Historical class book. (Part first.) : containing sketches of history from the beginning of the world to the end of the Roman Empire in Italy, A.D. 476

Front matter

Book-fllS

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Dedication

TO THE YOUNG PERSONS OF THE UNITED STATES.

Your nation has political, moral, religious, and social means of happiness, which have not fallen to the lot of any other nation. This volume shows how the nations, properly called ancient, arose, flourished, and disappeared. Their destiny will teach you what will happen to yourselves, or those who come after you, if you do not perform to yourselves, and them, the duties of good citizens.

Existence is a political and social trust. If your fathers had not so held it to be, you would now be the subjects of a transatlantic empire. If you do not so hold it to be, your successors will be slaves to a tyranny of domestic origin.

CHAPTER I. Page Introduction, 13

CHAPTER H.

From the Creation to the Deluge, one thousand five hundred and sixty seven years, 20

CHAPTER m.

From the Deluge, in sixteen hundred and fifty seven, to the death of Moses, in the year of the world, twenty-five hundred and fifty three. (896 years), 24

CHAPTER IV.

Topography of the Promised Land, 30

CHAPTER V.

From the time of Joshua, to the end of the Theocracy of the Israelites, in the year two thousand nine hundred and nine. (470 years), 34

CHAPTER VI.

The reign of Saul, David, and Solomon ; from two thousand nine hundred and nine, to three thousand and twenty nine. (120 years), 36

CONTENTS.

Page CHAPTER VII.

From the death of Solomon, to the end of the kingdom of Israel; from three thousand twenty nine, to three thousand two hundred and eighty three. (254 years), 41

CHAPTER Vm.

The kingdom of Judah, from the death of Solomon, in three thousand and twenty nine, to its termination in three thousand one hundred and sixteen. (388 years), 44

CHAPTER IX.

The square in Asia, 49

CHAPTER X.

Egypt, from the Deluge, to the Conquest of Alexander the Great, iA the year 3673 of the world, 59

CHAPTER XI.

Greece from the earliest times to the destruction of Troy, about 1180 years before the Christian era, 71

CHAPTER XII.

From the siege of Troy (1180 B. C.) to the death of Alexander (in 323 B. C.) 80

CHAPTER XIII.

'Of Sparta, (or Lacedsemon) chief City of Laconia, in the Peloponnesus, 86

CHAPTER XIV.

Athens, 90

CHAPTER XV.

Athens from the expulsion of the Persians, to the death of Pericles 429 years B. C, comprising fifty years. ' 103

CONTENTS. XI

Page CHAPTER XVI.

From the death of Pericles (in 429 B. C.,) to the commencement of the reign of Alexander, (336 B. C.), 112

CHAPTER XVII.

The reign of Alexander, and its consequences, (from 336 B. C.) to the time when Greece became a Roman province, (in 188 B. C), 120

CHAPTER XVIIl.

From the end of the Jewish captivity (536 B. C.) to the beginning of the Christian era. 127

CHAPTER XIX.

The Romans — from their first appearance to the end of their monarchy, (506 years B, C), 135

CHAPTER XX.

The Romans — from the end of the monarchy (506 B. C.,) to the taking, and burning of Rome by the Gauls, under Brennus, (in the year 390 B. C.,) 141

CHAPTER XXL

From the rebuilding of Rome, after its destruction by the Gauls ; to the conquest of the whole of Italy, by the Romans (in 264 B. C.,) 14^

CHAPTER XXII.

The three wars between Rome and Carthage, usually called the Punic wars, and the conquests of Rome, (from 264 to 147 B. C.) 153

CHAPTER XXIII.

From the end of the third Punic war (in 147 B. C.,) to the death of Sylla (in 78 B. C.,) 162

Xll CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XXIV. ^*

From the death of Sylla, (in 78 B. C.) to the death of Pompey (in 48 B. C.,) 178

CHAPTER XXV.

From the death of Pompey (in 48 B. C.) to the death of Cassar (44 B. C.,) 185

CHAPTER XXVI.

* From the death of Caesar (in 44 B. C.) to the reign of Augustus (in 30 B. C.) 200

CHAPTER XXVII.

The Reign of the Roman Emperors. 210

CHAPTER XXVIII.

From the death of Augustus (A. D. 14,) to the death of Constantino the Great (A. D. 337.,) 217

CHAPTER XXIX.

From the death qf Constantine the Great, to the destruction of the Roman empire in Italy ; (A. D. 476.) 231

CHAPTER XXX.

Comparisons between Ancient Nations, and the people of the United States. 241

* The title of this chapter is erroneously printed in page 200.

Come ! by whatever sacred name disguised, Oppression! come ! and in thy works rejoice '. See Nature's richest plains, to putrid fens Turned by thy fury !

Thompson's lAbtrty,

€Kreece.

Behold !

Where on the iEgean sea a city stands ; Athens ! the eye of Greece, mother of arts And eloquence.

See there the Olive grove of Academe, Plato's retirement ; where the Attic bird Thrills her thick-warbled notes the summer long.

There Illisus rolls His whisp'ring stream: Within the walls then view, The schools of ancient sages ; his who bred Great Alexander to subdue the world, Lyceum, there, and painted Stoa, next. There shall thou hear, and learn the secret power Of harmony, in tones and numbers hit By voice or hand, and various measured verse ; iEolian charms, and Dorian lyric odes. And his who gave tliem breath, but higher sung, Blind Melesigenes, thence Homer called. Whose poem Pha?bus challeng'd for his own.

Thence to the famous orators repair ;

Those ancient, whose resistless eloquence

Wielded at will, that fierce democratie ;

Shook the arsenal, and fulmined over Greece

To Macedon, and Artaxerxes' throne :

To sage philosophy next lend thine ear,

From Heav'n descended to the low roof 'd house

Of Socrates ;

Whom, well inspired, the oracle pronounced

Wisest of men ; from whose mouth issued forth

Mellifluous streams, that watered all the schools

Of Academics old and new ; with those

Surnamed Peripatetics, and the sect

Epicurean, and the Stoic severe.

These here revolve.

Milton's Paradise Regained.

Thus up the hill of empire slow they toiled Till the bold summit gained, the thousand states Of proud Italia blended into one ; Then o'er the nations they resistless rushed, And touched the limits of the failing world.

Thompson's Zdberty.

There, as though Grandeur attracted grandeur, are beheld All things that strike, ennoble — from the depths Of Egypt ; from the classic fields of Greece, _ Her groves, her temples ; all things that inspire Wonder, delight !

BoGERs' Italy-

But when with sudden and enormous change The first of mankind sunk into the last, As once in virtue, so in vice, extreme j This universal fabric yielded loose Before ambition still ! and thundering dovra, At last, beneath its ruins crush'd a world. A conquering people to themselves a prey Must ever fall ; when their victorious troops In blood and rapine savage grown, can find No land to sack and pillage but their own.

Thompson's Liberty.

Rapt into future times the bard begun :

A virgin shall conceive, a virgin bear a son !

From Jesse's root behold a branch arise.

Whose sacred flower with fragrance fills the skies ;

Th' eternal spirit o'er its leaves shall move,

And on its top descends the mystic dove.

And in soft silence shed the kindly shower.

The sick,' the weak, the healing plant shall aid.

From storms a shelter, and from heat a shade.

All crimes shall cease, and ancient fraud shall fail.

Returning justice lift aloft her scale.

Peace o'er the world her olive wand extend.

And white rob'd innocence, from Heaven descend.

Swift fly the years, and rise th' expected morn !

Oh spring to light, auspicious babe ! be born !

Pope's Messiah.

From the depth Of forests, from what none had dared explore, Regions of thrilling ice, as though in ice Engendered ; multiplied they pour along. Shaggy, and huge ! Host after host they come, The Goth, the Vandal, and again the Goth !

Rogers' Italy.

THE

HISTORICAL CLASS BOOK.

CHAPTER I.

Introduction

Section 1. Mankind have a natural curiosity to know what is doing, what has been done, and what is to be expected. It is founded in sympathy. As one man may have acquired, avoided, suffered, or enjoyed, so may another. As nations are made up of men, and begin, go on, and end, as human Ufe does, curiosity extends to the causes and effects of national prosperity, adversity, decline, and extinction. As the history of an individual's life may be instructive, and monitory, so may the history of nations be to all who make it a study. If one fcan see in the vicissitudes of a particular life, a combination of circumstances, wherein the adoption of one course of conduct would have led to security and honour, and another, to dependence and misery, so may it be, in the affairs of nations.

§ 2. Mankind have the same form, the same passions, and the same wants, under all aspects. The objects from which gratification is sought, may be different, among different nations. History is full of instruction as to the best objects ; and every where full of warning to avoid those, which lead to affliction and misery. As like causes must always produce like effects among the human family, in all ages, surely it is most important to know what those causes have been which have produced safety, and prosperity, or degradation, and wretchedness.

§ 3. The study of history is peculiarly important to Americans, because they have the means of social welfare in an eminent degree ; and far more so than any other people have had. They have an absolute control over these means. If they do not preserve them, and so use them, as to exalt human society, far above any condition known to any other people, it must be because they elect not to do so ; but to add one more nation to the long list of those, who have appeared, flourished, and fallen, through their own folly, and perverseness.

§ 4. In what manner history should be written, depends on the class of readers for whom it is intended. In any case it should be true and impartial. As it is commonly written, facts are stated in chronological order ; and the reader is left to draw the moral for himself. This is the proper mode when readers are competent to this service. A different course should be adopted when history is written for the use of young persons. A minute and tedious detail of facts, in which the same follies, and tragedies, are again and again repeated, by different actors, tends to no useful instruction. It can only leave on the memory an undefined impression, which a short lapse of time will make too uncertain, and confused, to entitle it to the name of knowledge. The first study of history should be of great outlines, traced in the series of ages. It may be made to be the foundation on which the study of maturer years may safely rest.

^ 5. But even a study so simple, and elementary, will fail of being profitable, unless the elements of history be first understood. The young student must begin by fixing these truths in his mind : All nations that are, or have been, are made up of human beings, existing on some defined portion of the earth, as distinct fi:om other nations : All of them have had some sort of government, and some sort of religion : All individuals of the many nations have had homes, and property, which they desired to preserve : Most of them have desired, and many have attempted to get, the possessions of others.

<^ 6. In all nations there are some persons who desire to subject others to their own dominion, by some means. So among nations, all of them desire to be superior to all others, and to obtain absolute power. The whole of aiicient history seems to be made up of efforts to carry such desires into effect. In modern times, and even in this century, one man, (as so many had done before him) meditated a universal empire.

<^ 7. The elements of history are thus seen to be the exercise of power, and sometimes under the stimulus of the vrorst of passions. The machinery of this power, is the force of arms, fraud, cunning, and the terrors of superstition. The agents who have controlled this machinery, have sometimes applied it successfully ; but most of them have acquired glory and renown, only to yield them to more powerful followers. In all this the mass of population, in every nation, have borne the burthen ; and when reverses overwhelmed their chiefs, have been plundered, slain, or reduced to servitude.

§ 8. It is only within the last three hundred years, that the world has begun to wear a better aspect. The power exercised by one, or a few, over the many, has been more and more defined. The tyranny of priesthood has been gradually disappearing. The surprising truth has been demonstrated, that every man in a whole nation, has rights and duties, as one of his nation ; and is an equal partner, with all others, in ordering what political power shall be, and how it shall be used. A no less surprising truth has been established, that it is a natural right to reason about religion, and to obey the dictates of one's own conscience. And the still further truth, that man has a right to be independent of all laws to which he has not impliedly, and freely, assented.

<^ 9. These truths constitute the principles of political authority among the people of the United States. It is the purpose of the following pages to show how this enviable distinction has been acquired ; to show, also, what its true value is, by comparing it with what is known of other people in the long lapse of time covered by history. A tedious recital of facts is not necessary to accomplish this purpose. The points to be regarded are, the portions of the earth in which memorable events occurred ; the times in which they occurred ; and to present the means of comparison, between other nations, and those of the United States.

§ 10. It is obvious that history can be known only from books ; and that many books must have been examined, to sketch, even the outline of history, through f 16 THE HISTORICAL CLASS BOOK.

nearly six thousand years. It would be inconvenient to cite authorities in a school book ; while it is proper to say, that no fact of importance is stated, but on examination, and comparison, of authorities. It would be unjust not to say, that among the books which have been oftenest in hand, either for what they contain, or refer to, are Calmet's Dictionary of the Bible, published by Charles Taylor, revised by Professor Edward Robinson of the Theological Seminary at Andover ; and the Encyclopedia Americana, (edited from a similar work published in Germany) by Dr F. Lieber, assisted by E. Wigglesworth, and T. G. Bradford. Other works must sometimes be mentioned in the course of the pages.

§ 11. As to the places, or parts of the earth in which all great events occurred from the creation down to the end of four thousand four hundred and seventy-six of the Christian era, they are comprised within narrow limits, compared with the whole surface of the earth. These places or parts can easily be defined by monuments which have been the same in all ages ; and by the geographical lines of longitude and latitude. All great events did not occur within the lines presently to be mentioned. But those which did not, (and these are few during the first four thousand four hundred and seventy-six years) began within these lines, and were carried on in reference to some power, or government, seated within them, and by agents who acted in reference to such power or government. Towards the close of this historical sketch, and especially within the last three hundred years, the scene of action is more extensive ; and includes the discovery and settlement of our own country.

§ 12. The scenes of ancient history will be. found within these lines : Suppose one to stand at the south-eastern point of the Mediterranean Sea, on the line of the 31st degree of northern latitude, facing the north. From that point he goes north, on the 35th degree of east longitude, (computing from the Royal Observatory at Greenwich, England) by the eastern shore of the Mediterranean, four hundred miles to the north-eastern point of that sea ; and thence, on the same line of longitude, three hundred miles further to the 41st degree of north latitude on the south side of the Black Sea. He

THE HISTORICAL CLASS BOOK. I7

then faces east and goes on this line of latitude eight hundred miles to the 50th degree of east longitude, which will be found on the westwardly side of the Caspian Sea. He then faces south, and goes on this line of longitude seven hundred miles to the 31st degree of north latitude. He then faces west, and passing on this line of latitude, crosses the Persian gulf, near its northwardly end, and the great desert of Arabia, and comes £igain in about one thousand miles, to the south-east point of the Mediterranean. Within this square, which will be referred to in the following pages as the square in Asia, happened the most important events of ancient history during the first four thousand years.

§ 13. Standing at this south-eastern point of the Mediterranean and facing the south, one would have before him, at the distance of about eighty miles, a little on the right hand, the northwardly end of one arm of the Red Sea; and at the like distance, a little on the left, the other arm of that sea. These two arms extend southwardly, and form a point at the Red Sea, about two hundred and twenty miles from the Mediterranean. Between these two arms the Israelites wandered during their forty years in the wilderness.

§ 14. Departing again from the same south-eastern point of the Mediterranean, and going west on the 31st degree of north latitude, two hundred miles, and then facing south, one would have, at the distance of about seventy miles on his right side, the western mouth of the Nile ; and at the like distance on his left side, its most eastwardly mouth. At the distance of about fifty miles, directly south, he would find the point, where the Nile divides into branches. On the west of this dividing point is Grand Cairo, the present capital of Egypt. About ten miles further south, on the west side of the river, was Memphis, the city in which Joseph dwelt. Six miles north-west of Memphis, are the pyramids. The whole country from the Mediterranean to Memphis, and about ten miles beyond, is an unbroken level. The flat land within the shore of the Mediterranean, and the two exterior branches of the Nile, forms a figure resembling a triangle of equal sides, which is the form of the Greek letter D, which is called delta ; whence this territory *2 is usually called by that name. It rather resembles now the profile of a pear.

§ 15. From near Memphis, directly south, is the valley of the Nile, extending about six hundred miles to the cataracts of the river. This valley is shut in, on both sides, nearly its whole extent by lofty mountains. The greatest width of the valley is supposed to be about twenty miles ; and the least about four. On this flat land, and in this valley, lived the Egyptians, in latitudes further south than any in the United States ; that is, between the 22nd and 31st of north latitude.

§ 16. Returning again to the south-east point of the Mediterranean, and going on the beforementioned line north, to the Black Sea, and in the same straight line two degrees more, viz. to the 43rd degree of north latitude, making the whole line about eight hundred and forty miles ; and then facing west and going on this line of latitude about two thousand miles to the Atlantic Sea, a square would be formed, bounded eastwardly on the square in Asia, and between the 31st and 43rd degrees of north latitude, and bounded west by the Atlantic. This square includes the Mediterranean sea, all Asia Minor, and the northern coast of Africa. In this square occurred the scenes of the Grecian and Roman history, down to the destruction of the Roman empire, in the four hundred and seventy-sixth year of the Christian era. This territory will be referred to in the following pages, as THE SQUARE OF THE MEDITERRANEAN. The name of this sea is from medius^ middle ; and terra, land. That is, not a lake, but a sea, in the midst of the land.

§ 17. The square in Asia contains about six hundred and thirty thousand square miles, which is one third less than the whole number of square miles in the United States.

In this square in Asia, events occurred which affect most essentially the condition of the whole civilized world, at the present day. In this territory, a far greater number of persons than now exist in all Europe, died by violence, pestilence, and famine. This was the seat of renowned empires, of royal magnificence, of splendid luxury ; but also of the most debasing vices, shocking profligacy, odious crimes, complicated wretchedness, and awful punishments. Here, that revelation was made, which was intended to chasten and purify the earth, and to restore rational man to himself, and to reconcile him to his God.

§ 18. It will be seen in what manner and to what extent, the learning of the priests of Egypt has infused itself through various revolutions, into the learning and science of the present day. But deplorable scenes will be found, from like propiptings, to have been acted, again and again, in this memorable region of Egypt as well as in the square in Asia.

^ 19. In the Mediterranean square, ambition, a cruel and desolating use of power, imposing grandeur, and human misery, may be found. But also, fascinating eloquence, scientific arts, examples of exalted virtue, and noble patriotism ; yet, deformed and debased by a religion of man's invention, nourished and perverted to disgrace the human mind.

<§) 20. From such fountains have descended the streams from which the civilized beings in all quarters of the globe, now draw their moral, intellectual, and religious nurture. Let the hope be cherished, that as the long course of descent increases, these streams will become more and more pure, until the human family shall have become as sound and healthy as their beneficent Creator intended they should be.

Chapter II

From the Creation of the World to the Deluge, one thousand five hundred and sixty.-geven years.

§ 21. All that is known of the world and of its inhabitants, during these one thousand five hundred and sixtyseven years, and the eight hundred and ninety-six years next following, making two thousand five hundred and fifty-three, rests on the authority of the Israelite Moses. To what credit is this historian entitled 1 He is to be received as a high authority for many reasons ; and among them the following : He did most extraordinary acts among a whole people, who were most intensely interested to know, whether they were deceived or not. That people received directly from him, the writings in which his own, and their history, are contained. These writings have been most faithfully preserved through all the wonderful destiny allotted to that people. They are commonly received as true, and unquestionable, by all denominations of Christians, throughout the earth ; and by the widely extended followers of Mahomet. Science, and especially the philosophy of language, firmly support the truth of Mosaic history. It has been translated into most of the languages of the earth ; and has been interwoven in all the absurd theories of religion, which pagans have invented ; though so deformed and obscured, as to be discerned only by learned scrutiny.*

§ 22. But the highest evidence of authenticity is found in the writings themselves, of this historian. His competency to give the history of himself, as well as of his countrymen, is a proper subject of inquiry. All who have read of his origin in the Bible, know that he came

. * We are not ignorant of the discussions which have arisen on the books of Moses. But as all historians found, and sustain, their theories on the authenticity of these writings ; and considering them to agree with numerous geographical and historical facts, which cannot be disputed, for all the purposes of this volume, we take them to be credible, and entitled to be considered as true.

within the decree of the king of Egypt, requiring that the infants of the Israehtes should be slain. It is known that he was exposed in a floating basket on the Nile, (whence his name, saved out of the icater ;) and that he was found, and adopted, and educated, by the daughter of the king of Egypt.

§ 23. All the learning of that country, (and it was far more than any other then had,) was cultivated among the priests. This learning Moses had ; but it consisted mostly of imperfect systems of astronomy, and of the ceremonies of an idolatrous religion. The arts had attained to a respectable character, but morals were exceedingly debased ; and the political policy was mere despotism. It was then far worse with all nations in Asia, except in Persia, where a better sort of idolatry was maintained in the w^orship of natural objects, that is, the sun, moon, fire, water, and the expanse of the heavens. The sublime morality inculcated by Moses, in the worship of the Deity, could not have been taught to him among men. The common motives to acquire, and to exercise power, do not appear to have governed him. His writings cannot be compared with others of the same time, as none have come down to us ; but they hold an elevated rank in comparison with those which subsequent ages have produced. It is incredible that any man should, in that age, have been able to conceive, and to write, as Moses did, independently of his divine commission.

§ 24. The books attributed to th'is writer are the first five in the Bible ; and also eleven of the Psalms, from the ninetieth to the one^hundreth inclusive. Some writers suppose that Moses wrote the book of Job. This is doubtful. These five books are known by the name of the Pentateuch from the Greek pente,^?;e, and teuchos, booh^ or composition.

§ 25. The first of these books is Genesis from a Greek word meaning to he horn. The second is Exodus, so called from Greek words meaning to go out from. The third book is called Leviticus, because its principal import is to prescribe the duties of worship, which were conducted by the persons belonging to the tribe of Levi, and by the priests who were mostly Levites. The fourth book is called Numbers, because the first three chapters contain an account of numbering the Hebrews, and Levites, at the time of erecting and consecrating the Tabernacle, while in the wilderness. The fifth book is called Deuteronomy, from two Greek words, which mean second, and laio, as signifying the second giving of the Law, when Moses came down from Mount Sinai, the second time. These distinctive names were given by the Greeks, long after the time of Moses.

^ 26. It is supposed that these five books constituted but one, as the work came from this writer. Considering it as satisfactorily established, that Moses was the writer, which he declares himself to be, and as all respectable historians have considered his writings as the foundation of history, they are to be relied on as true. They are not to be understood as declaring, that the earth was created about six thousand years ago, but that it was then brought into form, and made habitable, and that a new creation then arose. With such a theory geological researches agree.

§ 27. Of the condition of mankind before the deluge, little information is given. It is not known what parts of the earth were then inhabited, nor what numbers existed when the general destruction occurred. Little is known of art, science, or language, then. From what is known to have been the state of society, immediately after the deluge, it may be believed, that the prevailing depravity, was the cause of divine displeasure. There are learned discussions on the Mosaic account of the manner in which Nftah, his wife, his three sons, and their wives, were preserved from the general fate. The attempts to discredit Moses have not been successful ; nor can any reasoning maintain that the power which could create, continue, and govern, the universe, could not have ordered events in the mariner, which the sacred volume discloses.

§ 28. Moses relates that the waters remained on the earth one hundred and fifty days, and that the ark then rested on Mount Ararat, a lofty elevation situated near the middle of the north line in the square of Asia, south-eastwardly of the south-east end of the Black Sea. Somewhere in this region, Noah and his family resumed their station on the earth ; and from him, and his children, all who dwell on the earth are supposed to be descended.

It has been regretted that the history of Moses was not more copious, as to the re-peopUng of the earth ; and that so Uttle is stated concerning the migrations eastwardly, southwardly, and northwardly from the places where the progenitors of the human family were first established. But it is to be remembered, that Moses had a single purpose in view, that of tracing the descent of the Hebrews. This purpose, it will hereafter be seen, is connected with the present condition of the world ; and that through the Hebrews must be deduced the mora] and religious improvement, and the social refinement, to which mankind have attained.