Outlines of history

Preface To The First Edition

In preparing this little volume for the press, the Compiler was influenced by three motives : recreation, friendship, and a sincere desire to supply a want much felt in our schools and academies. Devoting to the undertaking only his evening hours of leisure, he felt himself rewarded by the reflection that, in addition to the relaxations of mind it .aftbrded, he was oblio^inor a friend, and at the same time conferring a substantial benefit upon others.

In the progress of the work, the Compiler has been aided, in some degree, by the labours of those who have supplied the schools with larger and more detailed class-books of history ; but, as a general rule, he has consulted, with much care, the standard authorities, and spared no pains to invest the " Outhnes" with the character of unquestionable authenticity.

The work is intended only as a first class-book of history. It embodies a complete and correct system of chronology (a feature very much neglected

IV PEEFAOE.

in the generality of our school histories,) and is so arranged as to be easily comprehended by the young.

The Compiler confidently commits his httle volume to the pubhc, and particularly to the favourable consideration of the teachers of schools and the heads of academies ; and trusts to find in their approbation that his labours may not prove altogether useless. He has no interest in the pubUcation further than this.

If the work, by its success, shall benefit his friend, and prove useful as a medium of instruction to the young, the Compiler asks no other reward, and will rest satisfied with reflecting that he has been enabled to devote hours, which he might have uselessly employed, to so good and substantial a purpose.

St. Louis, July, 1848.

PUBLISHERS' PREFACE.

The difficulty of communicating with the Compiler of these " Outlines," placed the Publishers under the necessity of committing the supervision of the present edition to another ; who, besides adding to the original text what was necessary to continue the chain of history from 1848 down to the present time (1851), has, for the sake of uniformity with the first books of this series, thought proper to substitute the orthography of Johnson for that of Webster, and the Catholic rendering of Scripture names for that of the Protestant, or common version of the Old Testament ; with which alterations we hope, not only the public but, Mr. Grace will be satisfied.

For the benefit of those to whom the common translation of the sacred Scriptures is more familiar than that which has received the sanction of the Catholic

PUBLISHEES' PREFACE.

Church, the names taten from the Bible, to be found m this compendium, are hereto added according to the different versions.

Catholic.

Protestant.

Asarbaddon,

Esarhaddon.

Assur,

Ashur.

Baltassar,

Belsha/.zar.

Cham,

Ham.

Chanaan,

Canaan.

Chanaanites,

Canaanites.

Ezechias,

Hezekiah.

Isaias,

Isaiah.

Josue,

Joshua.

Juda,

Judah.

Machabees,

Maccabees.

Manasses,

Manasseh.

Mesraim,

Mizraim.

Nabuchodonosor,

IsTebuchadnezzar.

Ninive,

Nineveh.

Noe,

Noah.

Pharao,

Pharaoh.

Roboam,

Rehoboam.

Salmanasar,

Shalmaneser.

Sedecias,

Zedekiah.

Sem,

Shem.

Introduction

1 . History is a record, or narrative, of past events.

2. History, with respect to time, is divided into Ancient History, History of the Middle Ages, and Modern History.

3. Ancient History is the History of the World, from the Creation to the Extinction of the Western Empire of the Romans, A. C. 4*76.

4. The History of the Middle Ages is an account of events comprising a period of nearly a thousand years, from the extinction of the Western Empire of the Romans, A. C. 476, to that of the Eastern Empire, A. C. 1453.

5. Modern History is the History of the World, from the extinction of the Eastern Empire of the Romans, A. C. 1452, to the present time.

6. Ancient History is distinguished by the rise and

Questions.— 1. What is History? 2. How is it divided? 8. "What is Ancient History ? 4. What is the History of the Middle Ages? 5. What is Modern History? 6. By what is Ancient History distinguished ?

8 HISTOKY INTEODUCTION.

fall of the four great empires of Assyria, or Babylon ; Persia ; Greece, or Macedonia ; and Rome.

Y. The History of the Middle Ages is remarkable for the origin and progress of Mahometanism, the prevalence of the Feudal System, the Crusades, and Chivalry.

8. Modern History is distinguished by the discovery of America, the Protestant Reformation, the invention of the art of Printing, the revival of Letters, and progress in the sciences and the useful arts ; also, for the American and French Revolutions.

9. History is also divided, as regards the nature of its subjects, into Sacred and Profane, Ecclesiastical and Civil.

10. Sacred History is the narrative of events contained in the Bible, relating chiefly to the Israelites and the dealings of God with that people.

11. Profane History is the history of the Ancient Heathen Nations, and is derived from the writings of the Greeks and Romans.

12. Ecclesiastical History is the history of the Church of Christ, from its estabhshment to the present time.

13. Civil History is the history of the various nations, states, kingdoms, empires, and republics,

Questions. — 7. For what is the History of the Middle Ages remarkable ? 8. By what is Modern History distinguished ? 9. How is History divided with regard to subjects ? 10. What is Sacred History ? 11. What is Profane History ? 12. What is Ecclesiastical History ? 13. What is Civil History ?

HISTORY ^INTKODUCTION. 9

that mankind have established in the world, containing an account of their wars, revolutions, and changes.

14. Sacred History commences at the earliest period of time, recounting the creation of the world, the fall of man, the deluge, the dispersion of mankind, the establishment of the different nations, and the selection by God of the Israelites as his peculiar people.

15. Profane History is involved in great confusion and uncertainty. Save what is recorded in the Bible, very httle is known of the history of the world during the long period of upwards of three thousand years, from the Creation to the year YlS before the birth of Christ.

16. The Greek writer Herodotus is the earliest profane historian whose works have been preserved. He lived about 445 years B. C, and his history, relating to the Egyptians, Persians, Greeks, lonians, Lydians, Lycians, and Macedonians, reaches back to the year 713 B. C.

11. Ancient Profane History, subsequent to the time of Herodotus, particularly those portions relating to Greece and Rome, has been tolerably well preserved in the fragments of Greek and Roman literatm*e which have survived the ravages of time.

Questions. — 14. "What is said of Sacred History ? 15. What is said of Profane History ? 16. Who is the earliest profane historian ? 17. What is said of Ancient Profane History ?

10 HISTOEY INTEODUCTION.

18. With the exception of occasional obscurity, the history of the Middle Ages is comparatively well known.

19. Modern History, its records being well and fully preserved, is, of course, best known.

Questions. — 18. What is said of the History of the Middle Ages ? 19. What of Modem History ?

OUTLINES OF HISTORY.

PAET FERST.

ANCIENT HISTORY.

■ CHAPTER I.

THE CREATION THE DELUGE THE DISPERSION OF

MANKIND AND THE CALLING OF ABRAHAM.

1. The Creation, according to the most reliable authority, took place about 4004 years before the birth of Christ. The only authentic account of this stupendous event is contained in the Bible. This account, which, from its sacred writer, Moses, is called the Mosaic account, informs us that God created the universe, and all things therein, in six days ; that on the sixth day the Almighty made the body of man from the dust of the earth, and breathed into it the breath of life, and that this man was called Adam, and was appointed by his Divine Master the lord of the animal creation. God rested on the seventh day, which he sanctified, and ordained

Questions. — 1. When was the world created ? "Where is the account of this event .to be found, and what is that account?

to be observed by his creatures as a day of rest and devotion to Him.

2. God seeing that " it was not good for man to be alone," cast Adam into a deep sleep, and taking from his side a rib, formed of it the first woman, who was called Eve, and gave her to Adam as a companion. Thus establishing the sacred institution of maniage.

3. Adam and Eve were placed in a terrestrial paradise, called the Garden of Eden, which, from the most probable accounts, appears to have been situated in a part of Asia Minor, since called Mesopotamia, lying between the rivers Tigris and Eu- • phrates.

4. God, for the purpose of testing their obedience, commanded them to abstain from tasting the fruit of a particular tree in the Garden of Eden, under penalty of death. But Satan, in the form of a serpent, having persuaded Eve to transgress this command, and she having induced Adam to participate in her guilt, God banished them from the delights of Paradise ; and they and their posterity were forever after subject to death, and all the moral and physical evils which have since that time afflicted mankind.

5. But in the execution of this just punishment

Questions. — 2. How was woman created ? 3. Where were Adam and Eve placed after their creation? 4. How came man to be banished from Paradise, and what were the consequences ? 5. Wliat promise did God make to man, and to what did the promise refer?

on our first parents, God did not leave man without the hope of regaining his forfeited favour. He promised him a future Redeemer, who would crush and overcome the designs of the Devil, and make an atonement which would satisfy His infinite justice. A promise which clearly referred to the person of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

6. Man, having disobeyed God, and fallen from the favoured state in which he had been placed, became in his nature altered and depraved. One of the first fruits of this depravity was the murder of Abel by his brother Cain ; and subsequently, such was the wide-spread impiety and wickedness of mankind for a long series of years, that God, justly provoked, determined to cut off the human race, with the exception of Noe and his family, by a universal deluge.

1. Noe, who by his justice and piety had won the favom' of the Almighty, was warned by God of his determination, and commanded to construct a large vessel, called an ark, capable of sustaining himself and family, and pairs of all kinds of bu-ds, beasts, and reptiles.

8. When the ark was completed, and Noe with his family, eight in number, and a pair of each species of birds, beasts, and reptiles had entered it, God

QtiESTioNS. — 6. What is said of mankind, after the Fall ? 7. What warning and command did God give to Noe ? 8. What occurred after the completion of the ark ? When did this happen ?

caused the earth to be so deluged by rain from the skies, and by breaking down the boundaries of the seas, that every creature without the ark perished. This event occurred in the year 2384 B. C.

9. The ark, after floating on the waters 150 days, rested on a mountain in Armenia, called Ararat, and there remained until the waters had subsided, when it was abandoned, its inhabitants having dwelt in it one year and ten days.

10. About one hundred years after the deluge, the posterity of Noe, having become numerous, conceived the design of building upon a vast plain called Shinar, a city, with a tower which should reach the skies, in order that they might be secure against any future deluge, and acquire fame in after times. But God, having designed to form mankind into different nations, and being displeased with their presumption, interrupted them in the midst of their vast undertaking by confusing their language in such a manner as compelled them to relinquish their work, and to separate and become dispersed. The city and tower which they were thus compelled to leave unfinished were called Babel, or Confusion. 2247 B. C.

1 1 . After this dispersion, the three great portions of the Eastern Continent were settled by the three

Questions. — 9. Where did the ark rest, and when was it abandoned ? 10. What happened about 100 years after the Deluge ? 11. What happened after the dispersion of mankind?

sons of Noe. Japheth settled Europe ; Sem, Asia ; and Cham, Africa.

12. The ninth lineal descendant of Sem was Abraham. He was born in Chaldea ; but God intending him to be the progenitor of a great nation, and of the promised Redeemer of man, separated him from the other descendants of Sem, and placed him in the land of Chanaan, which was appointed to be the inheritance of his posterity, who, in the persons of Jacob and his numerous offspring, became the heads of the Twelve Tribes of Israel. The calHng of Abraham occurred 1921 B. C.

Chapter II. The Israelites, Or Jews

1. The Israelites were descended from Abraham, by his son Isaac, and derived their name from Jacob, the grandson of Abraham, who was sm-named Israel.

2. The Israelites were also called Jews, which name they derived from Juda, one of the twelve sons of Jacob, he being the patriarch of the first of the twelve tribes.

Questions. — 12. Who was Abraham, and what is said of him? 1. From whom were the Israelites descended, and what is the origin of their name ? 2. Whence did they derive the name of Jews ?

3. They are peculiarly distinguislied as being the chosen people of God, and the only nation of antiquity which possessed a knowledge of the true God, and true religion, by means of a divine revelation.

* 4. Their ancient history is found in the Bible, and in the works of Josephus, a Jewish historian, who lived at the time of the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans, under Titus, A. C, '70.

5. Jacob and his twelve sons, with their families, moved from Chanaan to Egypt, and, in process of time, their posterity, having become numerous and powerful, became an object of fear to the rulers of that country.

6. The Egyptian king, Pharao, for the purpose of retarding the progress of the Israelites in power and numbers, commenced a systematic course of cruelty and oppression, and reduced them to the most abject slavery. B. C. 1580.

1. Nothing, however, could prevent their increase ; and finally, after a residence in Egypt of 215 years, and after suffering the greatest extremities and unheard-of cruelties, God raised them up a deliverer in the person of Moses, the great Hebrew lawgiver, who, miraculously assisted, led the Israelites from Egypt. 1491 B. C.

Questions. — 3. How are they distinguished ? 4. Where is their ancient history found ? 5. What is said of Jacob and his twelve sons, and their posterity ? 6. What is said of King Pharao ; and where did he live ? 7. How and by whom were the Israelites liberated ; and when did this occur?

8. They were condemned, however, on account of their impiety and rebellion, to wander forty years in the wilderness ; and afterwards tool^ possession of the land of Chanaan, mider the direction of Josue. 1451 B.C.

9. The Israelites, during 356 years after their entrance into Chanaan, were governed by a succession of Judges ; though the form of their government was essentially a Theocracy, or the immediate government of God.

10. Being dissatisfied with this kind of government, they desired a king. This was granted them through the ministration of Samuel, the last of the judges, and Saul was anointed the first king of the Israelites. B. C. 1019.

11. David succeeded Saul. He was one of the most pious, warlike, and prosperous kings that ruled in Israel. He enlarged the boundaries of his kingdom by conquests, and systematized and built up the religious institutions of his country.

12. David was succeeded by his son Solomon, whose reign was a period of peace and prosperity. Solomon was the wealthiest and the wisest monarch of his time. His reign was particularly distinguished bj^ the building of the celebrated Temple of Jerusa-

QuESTioNs. — 8. What took place afterwards ? 9. How were

t^ey governed after their entrance into Chanaan ? 10. Who

^as their first king, and when was he anointed ? 11. Who

/succeeded Saul, and what is said of him ? 12. Who succeeded

Pavid ? What is said of Solomon ?

2* lem. This magnificent structure was completed in about seven years, and was dedicated about the year 1004 B. C.

13. Roboam, the son of Solomon, succeeded his father. During his reign ten of the twelve tribes of Israel revolted from his authority, and two kingdoms were formed : one styled the kingdom of Juda, including also the tribe of Benjamin ; and the other, the kingdom of Israel, consisting of the other ten tribes.

14. The kingdom of Israel was governed by a succession of idolatrous kings, during the space of 254 years ; after which it was overthrown by the Assyrians, under their king Salmanasar, who led the greater part of the inhabitants into captivity. B. C. 721. They were dispersed throughout Syria, and never more returned.

15. The kingdom of Juda, after the revolt of the Ten Tribes, continued to be governed by kings of the family of David for 387 years. During the reign of Sedecias, the last king, Jerusalem was taken, after a twelve months' siege, by Nabuchodonosor, King of Babylon. The city and temple were razed to their foundations. The family of Sedecias was put to death. He himself, his eyes having been cruelly put out, was carried with his miserable subjects captive to Babylon. B. C. 606.

Questions. — 13. Who succeeded Solomon ? What occurred during this reign ? 14. What is said of the kingdom of Israel ? 15. What is said of the kingdom of Juda ?

16. The Jews Avere held in captivity in Babylon for 10 years ; at the end of which time Cyrus the Great, King of Persia, having overthrown the Babylonian empire, pubhshed an edict, allowing them to return and rebuild the city and Temple of Jerusalem. CjTus restored to them all the vessels of the Temple which Nabuchodonosor had taken from it, and even furnished them the means to rebuild the Temple. B. C. 536.

17. From this period the Jews were successively under the dominion of the Persians, the Macedonians, the Ptolemies (kings of Egypt), the Selucidse (kings of Syi'ia), and the Machabees (Jewish princes), until they were finally conquered by the Romans, under Pompey, B. C. 63.

18. In the VOth year after Ohrist, Jerusalem was taken by the Romans, under Titus, and utterly destroyed, according to the prophecy of our Saviom- ; and since that event the Jews have been dispersed throughout all parts of the world.

Questions.— 16. What took place afterwards? 17. What was their condition after their return ? 18. What happened in the 70th year after Christ?

HISTORY ANCIENT.

Chapter III. Egypt

1. It is mucli to be regretted that our knowledge of the ancient history of Egypt is very hmited. We have derived from that country no historical writings ; and, save what can be gathered from the works of other nations, and the glorious monuments of former opulence and splendour which have existed up to the present time, the wonder and admiration of every age, nothing remains to attest the ancient glory of this celebrated kingdom.

2. Enough, however, can be gleaned from these to render it certain that Egypt was among the earliest civilized nations of antiquity, and so far surpassed her contemporaries in the attainment of the arts and sciences and of hterature, as to become the resort of the illustrious men of other nations and the most renowned school of wisdom and politics. This country has been justly styled the cradle of the sciences.

3. The foundation of this kingdom of Egypt was laid by Menes — called in Scripture, Mesraim, the second son of Cham. He was the first monarch, and is said to have built the famous city of Memphis. B. C. 2188.

Questions. — 1. What is said of the ancient history of Egypt, and what are the sources of our knowledge ? 2. What can be gleaned from these sources ? 8. By whom was the kingdom of Egypt founded, and when ?

4. After the death of Menes, the land was dmded among his children, thus erecting four States ; — Thebes, Thin, Memphis, and Tanis ; which, after a separate existence of many years, became reunited under one monarch.

5. The reigns of Menes and his descendants were generally peaceful, and conducive to the improvement and civilization of the people. During the reign, however, of Timaus, the last of them, the government was overthrown by a barbarous people from the East, who, in the persons of their sovereigns, called the Shepherd Kings, ruled the country for upwards of two hundred years.

6. The third race of Egyptian kings consisted of the princes of the house of the Pharaos, who governed the kingdom during the residence of the Israelites in Egypt, and up to the time of Cambyses, King of Persia. This monarch invaded and conquered the country, and annexed it to his own dominions. 525 B. C.

v. During the reign of these three races of kings, Egypt had steadily advanced in the arts of civilized life, and became the most renowned country of the world. Yet the Egyptians were not remarkable as

Questions. — i. What happened after the death of Menes ? 5, What is said of the reigns of Menes and his descendants ? Wlio next governed the kingdom? 6. What was the tliird race of Egyptian kings? What ended their dominion? 7. Wliat is said of Egypt during the three races of kings ? What is said of Sesostris ?

Wl HISTORY ANCIENT.

a warlike people, apparently cultivating alone the more enduring pursuits of peace. Sesostris, who has been styled the Magnificent, was the only king of that country renowned as a great conqueror. He made the conquest of Lybia, marched through Asia, invaded Europe, and subdued the Thracians. After his return from these warhke expeditions, he devoted his time to the encouragement of the fine arts and the general improvement of his kingdom.

8. After the conquest of the country by Cambyses, Egypt being reduced to a province of Persia, the progress of the people declined as rapidly as it had advanced, until Alexander the Great wrested the country from the power of Persia, and incorporated it with his vast dominions. 330 B. C.

9. After the death of Alexander, the great empire he had built up was dismembered and portioned out to his generals. Egypt fell to the share of Ptolemy Lagus, the head of the last race of Egyptian kings, known as the Ptolemies. B. C. 312.

10. Dm'ing the reigns of Ptolemy Lagus and his son and successor, Ptolemy Philadelphus, Egypt rapidly regained her ancient lustre, and attained a position in the arts, in science, and in commerce, which at that time eclipsed every other portion of the world.

Questions. — 8. What is said of Egypt, after the conquest of Camhyses ? 9. What happened after the death of Alexander ? 10. What is said of Egypt, under the first Ptolemies?

11. The Ptolemies reigned in Egypt nearly three hundred years ; till during the reign of the celebrated Queen Cleopatra, the last of that famous line of sovereigns, the fate of the kingdom was sealed by the result of the Battle of Actium, and the country was reduced to a province of the Roman Empire. B. C. 31.

12. Egypt is this day celebrated on account of the nimierous remains of former splendour, which attest its great antiquity and early attainments in the arts. The pyi'amids, obelisks, catacombs, and the magnificent ruins of the ancient temples and cities, excite the wonder and admu-ation of the traveller. Modern art would in vain attempt to imitate these vast works. Their antiquity is so great, that no date can be fixed to their construction.

Chapter IV. The Phoenicians

1. The Phoenicians, styled in Scripture Chanaanites, inhabited the part of Asia bordering on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea. Their prin-

QiTESTioNS. — 11. How long did the race of Ptolemies reign, and with whom did it end? 12. For what is Egypt now celebrated I 1. What part of the world did the Phoenicians inhabit ? What is said of their principal cities ?

cipal cities, Tyre and Sidon, were perhaps the most ancient mentioned in history, and in remote ages they were celebrated as the most considerable seats of commerce in the world.

2. Less is known of their history, however, than of that of the Egyptians ; and with the exception of a few doubtful fragments from the history of the Phoenician writer, Sanconiathon, and occasional reference to them in the Bible and by the Greek historians, there is nothing which throws light upon the annals of this remarkable and enterprising people.

3. They were certainly among the earliest civilized nations, and the world is indebted to them for some of the most valuable inventions and discoveries. They carried the art of navigation to great perfection, for the age in which they lived ; and invented letters, glass, purple, and coinage. Although the invention of letters has been also ascribed to the Egyptians, yet it appears that the Phoenicians were the first to impart the benefits of that great invention to the other nations — Cadmus, a Phoenician, having first mtroduced a knowledge of letters into Greece.

4. Besides this, these early pioneers of civilization explored the whole extent of the Mediterranean Sea, planting colonies in Cyprus, Rhodes, Greece, Sicily, Sardinia, and Spain, and even visited the shores of

Questions. — 2. What is said of their history? 3. What further is said of them, and for what is the world indebted to them? 4. For what, besides, were the Phcenicians remarkable ?

Ireland, where, it is said, they also left a colony. Dido, a Phoenician princess, the sister of Pygmalion, King of Tyre, founded the celebrated city of Carthage.

Chapter V. Assyria And Babylon

1. Assyria was the first of the four great empires of antiquity. Its name is derived from Assur, the second son of Sem, and the grandson of Noe, who laid the foundation of the empire. B. C. 2229. Assur built the city of Ninive, which afterwards became the capital of the empire.

2. About the same time, Nimrod, who was the grandson of Cham, and great-grandson of Noe, laid the foundation of Babylon. Nimrod, who is generally supposed to be the same as the Belus spoken of by profane historians, is said to have been the first person of the earth who assumed the rank of king. He is described in Scripture as one " mighty on the earth."

3. The early accounts of Assyiia and Babylon are involved in much doubt and perplexity. It is generally supposed, however, that they existed as distinct

Questions.— 1. What is said of the Assyrian Empire ? When and by whom was it founded ? 2. When and by whom was Babylon founded ? What is said of Nimrod ? 3. What is said of the early history of Assyria and Babylon? 3 and separate kingdoms for several years, down to the time of Ninus.

4. Ninus, the successor of Assur in the kingdom of Assyria, who is represented as a great and powerful sovereign, seized upon Chaldea and Babylon, and thus united the two kingdoms in one empire, the extent of which he greatly increased by other conquests. The seat of the empire was fixed at Ninive, which Ninus greatly enlai-ged and beautified.

5. Ninus was succeeded in the government of the empire by his wife, Semiramis, a woman of great beauty, ambition, and talents. She governed with great energy and courage ; improved and regulated the internal affairs of her empire ; and so enlarged and adorned Babylon, that it became the most magnificent city of the world. After a splendid reign of upwards of forty years, Semiramis abdicated, leaving the empire to her son, Ninyas. B. C. 1965.

6. From the reign of Ninyas to that of Sardanapalus, there is a great gap of several centuries in the history of Assyria and Babylon, there being no reliable accounts remaining of the empire during that long period.

v. Sardanapalus was a most effeminate and voluptuous monarch. His reign was inglorious, and his

Questions. — 4. Who was Ninus ? How were the kingdoms of Assyria and Babylon united ? 5. Who was Semiramis, and what is said of her? 6. What is said of the history of Assyria and Babylon, after the reign of Ninyas ? 7. What was the character of Sardanapalus ? What occurred during his reign ?

life shameful. At length, Arbaces, Governor of Media, and Belesis, a priest of Babylon, determining to end his effeminate rule, excited a rebellion against him. A great battle was fought ; and Sardanapalus, being defeated, shut himself up in his palace, which he fired, and he himself, his women, and his treasm-es, were consumed in the flames, B. C. 840.

8. After the death of Sardanapalus, the empire became dismembered, and divided into three kingdoms — Media, Babylon, and Assyria, Arbaces assumed the sovereignty of the first ; Belesis of the second ; and Phul of the third.