially designed for the purposes of education, it also contemplates the benefit of those individuals to whom the topics of history are not unknown, by refreshing their memory with scenes and incidents, from which they have before experienced pleasure. It is hoped, moreover, that the work has been constructed with such a regard to truth and moral consistency, as to be auxiliary to that purity of manners, efinement of taste, and love of knowledge, of which every fainly ought to be the cherished abode. : :: : : : : : : Antediluvian World. Surface of the Earth, Seasons, Population and Longevity, : : : : : Persia.-Extent and Situation, Education, Punishments, Military Art, Parthia. Situation, &c. Discoveries. Inventions, and Improvements of Early Ages, : 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 subserve 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 perpctual 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 halt 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 experience 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 cur 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 done, and of what he has cither 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 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 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 to 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 1556 B. C, to 264 B. C. |