648. It has been already observed, that the first families, or tribes, were shepherds or hunters. The quarrels of these led to wars; wars to conquest; and conquest to increased dominion, and to empire. The first conqueror, according to holy writ, was Nimrod, a powerful hunter; who built Babylon, and laid the foundation of the Assyrian Monarchy. He was succeeded by his son Ninus; who built Nineveh, and extended his dominions all over Asia, from India to the Mediterranean. 649. Ninus was succeeded by his wife Semiramis; who, for a length of time, wore a man's habit, and extended her empire over Egypt, Ethiopia, and other countries of Africa. Her son Ninias succeeded her; and he had thirty successors, during a period of 1300 years, when Sardanapalus burnt himself in his palace at Nineveh ; and the Assyrian monarchy was divided into the Chaldean and Persian empires. 650. These empires continued separate, about 200 years; when both were united by Cyrus, (Cy-les) who established the second universal empire, called the Persian empire, which lasted more than 200 years. It was then conquered by Alexander the Great, king of Macedon, who, in his own person, established, for a few years, the third universal empire, called the Macedonian empire; which included Greece, Asia from the Mediterranean to the Indies, and Egypt in Africa. 651. On the death of Alexander, which took place at Babylon in the 33d year of his age, owing to a fever brought on by intoxication, his vast dominions were divided by his generals, who desolated the world by their mutual wars for many years afterwards. During these ages, civilization was confined to a few countries of Asia and Africa, and to Greece: the rest of the world was in a state of barbarism; and nothing is known of its history. 652. Soon after the death of Alexander the Great, în 323, (Alexan-tet) a new power arose more to the west, the ambition of which in time, spread its dominions over barbarous, as well as civilized, nations. This was the Roman empire; which commenced from the city of Rome, built by Romulus, in 753 (Rom-put) before CHRIST. By degrees it spread itself over Italy; thence to Greece and Africa; afterwards over the civilized parts of Asia (except China and India); and, finally, over all Europe, even to Scotland, and became the fourth great monarchy. 653. Greece, in its greatest extent, included Helias, .Thessaly, Macedonia, Thracia, Peloponnesus, and some colonies in Asia. The most remarkable events, which took place in Grecian history, were, the invasion of Greece by Xerxes, 480; the Peloponnesian war; and the reduction and subjugation of Greece, by Phillip of Macedon. The most celebrated political and military characters who have flourished in that country, were Miltiades, Themistocles, Aristides, Pericles, Cimon, Lysander, Alcibiades, Thrasybulus,Conon, Epaminondas, Agesilaus, Phocion, and Xenophon. 654. The Roman empire, in the time of Augustus, was bounded on the west, by the Atlantic and Northern Ocean; on the north, by the Rhine and the Danube; on the east, by the Euphrates; and on the south, by the sandy deserts of Arabia and Africa. It extended above two thousand miles in breadth, and more than three thousand in length, of chiefly fertile and well-cultivated land. 655. Among the most celebrated characters of Rome, may be reckoned Junius Brutus, Camillus, the two Scipios, Marius, Sylla, Pompey, Julius Cæsar, the two Catos, Cicero, Brutus, Cassius: all of whom flourished in the time of the Republic. The most remarkable events of Roman history were, The invasion of Italy by the Gauls under Brennus, who plundered and burnt the city of Rome; The subjugation of the Samnites, after a war of thirty years; The invasion of Italy, by Hannibal, the Carthaginian ; The reduction of Macedon and Greece; The fall and destruction of the fine city of Carthage, after the third Punic war; The division of the empire into east and west, by Constantine; And the annihilation of the Roman power, by the Goths, Vandals, and Turks. 656. The extensive empire of Germany, the head of which was till lately, called the Roman emperor, subsisted in its late form, from 912 till 1808. The most remarkable events which took place in Germany, were The contentions between the emperors and the popes; The rise and progress of the reformation; And the union of the German empire and the kingdom of Spain, in the person of Charles V.; who was the most celebrated emperor of the house of Austria. 657. The French monarchy commenced 481. The most remarkable events which have taken place in France, were The subduing of the greatest part of Europe, by Charlemagne ; The conquest of the greater part of France by the English, under Edward III. and Henry V.; The successes and defeats of Louis XIV.; And the late revolution in 1789. The victories and conquests of Napaleon le Grand, 1795 to 1814. The most celebrated sovereigns of France, were Charlemagne, Henry IV. Louis XIV. and Napoleon, crowned emperor in 1804. 658. The English monarchy includes England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales. The Saxon heptarchy was united in 827; and thus was laid the foundation of the kingdom of England. The most remarkable events in English history are The invasion of the Romans; The subjugation by the Saxons; The accession of the Danish prince Canute; The contests between the houses of York and Lan caster in the fifteenth century; The beheading of Charles I.; The revolution in 1688; And the separation of America. The most celebrated sovereigns of England, have been Alfred the Great, Edward I., Edward III., Henry V., Elizabeth, and William III. 659. In ancient times, the names, as well as the divisions of countries, were different from what they are at present their correspondence is given beneath. Ancient Latin Names. Scandinavia, Scandia, vel Baltia Scritofinni Suiones Gutæ et Helleviones Finningia Modern Names. Norway and Sweden. Lapland and West Bothnia Finland. Chersonesus Cimbrica Sarmatia Europæ Hirri et Estii vel Ostiones Jutland. Russia in Europe. Livonia and Esthonia France. Normandy, Brittany. Gascony and Guienne, &c. Dauphine and Savoy. Burgundy and Franche-comte. Holland and Friezland. Netherlands. Dutch and Austrian Brabant. |