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Tous laa autras axamplairaa originaux sont flimis an commandant par la prami4ra paga qui comporta una amprainta dimpraaaion ou d'illuatration at •n tarminant par la darni^ra paga qui comporta una talla amprainta. Un daa symbolaa suivants apparaitra sur la damlAro imaga da chaqua microficha. salon la caa: la symbols — ^ signifio "A SUfVRE", la symbola ▼ signifia "FIN". Laa cartaa. planchas. tablaaux. ate. pauvant Atra fllmAa i daa taux da rMuction diff«rants. Lorsqua la doeumont aat trop grand pour *tra raproduit an un saul ciichA. il aat film* A partir da I'angia supAriaur gaueha, da gaueha k droita. at de haut an baa. an pranant la nombra d'imagaa nAcassaira. Laa diagrammaa suivants illuatrant la mAthoda. 6 si-. \ fi ^ ■■#e«r r ■ } m r^ir ttte ««« ©r CJfMWMttM 8cli««is. ■ t % QlTKBJICr PKWrTED BY J. T. BROUSSEAU, I', UtAKE gTREBTT. 1860. JtiluT HP! /i^». /O"^ /fr M ' of f QUESTIONS IN ANCIENT HISTORY. INTRODUCTION. Q. What is Ancient Histort/ f A. Ancient History is an account of all remarkable events from the creation of the world to the birth of our Saviour. Q- How is Ancient History divided ?< A. Ancient History is divided into Profane and Sacred History. Q. What is meant by Profane and Sacred History A. Sacred History relates events conneclea witn religion ; Profane History means all other records. CHAPTER ! Chronolofficai OutUnes. Q. How is the chronology of Ancient History divided? A. Into six periods, commonly called the Six Ages of tha World, viz : 1. from the creation of the world to the flood (1656 years); 2. from the flood to the callinff of Abraham (427 years) ; 3. from the calling of Abraham to the law of Moses (480 years) ; 4. from the law of Moses to the dedication of Solomon's temple (486 years); 5. from the dedication of Solomon's temple to the end of the captivity of Babylon (467 years) ; 6. from the end of the captivity of Babylon to the birth of our Saviour (638 years). FIRST AGE (B. C. 4004—2348.) Q. What is known of the first age of the world ? A. Our knowledge of the events which occurred during the first asre of the worl<1 ia varxr ij»«it«;i ^° ot them exist hut the Holy Scriptures. From these w learn that God made the world in the space of six days \i, as uu rcCOrutti wo S CHRONOLOGICAL OUTLINES. th»i the last and most perfect of Ms works were our first l„Lte Adam and Eve ; that He created them m a state SlttanOappm^sswhich.theylostbyeaU^^^^^^ forbidden fruit ; that they were driven out of the Gardm „/paru*2^n^ condemned to misery and death with all Redeemer [tiat Cain, the first son of Adam failed his brotC the innocent Abel, and built Henoohia, the first o^rfl oWes i that Cain's descendants began to cultivate husbandry, musio and the mechanic arts, whilst the Sen of Seth, Adam's third son, led j pastoral ife. ^ndwew distinguished for their piety ; that the ■' ere the tower of BatlS; Ninive, on the Tigris, «»<1 Thebes in Up- peTEgypt : the ruins of these once magnificent cities Tmta?o\Sstk>ngsmentionedinAncientHistory? * A.1 /tnwnini n. RQII 111 VJliai-U« *«»»»*%»■«•.-. rritf t. _ monarch; Nmrod, I graBdson of Cham, built Babylon -7;f Theorl«.n«l Inhabitants of IJ-opc -ere the* Celtes. or Goxnerlan, «, callil from Qomer, the cldcBt son of JapUet. «on of Cham, founded the Egyptian ~ - - - _- 1,. -U T>„U„lft„ ur first a state ing the xarden mth. all ise of a led bis the first ultivate 1st the >ral life, > " days finally, wicked, deluge } family. arters of Noah at Chaldea, I peopled issed into id North, irope(*); teninsula. most an- e empire, i since the e tower of )es in Up- jent cities it History? Egyptian t Babylon lomerlam, »o CHRONOLOGICAL OUTLINES. z and was the first conqueror. Assur, a son of Sem, was the first Assyrian king— his capital was Ninive. Javan, the fourth son of Japhet, was the first who reigned ia Greece. The Chinese attribute the origin of their monarchy to Yao, an early descendant of Noah. Q. What nation seems to have the earliest cultivated the arts and sciences ? A. The Egyptians, who communicated their progress in the arts and sciences, their ideas of wise government and their knowledge of navigation to the Phenicians and Greeks. THIRD AGE (B. C. 1921—1491), Q. Who were the Hebrews, Israelites, or Jews? A. They were the children of Abraham, a descendant ?? wk^^ '^® posterity of Sem, and a fiative of Chaldea. Q. What are the most important events of the third a^e, as connected with the history of the Hebrews ? A. The calling of Abraham, his removal to the land of Chanaan, the special promise made to him of a Redeemer |o be born of his race, the burning of Sodom and Go- .morrha (B. C. 1897), the birth of Isaac and Ismael. of Esau and Jacob (1837), the wonderful history of Joseph the descent of the twelve Patriarchs, or sons of Jacob' into Egypt (1706), the cruel bondage into which the Israelites were at last reduced by the Egyptian kings and their miraculous deliverance by the hand of Moses' Q. What celebrated cities were founded durinc the third age of the world ? ^ A. The most celebrated were Memphis, the capital of Lower Egypt; Sicyon and Argos, Thebes and Corinth bparta and Athens in Greece j the famous city of Trov ^° ^^^w^^°^^' ^^"^ ^'^""^ ^°^ Sidon on the Mediterranean Q. What happened in Greece towards the commence- ment of the third age ? A. A vast inundation, called the deluge of Deucalion, which by the ancient poets was mistaken for the univer- eal flood (1528). FOURTH AGE (B. C. 1491-1005). Q. What are the leading events of the history of God's chosen people during the fourth age of the world J 4 CHRONOLOGICAL OTTTLmES. A. Theiir jottrnoy through the desert ; the promulga- tion made to them of the Mosaic law in the midst of thunders and lightning on mount Sinai ; their wars with the inhabrtants of the Promised Land, or land of Oha- naan ; the appointment after Josue's death (1245) of judge* to govern them, the most renowned of whom were Gedeon, Jephte, Samson and Samuel : finally, the establishment of monarchical government, first in the person of Saul (1095) and then of David, whose son So- lomon built the noblest and most beautiful temple ever erected in honour of the Supreme Being. Q. What celebrated personages appeared in the days of the Judges of Israel ? A. In the days of the Judges, if ever, appeared those far>famed heroes, Minos, Bacchus, Saturn, Jupiter, Her- cules, Orpheus, and many others whom Greece and Rome in aftertimes adored as gods and demi-gods. Q. What other events stand conspicuous in the his- tory of the fourth age ? A. The conquest of the world by Sesostris, king of Egypt, and the memorable siege of Troy (1219—1209), which has been immortalised by Homer and Virgil. Q. Which is the first republic mentioned in history ? A. The first republican form of government was that of the Athenians after the death of their virtuous and brave king Codrus, precisely at the time when Saul as- cended the throne of Israel. FIFTH AGE (B. C 1005—538). Q. What change took place in the Jewish nation under Roboam, successor to Solomon ? A. Ten out of the twelve tribes revolted and formed a separate state, called the Kingdom of Israel (9S0)', the remaining tribes, Juda and Benjamin, composed the Kingdom of Juda. Q. What was the fate of the Jewish nation after the separation of the ten tribes ? A. The two kingdoms waged war incessantly against each other — in both, the people and princes relapsed into the worship of idols, and became so corrupt that the Lord in his anger permitted the Assyrians to invade the whole ...-j: )roiimlga- I midst of wars with d of Cha- 1245) of of whom [lally, the Bt in the le son So- nple ever the days red those itar, Her- 9ece and ds. the his- , king of —1209), rgil. history ? was that :uous and 1 Saul as- >h nation I formed 980); the osed the after the y against .psed into the Lord the whole CHRONOLOGICAL OUTLINES. 5 country. Salmanasar led the ten tribes away captive to Wmive, whedoe they never returned, and thus ended the kingdom of Israel (718). His son Sennacherib besieged Jerusalena which was only saved by a miracle, the angel ♦l^'^'iSl nnV'^y^' ff''''^ ^™« Eieohias, having dls- troyed 186,000 men of the Assyrian army. One hundred and twenty two years after this, Nabuohodonosor the Great ruined the city, burnt the temple to the ground and earned away (*) both king and people of Juda cap- tive to Babylon (588). ^ in \^f ^°^ ^^^^ ^^^ °^^^^° ^^^^® ^^ *^®^' impend- A. Yes ; he sent in those days many holy prophets, the most illustrious of whom were Elias, Isaias, Ezeohiel Jeremias and Daniel. ««"«o*, Q. Name the most important events of profane history during the fifth age of the world ? ^ r84wi'H^fT^'*T^.o^^ ^''^i'g" ^y^ Tyrian colony (888) and of Borne (753) by Romulus, a descendant of Lneas; the rise and fall of the second Assyrian empire, which began at Ninive, under Phul (777), and ended at Babylon, with the reign of Balthasar (565); the common- cement of the Olympian Games (776), and the appear- tll^\M^\^'''^^''P ^'^P' Pythagoras and the Seven Sages ; the birth of Cyrus the Great (599), who founded the Persian empire, put an end to the Babylo- nian power and restored the captive Jews to liberty. SIXTH AGE (B. • 638). Q.Whatare the principal events of Jewish "history A m? ^^^ °^ Babylon to the Christian era ? A. The preservation of God's people from destruction through the means of Esther, queen of Persia: their return from captivity and the building of the second tem- ple under Esdras and Nehemias; the visit of Alexander the Great to Jerusalem, (332) ; the conquest of Judea by Ptolemy Soter, king of Egypt, and again, a hundred years after, by.the kings of Syria ; the c?uel persecution •_^ ..n„iocx.us ; the victories qf the Machabees over the ^yn T generals ; the re-establishment of monarchy in . [*J See Inft-a, page 13. . OP THE EGYPTIAN8. SA'i the person of the high-priests (107), five of whom in succession are called the Aamonoean kings ; and at last, after a loDff series of internal wars and commotions, the conquest or Judea by the Romans, who give the province to Herod, an Idumean prince (37) : whereby *♦ the sceptre was removed from the house o/Juda" and thus according to the prophecy of the patriarch Jacob, the time ap- pointed for the Saviour's birth was at hand. Q. What are the chief events of profane history dur- ing the sixth age of the world ? A. The conquest of Egypt by Cambyses, successor to Cyrus ; the celebrated wars of the Greeks with the Per- sians and between themselves; the reign ot the Mace- donian hero, Alexander the Great, whose mighty empire was at his death divided among his generals ; the rapid progress of the Koman republic towards universal domi- nion ; its wars with the Italian states, Carthage, Sicily, Macedon, Greece, Spain, the kings of Asia, the Gauls and Egypt — till at length the sceptre of the world was swayed by Augustus Cesar. Under this prince the greatest of all events took place — the Redeemer pro- mised to our first parents, to the patriarchs, to David and the prophets, was born in Bethlehem on the 25th day of December in the year of the world 4004. CHAPTER II. Of the Egyptians. Q. What was the origin of the ancient Egyptians ? A. They were the descendants of Mesraim or Menes, grandson to Noah, and as early as 400 years after the flood composed a flourishing kingdom, in which the arts and sciences had made considerable progress. Q. What is related of king Busiris ? A. He built in Upper Egypt the famous city of Thebes, which had a hundred gates and was filled with temples and palaces. He is also said to have put to Ctivii \.TK.ij oui« ig^i rriiu --iaicv* iv vxaxb mo UUtUIUiUUS. Q. What is known of king Osymandias. A. His library, the first on record, bore this insorip- f whom io and at last, Dotions, the he provinoo ' the sceptre IS acoordiog e time ap> liistorj dur- luocessor to th the Per- the Mace- ;htv empire the rapid ersal domi- age, Sicily, , the Gauls world was prince the p:emer pro- to David 1 the 25th )4. OF THE EGYPTIANS, '^ L bvtm« «„1 !, Theban monuments. Oflymandia. 18 by some supposed to be the same as Memnon. whose statue uttered harmonious sounds at the rising of thrsuT Q. Who were the Pharaos ? A. The Scriptures give the name of Pharao to all the kings of Egypt whose history is connected with tha of God's chosen people, but particularly to the k nVs o llfT^'' f ^T' ^^^'> ^^'*^^^ Abraham miXd and where Joseph was sold (1729) ^ ^ Q. Who was Nitocris ? Becond in Ifi* .f .1? T^"'"'^ '^^'^'' ^""^ »>"i't the ^TKo li \ ""^ **»« tl»ree great pyramids now extant (The other two were built before her time.) y- Who where the Shepherd Kings ? ih^'x^T *^^ *'™! ""t Joseph's death,-Salatis, king of 240ototl'°*S7^ Lower Egypt Vith an arm/ o 240,000 men and founded at Heliopolis a dynasty, called the Shepherd Kngs ? Apophis, the last but one of them Tuin^'tr V,r*^ ^i^"4 ''^'^' "^^ SeaThilst pur: suing- the children of Israel (149] ). ? f « ^ Q. What immortalised the reign of king Meris rl422) ^ . A. He caused a lake to be dug out, ten leaVues in circumference, to receive the wate?s of he Ni^^ ^,en I overflowed too abundantly, and to supply the pTa ns of Egypt when the inundation proved deficient. ^ y. ^or what was Mens' son celebrated ? A. feiphoas, son of Meris (1379), added five days to the year, which before had 'only 360 days. He was famed for his philosophical writings. The Egyptiansire said to have invented beer in his time. ^^P"^°' ^'^ ScLri!?"^^'' P'"'^ ^' ^^^*^"*^« ^^^'^ t^^ reign of proDably IdOO years before the christian era. His arm v "Vorrrt'' f ''''' ''''^ ^««^^- 24,000 hoi e a"5 remains' °^ '''''""°" ^'^*'Se of his victories now 1 4' ?^T ^'^ ^''*;^ *''®*^ *^e kingdom of Juda ? lisinsorip. I ^^- -^"^^^^^ys of Roboam, successor to Solomon, Sesaa [rptians ? or Menes, s after the ch the arts us city of filled with ve put to lOfuiiulOug. -■a 8 OF THE EGYPTIANS. . entered Judea with a numerous army, took the citv of Jeru^em plundered the royal palaoe%ud cmiJ X all th^rwhes of the temple' (971). , «««'»"«wftW»y 9' J^**®^®'^ *l»e Twelve King^f • J J X impious Sennacherib, king of Assyria having mvaded Jude. wd besieged Je/usalem, ThXc^'S ^pt, marched agamst him, but was defeated ^d dr^en ran and ravaged the whole country, and returned with im- mense spoils to Jerusalem C*). After this disLerTEg^pt ™nr« t*-.1 f^^rchy (687), during whioh twd^ fZ^r ^"'^'^ ^^f,^""*^ between themselves, and Kn ^ '''^° ^'*T^^^ ^^*^ ^^"^^ ^«*^«"t^ ^*ch over „l!l! ? ^'j^^^°°^- As a monument of their m"utual good understanding, the> built the famous Labyrinth, Xh Ser /a^- •? P^^^^^f^^ horned Ind so'uni S together that visitors could never find their way out of them, without the help of a guide. ^ Q. Who was Psammetioue ? A. One of the Twelve Kings : after a reign of fifteen years, he was forced i^ leave his province by^he jaloZ sole inaster of Egypt. He next made war against the Ne?haf ^^**^ *^® ™^^* remarkable events of the reign of A. This prince (616) continued the war against the Assyrians. Josias, king of Juda, having refused him a E^' ^^r^^.?''^^*i°^' ^^« ^«^^*«d aid kmed in The plains of Mageddo.-The victor marched immediatelv to Jerusalem, took and plundered the city, r/S Joachas, successor to Josias, appointed Joakim king n h^ stead, and imposed a tribute on the whole country^ He ^en proceededon his way, and extended his conquests o theshoresoftheEuphrates. Bythe order ofNeohLeOO) *?i.^.f'«r^*bree years navigation return«r1 hx.fl. ' oru^ibraitar, having sailed round Africa. "*' '" ♦ See supra, pii^e 8. ' 10 afwavfa were i had bi thesei return called years ( conditi I body,^ I in due I but uti I other I I monun to defj peculia believe Their i and st Apis, apes, a were ol Q. I archy f A.I rals (35 in the i Q.R( dynostj ook the city of id carried away Assyria, having haraoa, king of ited and dri?en I followed, over- urned with im- lisaster, Egypt which twelve emselvcs, and )rity each over ir mutual good yrinth, which and so united Mr way out of 3ign of Bfteen 3y thejalousy the assistance II and became r against the }ge of Azotus ' the reign of against the efused him a killed in the immediately imprisou'^d n king in his •untry. He 3onqueats to eohao(600), he Red Sea, OF THE EGYPTIANS. 9 Q. What became of the ancient Egyptian monarchy ? A. Soon after Nechao's time, Egypt waaraivatfed and rimed by Nabuchodonosor the Great—Seventy years later (626), the Persians, under Cambyses, became mas- tew of the country, and retained it till they w«re them- selves conquered by Alexander. Q. Give a few details ooncerniiig the wisdom, laws, customs and religion of the ancient %yptians ? A. The Egyptians were accounted the wisest and most learned nation of the world. Their kings were obliged to admmisfcer justice to the people, in which they were however assisted by a certain number of magi^rates. Idleness and beggary were totally proscribed. The dead were subject to a sort of public judgement : if theif lives had been vicious, they were interred i iout honour ; if the sentence was a favourable one, they were embalmed and returned to their relations. These embalmed bodies were called mummiesy some of which skill exist and are 3,000 years old. A law prohibited lending money except on condition than the borrower should pawn his father's f)ody,4t being reputed infamy not to redeem such a pledge f 1° r"!.J?°*®- ^*^e Egyptians were fond of new inventions, . but utility was constantly preferred to amusement. No other nation even attempted such gigantic and durable monuments a*, their pyramids and obelisks, which seem to defy the ravages of time. O^hejr writing consisted of peculiar signs and figures, caHed hieroglyphics. They believed m the immortality and transmigration of souls iheir fel!-ious worship was a mixture of the most absurd and stupid species of idolatry. Their chief divinity, Apis, was a living ox ; dogs, wolves, crocodiles, cats, apes, and even the plants that grew in their gardens were objects of divine honour. .,„?* ?^ ^i^T ^*! *^^»ew, or second, Egyptian mon- archy founded and how long did it last? ••i^ol'^x'^^X^.""^^^ by Ptolemy, one (rf Alexander's gene- rais {616). His descendants occupied the throne for about <5U^ years, tuat is, till Egypt was made a lioman province ^" A^'^^^" Augustus Caesar (30). ^ Q. Relate the most remarkable events of the Ptolem^an 10 OF THE ASSTEIANS. »nd good man— He protected tho arts and scien^s and tZe7?otnn'!? 'r "" "^r^ «^ AkxandJiaTScon* hS A^u ?k"T- ^'"''"■y Philadelphus imitated «,tf5^ '*'?'i' tie Pharos of Alexandria, which was re- InL i^ ^ Scriptures U. be translated into Griek, from a 7^, I? f " ''i'"" '*"' '"''" •>? ""^ tigh-priest of the fnT» ,/"'l«?'y Evergetes (246) was successful in war, and a lover of science, being himself a learned writer. ' ^'^'' '"^^"^^ ^'' neighbours, and united them under the same authority death o^NeSf ^ '" '^' '''''''^'' ^^^^^ ^^^^^ '^' ih^A^t- ''''' ^^""' ^^?^^^' ^^°' ^^^^ ^J^« assistance of TVvt * T ^'- ^^°??^I^<^ a vast extent of country from f£t ?^'t, ^""M *^>« P"^ce, Ninive became the ^argesi^and noblest city in the world. •^. ^y whom was the city of Babylon made to rival Amive in grandeur and beauty ? A. Ninus' widow, the famous queen Semiramis(2007), adort cipal lakes, and t Q/ A. sonal armie I warfe] A.- I which I miran t to be genera Q. J A. { cessors I prince I with tl: i Q. ^ ^ of Bab; him to ; ihrec y * Helns. divinity ol OP THE ASSYRIANS. 11 valiant, brave, d sciences, and ria, which con- Iphus imitated , which was re- 'Id, and caused &reek, from a h-priest of the jessful in war, rned writer. smaBan princes ings of Syria, mes, in which id treacherous pnn- the Assyrian Chaldca) and r Tigris, archy ?. oriptures call bam, and the he chase, ho face dangers irst of which ghbours, and wrer after the assistance of 3ountry from 3 became the ade to rival adorned Babylon with m. :/ stupendous works, the pnn- cipal of which werq the walls, quays and bridges : the lakes banks and canals ; the palace, the hanging gardens, and the temple of Belus (*). © 6 e '^"o, Q. What was the favorite occupation of queen Semiramis' A. War and conquest. She was endued with great per- sonal courage, and used to put herself at the head of her armies when they marched to battle. Q. How did Semiramis oppose the Indian mode of ^^ A "^mV^" ^ ^^^ *^® ^^^^^^ 0^ ^6' stratagem ? A. The Indian made use of elephants, on the backs of which were little castles filled with armed men. As Se- miramis had no elephants, she caused a number of camels to be dressed up ^n the same manner, but hep mock ele- phants coul^i not stand against the real ones : the Assy- rian army was overcome, and the queen, after having heen twice wounded, escaped only through the speed of her courser. • . * Q. What kind of life did Ninyas lead ? A. Ninyas (1965), son and successor to Semiramis lived m peace ; being wholly intent on his pleasures, he shut himself up m his palace at Ninive, and seldom showed himself to his subjects, leaving the charge of every thing to his ministers. To preserve order, and prevent conspiracies, he kept a certain number of troops wtiorc he renewed yearly. Q. What is said of the successors of Ninyas ^ A. They are said to have imitated his example for thirty generations, that is, during nearly twelve hundred years. tjj. Name the last king of the first Assyrian monarchy ''' A. Sardanapalus (840), who surpassed all his prede- cessors in uxury and effeminacy. This weak and foolish - prince used to dress in female attire, and sit and spin jwifh the women m his palace. Q. Who formed a conspiracy against Sardanapalus ? nf 5\ 1 ^^P""^'"^' °^ ^®^^^' ^o<^ Belsis, governor l1J?!^*r- ?^^% xr^^^'*'^ ^"^ ^° ^^**J« and pursued im to the gates of Ninive, where they beaieePd him fn. three years. " ^' * amis (2007), i <»'*»J^y ofKKSnC''*^ *° ^' ""' "'*'"« ^"^ Neinro OF THE ASSTEIANS. 13 thrown down )a8sage to the ral pile to be iuohs, hi6 wo- lonarcby was s, Media, Ba- irchy begin ? established a ade their city India, made himself the kingdom its away oap- kgainst Syria, s into Media. maining part atry and car- le Euphrates pib? ist the king- i great army, f blasphemy leet the king Jews, defea- and returned city seemed ,a letter upon lid vindicate le Lord, that men of the haste to Ni- against him, immediately A. His youngest son Assarhaddon (710), -who con- quered the Babylonians and Jews. The wicked Manas- ses, king of Juda, was loaded with chains, and carried away prisoner to Babylon, whence the Lord, moT«<| hj l^is repentance, permitted him to return to his kingdom some years after. Q. Who were the three next kings after Assarhaddon ? A. Nabuchodonosor the First (669) (*), who defeated the Modes in several pitched battles, levelled their oapi^l Ecbatana with the ground, and put to death their king, Phraortes (the Arphas»d of Scripture) ; Saracus (64?), a weak and effeminate prince ; and Nabopokwar (6SI5), a Babylonian general, who in conjunction with Oyaxarea I, king of the Modes, revolted against Saracus, killed him and utterly destroyed the great city of Niniv^ Babylon thus became the capital of the second Asspian, henceforth called the Babylonian empire. Q. Who was the most powerful and celebrated of the Babylonian kings ? A. Nabuchodonosor the Second, or the great (604), son of Nabopolassar. He defeated Nechao's aripy near th'e Euphrates,~s^bdued Syria and Palestine— twice \^ sieged, took and plundered Jerusalem, after which he threw down the walls of the holy city, burnt the temple of Solomon to the ground, and carried away (+) both princes and people to Babylon (588). In the 21st year^ of his reign, he began the siege of Tyre, which lasted 13 years. The destruction of Tyre was followed by the conquest of Egypt, whence he returned in triumph to his capital, having now, as he vainly supposed, laid the whole world prostrate at his feet. Q. What effect did the good fortune of Nabuchodono- sor the Grreat produce on his mind ? A. Elated with pride at the sight of his victories and of the magnificent works he had added to Babylon, Na- buchodonosor began to claim divine honours and to com- pel his subjects, under pain of death, to adore hie golden * Under this prince happened the history of Jndlth. vJthlt^^i^'a^ '^\^^^ Jews 80 often foretold by the prortiet Jeremlas bMan, oJp«t whFPf^if.^'*® *"** plunder of Jerusalem 68 by Wuehodonosor'the m&l!raia?^nL7rlbffi.'" '^"^""^ ''"* afterwards released upon hte pro- 14 OF THE PERSIANS AND MEDES. «ij: statue. The punishment of Heaven awaited his blasphe- mies ; he was reduced, as the prophet Daniel had pre- dicted, to such a state of insanity that for seyen years he wandered among the wild beasts, living upon grass : "his hairs grew like the feathers of eagles, and his nails like birds claws." He recovered, twelve months before his death, and by a solemn edict proclaimed throughout his dominions the power and wisdom of the true God. Q. What memorable event occurred soon after the- reien of Nabuchodonosor the Great ? .u ;*^?^ ®'®^^ of Babylon (555) by Cyrus and Darius the Mede (*).^ Instead of watching and opposing his for- midable memies, the proud and cruel Baltassar gave his courtiers a great entertainment, during which he had the impiety t> profane the holy vessels brought from the Jewish temple by his grandsire, Nabuchodonosor II. A mysterious hand was immediately seen writing on the wall of the apartment, in characters unknown to the dis- mayed assembly; the prophet Daniel thus explained them : « Mane.—Qod hath numbered thy kinedom and hath ended it. Thecel— Thou art weighed in the balance and art found wanting. Pkares.-^Thy king- " dom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians " That same night the city was taken, Baltassar slain, and Darius the Mede ascended the throne of Babylon. CHAPTER IV. Of the Persians and JHfedes, Q. What was the origin of the Persians ? A. The Persians, called in Scripture Elamiics, were a very ancient people, descended from Elam, the eldest son of Sem. Q. What is known of the early history of the Persians ? Av"^V^^® °°'^ ®^®"* ®° '^°°^^ ^^' *^** ^» ♦Jie days of Abraham one of their kings, named Chodorlahomor, with four allied princes, invaded Palestine pillaged Sodom, and^ carried away Lot and his family, who were rescued ^jiiiQ patriarch and his servants (1912). • See InfriL, page 15. OF THE PERSIANS AND MEDE8. 15 Q. Who were the Medea ? A. A warlike nation, closely resembling the Persians in religion [*], laws and manners, who inhabited the country south of the Caspian sea. At the death of Sar- danapalus, they were freed from the Assyrian yoke and for a while lived under a republican form of government; but anarchy having prevailed, they elected a king, Dejoces (710), who built the beautiful city of Ecbatana. His four immediate sQccessors, all tributaries to the Assyrians, were : Phraortes, who subdued Persia and upper Asia, but was defeated and put to death by Nabuchodonosor I ; Cyaxares I, who waged a successful war* against the As- syrians, but was unable to resist the Scythians : Astyages, grandfather to Cyrus, by his daughter Mandane, who married the son of the Persian king Aohemenes ; and Cyaxares II, called in Scripture Darius de Mode. Q. Who is commonly considered as the founder of tlis' Persian monarchy ? A. Cyrus the Great, born about 600 years before the Christian era. Q. For what was Cyrus highly renowned ? A. For his virtue, courage, wisdom and penetration. S. Relate an anecdote of Cyrus' yonth. .At the age of twelve, he paid a visit to his grandfathSr Astyages, king of »^dia, who prepared a magnificent banquet and ordered Cyrus to perform the <»fflee of the king's cupbearer. When the repast was over : " 1 was pleased, said Astyages to Cyrus, with the grace and dexterity of my cupbearer, but he .• }?^P^P^^ essential ceremony.... he did not taste the liquor ho presented.— I did not forget It, replied Cyrus, but 1 feared it was poison.— Poison ! exclaimed .* •^^^''L^'^'*', ?'^^J? 1— Yes, father, said Cyrus. The other day, 1 perceived that after drinking this liquor, all the company lost their wits : they shouted, sung and laughed at random ; you appeared not to remember that you were a king. nor they, that they were your subjects. In short, when you attempted to .. »?'•'' J'*'" ^°"!^ not even stand.-What! said Astyages, does not the same thing hapr>fn to your father?— Never, answered Cyrus: when he has done Urinkiug, he his uo longer thirsty.... nothing else happens to him." Q. Name the two most celebrated exploits of Cyrus the Great. A. The battle of Thymbria (556), where Cresus, king of Jjydia, famed for his immense riches, was vanquished and made prisoner ; and the siege of Babylon, seventeen years after which Cyrus ascended the throne (538). His empire, which he' divided into one hundred II t y.^^u^^J??'? °''t^*! 9"n.„ftnd the beh jf In a gootl and Ivel god, were pecu- Har traits of their religion. Their priests were called mages, " * ""^ *"^" i« OF THE PERSIANS AND MEDES. *°«1 *w®nty provinces, now extended from the Indus to the Mediterranean and Euxine seas, and from the Per- sian gnlph to Scythia. Q. Who succeeded Cyrus the Great ? ^ A. His son Cambyses, who added Egypt to his domi- mouB. His character was all violence and cruelty ; he killed his sister and his brother, and was slain accidentally by his own sword, in the act of mounting his horse to march against Smerdis the Mage^ or the Impostor. Q. By whom was Cambyses succeeded (522) ? A. By Darius Hystaspes *, under whom the Babylo- mans revolted. Darius besieged them, took their city, beat down their walls, and gave their effects for a spoil to the Persians [515]. ^ Q. For what is the reign of Darius Hystaspes me- morable ? A. Having replaced Babylon, he marched against the Scythians with an army of 600,000 men, who nearlv all died of thirst and hunger. But the most memorable event of Darius' reign was the commencement of the 50 years war between the Greeks and Persians. To punish the Athenians for having assisted the lonians in their revolt, Darius sent into Greece an army of 110,000 men, which was completely routed by 10,000 Greeks under Mil- Uades, at the famous battle of Marathon [490]. Enraged at the news of this defeat, the monarch determined to march in person with all the forces of his empire; but death prevented him from carrying his plans into execution. Q. Who succeeded Darius Hystaspes ? A. His son Xerxes I [485]. This prince assembled an army of more than two millions of men, passed the Hellespont on a bridge of boats, overran Thracia, Mace- donia and Thessaly, but was arrested during two days at the pass of Thermopylae by 800 Spartans, who with their king Leonidas all perished, after having killed 20,000 of Xerxes best troops. He afterwards marched to Athens, which he took and burnt, the Athenians having retired to \^lTS^^^^Jr^^}'^'f *^« Persians believing him to dnH^^ 1^? 1 ® ***J? Of Cyrus. The Imposture was detected by one of his wives • wh?chVwMi^bL^i;^?^**'='*''l":?.*'l?*.^'« ««™ Jj^d been cut off rpunlshiS Which It was known Cyrus had inflicted on Smerdis the Mage. *'"""""'»"* OF THE PERSIANS AND MEDE8. It he Indas to om the Por- to his domi- cruelty; he accidentally his horse to wstor. the Babylo- £ their city, for a spoil 3tas{>e6 me- against the B early all memorable it of the 50 To punish ns in their ),000 men, under Mil- . Enraged ermined to s empire; plans into assembled passed the icia, Mace- wo days at with their 20,000 of ;o Athens, : retired to lievlng him to s of his wives; I punisbm«iu their ships — next, his fleet attacked that of Greece, com- luanded by Themistoolos, and was almost totally des- troyed at the battle of Salamis. After a second defeat by sea (at Mycale), Xerxes fled to Asia, leaving behind him 300,000 men under the command of Mardonius. These were completely beaten at Platea by Pausanias and Aris- tide8,...so that scarcely 4,000 Persians ever^rcflained their native country. Xerxes was put to death oy his subjects, for his luxury, cruelty and ill success. Q. Give a brief account of Xerxes' four immediate successors ? A. His son, Artaxerxcs I (473), continued the war with the Greeks, and after many defeats and losses was compelled to sue for peace by Gimon the Athenian. — The banished Themistocles was kindly received at the court, of this prince, and died a voluntary death by poison, ra- ther than assist in invading his native country. The next king of Persia was Xerxes II (424); he reigned only forty- five days, and was assassinated by his brother Sogdianus, who enjoyed the fruit of his fratricide only 6 months and a half, when he was smothered in ashes. The fourth was Darius Notus, a weak and indolent prince, under whom Egypt recovered its independence. He took part in the Peloponnesian war, then raging in its greatest fury. Q. Why was Artaxerxes II called Mnemon, and for what is his reign remarkable ? A. Artaxerxes II (405) was called Mnemon on account of his prodigious memory. His reign is remarkable for the Retreat of the Ten Thousand Greeks (iOl), belong- ing to the army of his brother Cyrus whom he killed in single combat. Q. Name the two next kings of Persia ? A. Oohus and his son Arses ; both were poisoned by the Egyptian Bagoas, their chief minister. Q. With whom did the Persian empire fall ? A. With Darius Codomanus, who was attacked and defeated by Alexander the Great, in the three celebrated nA^'^l'^a Cif fllA Q-roni/tna Tcoiio nnA AwKoli ', joTst-ns cG»\x ^ixvcia. killed by one of his generals whilst attempting to raise a new army (330). 18 OP THE GREEKS. l. !>• CHAPTER V. Of the Greeks. A Tn '^ ^'n *^' P"«ei^di vision of Ancient Greece? Grecian ooLill^ ""'' ^""'y- "^" "'^o i-^abited by lies^'ap' "" """ '~'''' '""" °f ""= G™«i* i" the ear- cnoioe of their food, in the construction of houses and in X:f *ThT?^^T''^^'»*es made tZTu:^z ui Doasts. iJie Phenician Cadmus r3494^ fftn^rKf ♦!,« 1 A ci.S'o'rr""""'' "*<"■ •"''V t/' f ""^ ?''''»f kingdorns were Sicyon, Areos, Mvoenm atdXinI7*7 '""=^<"«"»» O'Sparta, AtLens! SICYON AND ARGOS. Q. What is known of Sicyon and Areos ? „n^' f .T° <^.^*^''> ''^^ *''« ""S' »»<'!«''», but never a powerful kingdom It lasted eeyen hondied vearland finally became united to Argos. WVmong the^nZ re markab e sovereigns of the latttr wert : Inaf hu, its fonn " der. a Phenician [1823J ; Argus, said to be the fi st X wt,e r^wJ'.^'n' ' ^'""'"'- "•"' Egyptian pince" wuose fitiip was the first ever Rrtpn in a^^z:/ -_*3 t^ ' ^, of whom many wonders a"r7reiater"°"' """ "" • All the GrKtan republics were at Srat governed ly king,. OP THE (THEIKP. 10 MYCKNiE. Q. Name the most celebrated kings of Mycenae. A. Its founder was Perseus, who had exchanged his own kingdom for this, and whose descendants called the Hera- cliflcPf from Hercules, his great-grandson, were expel U'd [1320] from the Grecian peninsula [now Morea] by the Pelopidae, so called from Pelops, a Phrygian prince. The Heraclidae returned after about two hundred years, and gave new sovereigns to several Grecian states. The descendants of Pelops were frightfully conspicuous : among them Ve may mention Eurystheus, who imposed on Hercules the Twelve Labours^ so much exoggerated by fable ; Atreus, who served at table the flesh of liis nephews to their father Thyestus ; Agamemnon, the leader of the Greeks against Troy ; and Menelaus, king of Sparta, whose wife Helen was the cause of that war. THESSALY. Q. Give a brief account of The.ssaly. A. Thcssaly included seven nations, from whom most of tho other Greeks were probably descended. They were excellent equestrians and perhaps the first in Greece who rode upon horses. Their treachery and dishonesty were proverbial. Saturn, or his son Jupiter, was their first king. — The deluge of Deucalion, the expedition of the Argonauts, and the battle of Pharsalia, are celebrated events of Thessalian history. The country was alter- nately subject to Epirus and Macedon, and at length became a part of the latter kingdom. ARCADIA. Q. What have you to remark of the Arcadians ? A. They were the most ancient inhabitants of Pelo- ponnessus, and pretended to be of older date than the moon. Pelasgus was their first king. Their country was called the land of shepherds^ yet they loved military fame, and frequently hired themselves to fight the battle of neighbouring states. In their absence, they committed the care of their flocks to the Arcadian women, who were MACEDON. Q. By whom was the kingdom of Macedon founded ! so OF THE 0RFJX8. i. » rm^:-! ^''J^"^""^' «n Argive, descended from Hercules iwmj Nothing ^R,n„rtant is related to this kingdom A fS?*'*rf **•*'''* Reserving uotice ID thehistory of EpiruF? aoot Jrn^ /''^'' T"" * ^"';^^ '"^^ «f mountaineers, aoouatomed from infancy to the use of arms and inferiors .. r ^ne m bravery. Amon^ their princes were Neopto- lemuj. son of the famous Achilles; and Pyrrhus II who ItomAns [280]. Two very remarkable places in Enirus ^ n T^'^ 1. SPARTA. Jpen W '""''" ^' ''^^""^^ ^^°« -^-*«- ^'^ A. Messenia was from its foundation [1600] an object nhabitents to live m peace and independence, and, at last, after three most bloody wars, partly enslaved them anlpartl^ expelled them o'ut of PeloponVeLSs) ' MESSENIA. nri?; f n fhi ^^^ ?"? *^ ''^**t ^^ '^P"*^ «' I-aoed^mon, prior to the days of Lycurgus ? ' A. Sp^ta, the capital of Laconia, was founded about l^reek. Its third king, Lacedemon, gave his name to too country and that of his wife to thf city : amor his descendants were Castor, Pollux, Helen and Olvf em ' nestra, all femed among the po^s. About a i^.f^^ years after the siege of Troy, 4o brothers, thVV. i Aristodemus, began to reign jointly, and th.» twofold Q ^ ho were the Helots ? smJ"'^'^'^:^^'^« '?"!to,y. ^ho were " '^^ ' o^»TUij wy lue iuaeeaemonians [1050]. * See \;Ali, ^^m .^. ■ OF THE CHEEKS. • %x m Horculos is kiogdom f of Epim? untaineers, ad ioferiorg jre Neopto- lus II, who Y over the I in Epirus delivered f Actium, d between aintain its ] an object uflPered its > and, at ved them, (465). oedaemoo, Jed about a native name to niong his , Cljtem- liurdrcd iwofold ODtinued rho were [1050]. The iuhuroan treatment inflicte J on them frequently urged them to revolt, and their livei were then at the disposal of their mi^tors. Q. What changes in the goveruoaent and Uwa of Sparta were introduced by Lyci ^fi?ua ? A. This great man (884), havmg been invested with full powjr to reform the constitution of his country, em- ployed sevaral years in ripening his plans and in visiting foreign states, particularly the isle of Crete (now Candia), where the laws of Minos (1408) bad been for centuries a Mist tbenc of admiration. On his return he established ouatc of 28 members ; created 5 ephori or tribunes of a the people ; divided all the lands of the republic into aqual portions j substituted iron money instead of gold and silver ; ordained that all the citizens, not excepting their kings, should eat together in public, and that tem- perance and frugality should preside at their meals... and made various other striking regulations, particularly with regard to the education of the Spartan youth, who were taught most strictly to obey parents, respect old age, endure fatigue, hunger and thirst, and contemn every sort of danger. Q. What extraordinary method did Lycurgus employ to perpetuate his institutions ? A. He told the people that something still remained for the completion of his plans, and that he must consult the oracle of Apollo at Delphos (*) concerning it. In the mean time he made them promise on oath to observe all he had prescribed till he came back. He then went to Delphos, and the oracle having responded that his laws were sufficient to render the Spartans happy, he sent this answer home and voluntarily died of starvation. Q. What do you remark on the laws of Lycurgus ? A. They were in many respects admirable, in others unjust and cruel, and in general were only fitted to train up a nation nf soldiers. Q. Name a few of the great men of Sparta ? A. From the nature of their institutions, the Lacede- ■ *v./%n;nna nrtiil.i fir»nropW ARnirn fo oucrht but militarv fiame : ♦ The most celohrated oracle of the hoathen world; ambiguity and obscurity was the general character of its responses. 22 OF THfe GREEKS. in that point of view, Ihey were a nation of heroes. Among their most renowned generals we may mention Leonidas, immortalized by his resistance at the pass of Ihormopylae ; Paasanias, who commanded with Aristides at the battle of Plataea, Eurybiades, who fought at Salamis ; ^ylippus, who defended Syracuse against the Athenians ^ r-iLv^**"*^®^' ^^® ^^'^° ^°^ ^^ ^^e Peloponnesiau war [4U4] ; Agesilaus, the terror of Artaxerxes Mnemon and the rival of Bpaminondas; Xantippus, who headed a Carthaginian armj [255] in the first Punic war, &c. g. At what period did the Lacedemonians attain their n.ghest degree of prosperity ? A. xA the close of the Peloponnesian war. They had then humbled Athens, destroyed a combined army of (greats at Coronea, and laid hold of the Theban citadel. Ihe kings of Persia courted their alliance, and Syracuse looked up to them for protection against its enemies. g. What was the fate of the Spartan republic ? A. The prosperity of Sparta proved the source of her ruin. Ihe laws of Lycurgus were neglected ; luxury and tfie love of riches began to enervate the people : their kings became arbitrary and cruel tyrants -, and in the midst of this general decay, they imprudently engaged in a war with the Achasan league [*] commanded by Phi- lopemen, surnamed the Last of the greeks, who beat down their walls and abolished their institutions [189] ATHENS. Athen^^^^** ^a^e you to relate of the early history of A. It was founded [1556] by Cecrops, whocame with a numerous Egyptian colony into that part of Greece called Attna and built 12 cities or villages, of which Cecropia, since Athens, was the capital. He raised the first altar in Crreece to Jupiter, instituted laws concerning marriage and appointed the august tribunal of Areopagus, long cc' lebrated for the rigid impartiality of its decrees. Am- phictvon, the third king of Athens, gave his name to the AlUpUlCtVOniO fcounml. omnnnnf^A nf ^..1^„„*^» r ii kings of Mscedon. ^«"ous petty tjrai.s, and particularly against th« OF THE GREEKS. 23 ly of the Grecian states, who assembled twice yearly at the pass of Thermopylae. The 17th and last of the Athenian kings was Oodrus, who saved his country at the expense of his life^ in a battle against the Heraclidse [1095]. Out of veneration, it is said, for the memory of Codrus, the people abolished royalty and appointed a sort of magis- trates called Archons, whose office at first continued for life, but was afterwards limited to ten years and fiually to one year's duration. , Q. What was the effect of the laws of Draco [624] ? A. The condition of the people, hitherto miserable for want of sufficient authority in the Archons, became more 80 by the extreme severity of Draco's laws, which inflicted the punishment of death on the slightest offences. These laws were abandoned, and Solon, one of the Seven Sages, was invited to prepare a new code. Q. Did the institutions of Solon resemble those of the Spartan legislator? A. No ; the institutions of Solon were framed in a spirit of mildness and in accordance with the habits of his countrymen. He cancelled the debts of the poor, by a law of insolvency ; restricted the punishment of death to cases of murder only ; divided the people into four classes in proportion to their riches, giving to the first all the offices of the c9mmonwealth, and to the fourth, which was more numerous than all the other three, the right of voting in the public assemblies; instituted a senate of 400 members, with whom every measure was to originate before it could be discussed by the people ; in fine, committed to the court of Areopagus the guardianship of the laws, of religion and of education [594]. Q. Did the changes introduced by Solon in the Athenian government prove a sufficient barrier to political factions ? A. They did not : the Athenians soon fell a prey to civil dissentious, of which Pisistratus [561] availed himself to seize the supreme power. His two sons, Hyppias and Hypparchus, succeeded him ; but the latter having been killed, the former became so arbitrary that he was driven out of Athens by the people [508]. Hyppias retired to th« court of Darius, and conducted the Persians when they in- vaded his country : he was slain at the battle of Marathon. 24 OF THE GREEKS. Q. What was the most brilliant period of Athenian history ? A. from the beginning df the 1st Persian to the latter part of the Peloponnesian war. The Athenians of those times accomplished the most wonderful deeds of virtue and courage. Their country seemed to abound in extra- ordinarjr men — such were : Miltiades, Themistocles, Aris- tides, Cfitnon, Pericles, Alcibiades, Conon, all distinguish- ed by their consummate skill in WAr and their eminent talents as statesmen; Socrates, Euclid, Plato, famed philosophers j Hyppocrates, the prince of physicians, im- mortalized by his writings and by his services during the awful plague that visited Athens [430] ; the poets ^s- chylus, Eurypides and Sophocles ; the historians Thucy- dides and Xenophon and numberless others [*]. Q. What was the cause of the Peloponnesian war, and what were its features ? A. It was caused by the power and pride of Athens on one side,and the jealousy ofLacedemon on the other.It was car- ried on in a spirit of revenge, which produced nothing but a continued series of merciless bloodshed and devastation. Q. How did the Peloponnesian war terminate ? A. After a contest of 27 years, the Athenians were entirely reduced : their city was taken by the Spartan general Lysander, who demolished their port and fortifi- cations; took away their fleet, except 12 galleys ; in fine, placed the government of their republic in the hands of thirty Archons, generally styled the Thirty Tyrants f . Thrasybulus soon delivered his country from the Lacede- monian yoke, but a death-blow had been given to its prosperity. Athens continued to decline, till she became subject to Macedon [337], and finally, with her rival and all the rest of Greece, to the Romans [146]. • We will add a few of the most distinguished men of various times.— Piiilo- Bophera : Thales, Pythagoras, Xenodemus, Heraclitus, Anaxagoras, Diogenes, Zenon, Pyrrho, Epicurus.— Poets : Orpheus, Homer, Simonldes, Alcaius, Sapho, Anacreon, Pindar, Aristophanes, Mnnandcr, Theocritus.— Historians : Hesiod, Demosthenes. — Statuaries: Phidias, Polycletes, Myron, Lyslppus, Praxiteles, Scopus —Painters : Polygnotus, Apollodorus, Zenxis. Parrhaslus, Tlmanthus, Apelles, Protogen»>s.— Architects : Ctesiphon, Demetrius, GalUmachus, Phidias, and most of the statuaries, &c. • t The word ttbaki with the Greeks signified a governor possessing absolute power. OF TUE GREEKS. 25 THEBES. Q. By whom was Thebes id Greece founded, and what was the general reputation of its inhabitants ? A. Thebes, the capital of Boeotia, was founded by Oad- nus [1494], said to be the first who mad« known in Greece the culture of the vine, the use of metals and the art of writing by means of the alphabet. The Thebans were re- puted dull in point of intellect, and were long despised by the other Greeks for having basely joined the Persians. Their most glorious period was in the time of Epaminondas and Pelopidas, who gained over Sparta the memorable battle of Leuctra [371] and Mantinaea [367]. Thebes was taken and utterly destroyed by Alexander the Great [386]. CORINTH. Q. Where was Corinth situated ? A. Upon a narrow neck of land which joins Pelopon- nessus to the continent. It was called the eye of GreecCy its situation being peculiarly adapted for giving it a su- periority over neighbouring states. The Corinthians were a commercial people : they formed a part of the Achsean confederacy, and were the last who fought for liberty against the Bomans. MACEDON. (^Continued from page 20.) Q. Who is commonly called the founder of the Mace- donian empire ? A. Philip II [360], the pupil of Epaminondas and the father of Alexander the Great. He was of a warlike dis- position and a man of great address, but faithless and cruel in the choice of means to forward his ambitious views. The sacred war, in which all the Grecian republics united to punish the Phocians for their sacrilegious attempt to plunder the temple of Delphos [*], gave Philip an oppor- tunity to conquer Thraoia and seize on the pass of Ther- mopylae, whence he advanced into the very heart of Greece Proper. The Athenians and Thebans, though urged on at the battle of Cheronea [338], Alexander, then 17 years ^* The states of Greece deposited their treasures Id ttxis temple. 26 OF THE GREEKS. old, commanding the left wing of the Macedonian army. From that time, the Grecian states fell under the control of Philip ; he suffered them however to retain their laws and government, being anxious to secure their interest in the plan he had formed for the conquest of Asia. Q. At what age did Alexander the Great ascend the throne, and to whom had the care of his education been committed? ;i' ^ A. Alexander the Great was crowned in his 20th year. His preceptor was Aristotle, the most learned man of all profane antiquity. ^ , Q. Give a short account of the victories of Alexander the Great ? . - m» i. A. Having rased to the ground the city of Thebes, and caused himself to be appointed generalissimo of all the Greeks a^^ainst the Persians, Alexander crossed the Hel- lespont at the head of 30,000 foot ^nd 5,000 cavalry, and defeated on the banks of the Granicus, a chosen army of 100,000 Persians. This first battle gained, he sent home his fleet, leaving to his soldiers the alternative of sub- duing Asia or perishing in the attempt. At the next great battle, fought near the town of Issus, 100,000 Persians were slain, out of four times that number, whilst the loss of the Greeks was only 450— here Darius, wife and family were made prisoners. — Alexander treated them with every token of respect and generosity. He next reduced Asia Minor and Syria j took and destroyed the famous city of Tyre, after an obstinate siege of 7 months j conquered Egypt, where he founded Alexandria, and was proclaimed a demi-god by the oracle of Jupiter- Ammon ; thence, re- turning through Persia, he fought the battle of Arbela, where Darius lost 300,000 men, out of 700,000; sub- dued Media, Parthia, Hyrcania, Sogdiana, and Bactriana, and finally penetrated into India. Having descended the Indus to the Ocean, he exclaimed with a sigh : " that ** I had another world to conquer !" and began to retrace his steps towards Babylon, when he was met by ambas- gsdors from all contriea of the known world. Q. How did Alexander conduct himself on his return to Babylon ? A. He abandoned himself to every excess of luxury. OF THE GREEKS. 27 All the finer qualities of bis nature were absorbed in riot and debauchery ; and he at length fell a victim to intem- perance or poison in the 33rd year of his age [324]. Q. To whom did Alexander bequeath his empire ? A. Being asked on his deatli-bed on whom he wished his empire should devolve, he replied, '' On the most worthy." A long series of wars and intrigues among his generals arose from his answer, each striving to become independent, at least over his own province. Four distinct kingdoms were at length formed : Thracia, which subsis- ted but a short time ; Macedonia, Egypt and. Syria. — This last, founded by Seleucus, -^^ts by far the mo^t powerful ; its history is chiefly filled with wars against Egypt, the Jews and the Romans — twenty-four years after the reign of Seleucus, Arsaces, the governor of a northen province, revolted, and founded the empire of the Parthians [256]. Q. What became of the posterity of Alexander ? A. None of his descendants could obtain peaceful posses- sion of the crown of Macedon, and all came to a violent end. Q. Who was the last of the Macedonian kings ? A. Perseus [178] [*], the son of that Philip whom the Eoman consul Flaminius had compelled [197] to sue for peace, granting at the same time liberty to all the Grecian cities. — Perseus was made prisoner by Paulus iEmilius, at the decisive battle of Pydna, and carried captive to Rome, where he died in confinement [168]. Macedonia, Thessaly and Epims were converted into a Roman province, called Macedonia ; the remaining Grecian states, after their subjugation [146], formed the province of Achaia. Q. What do you remark of the Greeks after the des- truction of their liberty by the Romans ? A. They retained over their conquerors a superiority which military power could not take away ; their country, particularly Athens, continued to be the centre of the arts and sciences, whither all the studious youth of the Roman empire resorted. • Thl9 artful and treacherous prince, to procnre the death of his brother Demetrius, persuaded his father that DemctriuH aimed at usurping ths thron*. Philip dlflcovered too late his error, and died of grief. m 28 PROMISCUOUS SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTIONS. CHAPTER VI. Fromistuous SuppUmeiUary ^ife«fiott«. Q. Which were the most celebrated public games of Greece? A. The Olympic games, in honour of Jupiter ; the Pythian, in honour of Apollo ; the Isthmian, in honour of Neptufhe, and the Nemean games, in honour of Hercules. A wreath of olive, laurel, parsley, or of some iruit tree, were the or- dinary prizes ; the contests were chiefly running and chariot- pacing, leaping, wrestling, boxing and quoitmg. Musicians, artists, poet^ &c., were also permitted to contend, especially at the Pythian games. The Olympic victory was esteemed the most worthy of ambition. Q. Had the Greeks, like the Romans, public exhibitions of gladiators ? A. No ; they could never ,be persuaded to have them : *' Before we permit these barbarous shows, said an Athenian *' orator, let us throw down the .-^Itar which our ancestors ** have erected to Mercy." Q. Name the most splendid of the Grecian festivals. A. All the Grecian gods and goddesses had their appointed feasts ; the most renoWned were those of Bacchus at Athens, and of Ceres at Eleusis. The mysteries were ceremonies of a secret religion, in which none but the imtiated could par- ticipate. To reveal what took place during their performance was deemed a crime of the greatest magnitude. Q. What wa^ the Neomenia? A. A feast observed every new moon by the Jews, Greeks, Romans, Gauls, and most of the Eastern nations. Q. What funeral ceremonies were observed by the Athe- nians ? A. The bones of those who had fallen in battle, after being strewed with flowers and perfumes, were exposed during three days in an open tent ; they were then enclosed in coffins, carried round the city, and nnally deposited in a public monuitient called the Ceramicus. Q. What were the trophies^ so frequently mentioned in Ancient History? A. There were, among the Greeks, wooden monuments erppfpH in f.liA Tilnoo whoro cn*^** eiornol vict'^rv VinH bf^n nV>- tained, and were either adorned with real arms and colours taken from the enemy, or had warlike instruments carved upon them. I PROMISCUOUS SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTIONS. . 20 Q. What were the words on the monument erected to the memory of Leonidas and his companions ? A. " vJo, traveller, and tell Sparta we died here in obe- dience to her sacred laws." Q. What happened to the soldier who ran from the field of Marathon to Athens after the battle ? A. Exhausted with fatigue and bleeding from his wounds, ■ he had only time to cry out : "Rejoice ! we are conquerors," and immediately fell to the ground lifeless. Q. What was the Ostracism f A. A mode of banishment by ballot, adopted at Athens to firevent ambitious men from becoming masters of the republic, t was called ostracistn from the custom of writing on a shell the name of the obnoxious individual. Many of the best ci- tizens became victims of this impolitic law, which was at length repealed. Q. What was the character of the Athenians? A. Glory, liberty, and interest, were their darling passions : but their liberty often degenerated into licentiousness ; they were capricious, and ambitious ; excelled in navigation, and were general patrons of the liberal arts. Q. How many dialects were used among the Greeks? A. Four : the Attic, Ionic, Doric and iEolic ; the Attic, spoken at Athens and in its vicinity, was the most elegant. Q. What were the peculiarities of Spartan conversation ? A. Brevity and conciseness ; a laconic answer was a pro- verb. Q. What were the Gymnasia ? A. Academies where the Athenians learned the use of arms and all sorts of manly exercises. Q. What was the Lyceum ? A. Anciently a temple dedicated to Apollo, afterwards con- verted into a public school where the orators declaimed. Q. Where did theatrical representations begin ? A. At Athens ; comedy was first played tnere by Suza- rion (560), and tragedy by Thespsis (530). Q. Of what did the Grecian architecture consist? A. Of three distmct orders, characterized thus: thei>om, by its boldness and strength ; the Ionic, by its elegant sim- plicity ; and the Corinthian, the most perfect of all, by its lightness, grace and richness. To these three orders the Ro- mans have added two, the Tuscan and Composite. ■Si* .1. A JNamc inG (jeven bages Oi ■vjireece with a saving of cacii A. Solon, " Know thyself."— Chilo, "Look to the end of a long life."— Pittacns, "Know the opportunity."— Bias, " There are more bad than good (men)." — Periander, "With ^'■4^ I 3J PROMISCUOUS SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTIONS. industry nothing is impossible."— Cleobulug, " All with uv- «ure"— Thales, "Sureties will soon be losses." The Seven Sages were contemporaries and met several times together. Q. What was the remark of Aiiacharsis, the Scythian philosopher, on the l^ws of Solon ? A. " The Athenian legislator, said ho, has committed to the " wise thechargo of deliherating, and left to fools the deciswn:' Q. Which are generally reckoned the Seven Ancient Won- ders of the world f A. I. the brass Colossus of Rhodes ; TI. the Pyramids of Egypt; IIL the Aqueducts of Rome ; IV. the Labyrinth of Psamraeticus; V. the Pharos of Alexandria; VI. the Walla of Babylon ; VII. the temple of Diana at Ephesus. Q. What are the Anmdelian marbles ? A. They are ancient marble tablets, found in the Isle of Paros, about the beginning of the 17th century, and sup- posed to have been sculptured B. C. 204 ; they contain the chronology of Ancient History as far back as B. C. 1582.— They were bought by the celebrated Earl of Arundel, and afterwards prqsented to the Oxford University. Q. Who was Sanchoniaton? A. A Phenician writer, and the most ancient of all profane historians (B. C. 1100). Q. Who was Zoroaster V A. The founder of the Persian Magi, whom he taught to worship God under the form of fire (589) (*). Q. Who was Confucius ? A. A Chinese philosopher (550), famed for his wisdom, and for his exalted ideas of a Supreme Being. Q. Which of the Eastern nations took the greatest care of the education of children ? A. The Persians ; their sons, not excepting princes, were educated in common, by experienced teachers, at the public expense. Q. What became of the beautiful city of Persepolis ? A. This capital of the Persian empire was taken and plun- dered by Alexander, and afterwards burnt by his command in a fit of intemperance. The authorized histories of Darius' realms and the sacred books of Zoroaster perished in the fiames. Q. Why was Agis, king of Sparta, put to death ? A. He was murdered in prison by the Ephori, for attempt- ing to restore the laws of Lycurgus (244). Q. Which was the most powerful of the Grecian colonies in Sicily? • This was the second ZoroBster ; the first lived near the time of the ilega of Troy. >',V .w m is. writli mo- le Scvca ji^ethcr. Scythian ed to the \echwny nt Won- imids of jrrinth of ;ie Walla 5 Isle of and sup- itnin the 1582.— del, and profane lught to wisdom, t care of es, were e public is? nd plun- ommand 'Darius' I in the ittempt- colonies ftbc t\^» h PROMISCUOUS SUPPLEMENTARY QpESTIONS. 81 A. Syracuse, founded by the Corinthians (782). Its his- tory is rendered interesting by the capricious cruelties of Dionysius the Elder and his son, Dionysius the Younger its wars with Carthage and Athens, and the memorable siege it sustained against the Romans (205—202). Q. What is related of the Sybarites ? A. The Sybarites, a small Grecian colony in that part of Italy called Magna Grecia, decreed public honours to such as excelled in giving splendid entertainments or invented new dishes. They removed from their city all artizan^ whose work was noisy, and even the cocks%wcre expelled lest their shrill cries should disturb the peaceful slumbers o't the inhabitants. Q. In what were the Chaldean priests particularly versed ? A. They were particularly versed in astronomy, practised medicine, interpreted dreams, and professed magic and as- trology. Q. For what were the Phenicians so higlily celebrated among ancient nations. A. For their skill in navigation ; their many curious ma- nufactures, such as making glass, silks, fine linens, dyeing • their architecture, carving, &c. They were employed by king Solomon in building the temple of Jerusalem. Q. Give a few details on the Carthaginians? A. The Carthaginians were governed during 500 years without a revolution, by magistrates called St^etes, two in number.— They had many valuable colonies throughout the Mediterranean, and even, it is believed, as far as the Canary Islands. Their armies and fleets were numerous, but coni- posed chiefly of mercenary soldiers and sailors.— They were reputed deceitful in their treaties and commercial transac- tions, ungrateful towards their military leaders, cruel in their religious rites, frequently offering human sacrifices to Saturn and the Moon, their chief divinities. Their riches arose in part from the silver mines of Spain, once very nro- ductive. "^ * Q. Who were the Scythians? A. Thenameof/Sby^Aeaws was common to all the wan- denng tribes who inhabited the most northern regions of the ancient world. Under various chiefs and at different periods, they conquered or ravaged nearly the whole of Asia and the eastern part of Europe, whilst many imposing armies have perished in attempting to follow them throiie-h thpir lonely deserts. The Parthians were of Scythian origin. Q. What remarkable circumstances present themselycs to our notice in the history of the Arabs ? ^■'1 32 PROMISCUOUS 8UPPLEMENXART QUESTIOiNS. A. They are the most ancient unconquered nation in the world and the most abst.'mious. In them has been fulfilled the prophecy concerning Ismael, fiom whom they are prin- cipallv descended : " Ismael will bo a wild man, his hand " against every man, and every man's hand against him^ , " and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.** From Agar, their mother, they were called Agarasiae ; hence their modern name of Saraeeng. Q. Can you give any particular account of the ancient inhabitants of India ? A. Very little is known of them with certainty prior to the conquests of modem Europeans. — Their country was, as it still is, justly famed for the richness and beauty of its precious stones, silks, perfumes and spices. T eir religion, charaoterized by the belief in the transmigration of souls, their laws and customs, have ever made them an easy prey for the ambition of conquerors. Their sacred books or Vedas are written in a dead language called the Sanscrit Q. At what date does the auuientic history of the Chinese begin f A. About 800 years before Christ: but their f alous accounts extend through a period of 272,000 years before the creation ! Their founder vras Yao, or, as some will have it, Noah himself. The Chinese kings are divided into 22 successive dyfiastieB, comprising a duration of about 4000 years. — The roost ^gantic monument erected by them is the fxmous wall, 1500 miles in length, built (B. C. 215) along the northern frontier of China, to prevent the incursions of the Tartars. It failed of its object, as have ever done similar attempts to arrest by mere artificial boundaries the march of a conquering army. "KXim y /^i