Preface
HIS text-book is prepared with a view of grouping and presenting in a clear and comprehensive form the chief events in the history of all the peoples who have played or are playing an important part in the world. It takes in the ancient races from the creation of man down : Egypt; the Assyrian and Babylonian Empires ; the Jews ; Media and Persia ; Phoenicia and Carthage ; Greece and the empire of Alexander ; the Eoman Kepublic and Empire ; the disruption of that empire and the slow formation of the Christian states ; the great mediaeval period with its wonderful movements ; and the modern period, dating from the Protestant Eeformation down to the present day. This covers the whole map of human history ; and students are thus enabled to gain in a single volume a general and, it is to be hoped, a sound and intelligent view of the history of the world into which they are born. The book has been prepared especially to meet the wants of those who, from whatever cause, are prevented from devoting sufficient time to the study of special epochs, or special races and peoples, in
8 Preface.
history. In a work of this kind two difficulties present themselves : one is to fasten on the chief events and personages in the history of each people and give them due prominence ; the other to construct an interesting and continuous narrative out of what is necessarily but the skeleton of history. These difficulties it has been the writer's aim to overcome. The questions at the foot of the page will be found of equal benefit to both teacher and pupil.
John MacCakthy.
New York, July, 1883.
Contents
ANCIENT HISTORY.
Chapter I. Page
Egypt, 21
Section 1. Ancient Empire. Sec. 2. New Empire ; Kings of the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Dynasties ; Thontmosis III. and Eamses II. Sec. 3. Decline of the New Empire: Ethiopian Kings (725-665 B.C.), and Saite Kings (665-525 B.C.) ; Conquest of Egypt by Cambyses (525 B.C.) Sec. 4. Religion, Government, Laws, Science, etc., of the Egyptians.
CHAPTER II. Assyria and Babylon, 31
Section 1. Babylon and Ninive : First Assyrian Empire (1314-789 B.C.); Second Assyrian Empire (744-625 B.C.) Sec. 2. Babylonian or Chaldean Empire (625-538 B.C.) Sec. 3. Religion, Government, etc.
CHAPTER III. The Hebrews, 39
CHAPTER IT.
Media and Persia, 44
• Section 1. Origin of the Medes and Persians: Early Government; Conquest and Empire of Cyrus (559-529 B.C.) Sec. 2. Cambyses (529-522 B.C.) ; Smerdis (522-521 B.C.) ; Darius I. (521-500 B.C.) ; Institutions and Customs of the Medes and Persians.
CHAPTER Y.
Phoenicia and Carthage, 50
Section 1. Sidon and Tyre. Sec. 2. Carthage. CHAPTER YI
Greece, 55
Section 1. Primitive Greece. Sec. 2. Median Wars (500-449 B.C.) Sec. 3. Pericles; Peloponnesian War (431-404 B.C.)
chapter VII.
PAGE
Macedonia : Empire of Alexander the Great, 73
Section 1. Philip (360-337 B.C.) Sec. 2. Alexander the Great (326-323 B.C.) Sec. 3. Dismemberment of Alexander's Empire.
CHAPTER VIII.
States formed out of Alexander's Empire, 79
Section!. Egypt tinder the Lagi (323-30 B.C.) Sec. 2. Syria under the Seleucidee (301-64 B.C.) Sec. 3. Kingdom of Macedonia (319-148 B.C.) and Greece (301-146 b.c.)
ROMAN HISTORY.
THE MONARCHY.
CHAPTER I. Foundation of Rome, 91
Section 1. Romulus and his first Three Successors (753-616 B.C.) Sec. 2. The last Three Kings (616-509 B.C.)
TEE BE PUBLIC.
CHAPTER I.
Feuds and Conquests in Italy (509-264 B.C.), 97
Section 1. The Consulate (509 B.C.) ; the Dictatorship (498 B.C.) ; the Tribunes of the People (493 B.C.) Sec. 2. The Decemviri (450-449 B.C.) ; the Censorship (444 b.c) ; Military Tribunes ; Wars with the Veientes and the Gauls. Sec. 3. Political Equality of Patricians and Plebeians ; Local and Foreign Wars.
CHAPTER II. War against Carthage and her Allies, 105
Section 1. First Punic War (264-241 B.C.) Sec. 2. Second Punic War; Hannibal. Sec. 3. Third Punic War (149-146 B.C.)
CHAPTER III. Civil Wars and Last Conquests (133-29 B.C.), 115
Section 1. The Gracchi ; Jugurtha ; Maritts. Sec. 2. Wars against Mithridates (88-63 B.C.); Sulla; Spartacus; Catiline. Sec. 3. The First Triumvirate (60 B.C.) ; Ceesar and Pompey (48 B.C.) ; Antony and Octavius.
Chapter IV
Institutions, Manners, and Customs of the Romans, 128 the empire. chapter i.
PAGE
The Principate (29 b.c-284 a.d.), 132
Section 1. The Family of Augustus (29 b.c-68 a.d.) ; Birth of Christianity ; First Persecution, under Nero. Sec. 2. The three Military Usurpers (68-69 a.d.) ; the three Princes of the Flavian Family (69-96 a.d.) ; the Catacombs. Sec. 3. The Antonines (96-192 a.d.) ; the Preetorian Emperors (192-193 a.d.) Sec. 4. The Syrian Princes (193-235 a.d.) . Military' Anarchy (235-268 a.d.) ; the lllyrian Princes (268-284 a.d.)
CHAPTER II.
The Monarchical (284-312 a.d,) and Christian Empire (313-395 a.d.), . . 151 Section 1. Diocletian (284-305 a.d.) ; Constantine the Great (306-337 a.d.) ; Edict of Milan (a.d. 313). Sec. 2. The three Sons of Constantine : Constantius (337-361 a.d.), Constans (337-350 a.d.), and Constantine II. (337-340 a.d.)
HISTORY OF THE MIDDLE AGES.
FIRST EPOCH.
Chapter I
The Barbaric Invasions and Fall of the "Western Empire (395-476), . . 161 Section 1. Honorius (395-423) ; Alaric and Radagasius. Sec. 2. YalentinianTIL (424-455); Genserie and Attila; the Yandals in Africa (429). Sec. 3. The last Emperors and the Confederates.
CHAPTER II. Gaul — The Merovingian Franks, 169
Section 1. Clovis L- and his Conquests (481-511). Sec. 2. Wars and Conquests of Clovis' Successors till the Death of Dagobert I. (511-638).
CHAPTER 111.
Great Britain — The. Anglo-Saxons, . . . _ . ,' . . . 174
CHAPTER IT.
Spain — The Yisigoths, 176 chapter Y.
PAGE
Italy and the Eastern Empire, 177
Section 1. Italy under the Heruli. Sec. 2. The Ostrogoths ; Theodoric the Great and his Successors. Sec. 3. The Eastern Empire after Theodosius ; Reign of Justinian (527-565). Sec. 4. The Lombards in Italy (568-774).
CHAPTER YI.
The Church and the Barbarians, 185
Section 1. The Church and the Early Heresies. Sec. 2. Conversion of the Barbarians.
SECOND EPOCH.
CHAPTER I.
The Carlovingians, 190
Section 1. The " Sluggard " Kings and the Mayors of the Palace (638-752). Sec. 2. Pepin the Short (752-768) ; Charlemagne (768-814).
CHAPTER II.
Mohammedanism — The Arab Empire, 197
Section 1. Mohammed (570-635). Sec. 2. The Elective Caliphate (632-661). Sec. 3. The Ommiades at Damascus (661-750). Sec. 4. The Abbassides. Sec. 5. Arabian Civilization.
Chapter III
The Eastern Empire in the Seventh and Eighth Centuries, . . . .208 Section 1. The Heraclian Djmasty and Monothelism. Sec. 2. The Iconoclastic Isaurian Emperors.
CHAPTER IT.
The Church and Christian Civilization 212
Section 1 . Influence of the Pope and the Bishops. Sec. 2. The Monks of the West.
TRIED EPOCH.
CHAPTER I. The Carlovingian Empire and the Feudal System 216
Section 1. The two Dismemberments of the Carlovingian Empire (843 and 888). Sec. 2. Feudalism in Europe. Sec. 3. The last Carlovingians (888-987) and the first three Capetian Kings (987-1060).
chaptee ii.
PAGE
The Invasions of the Ninth and Tenth Centuries, . . . . . 224
Section 1. Invasions of the Saracens and Hungarians. Sec. 2. The Norman Invasions.
CHAPTER III. Germany and Italy, 234
Section 1. The Germanic Kingdom and the Northern Paces (888-962). Sec. 2. Italy and the "Western Empire (888-962). Sec. 3. The German Emperors of the West (962). Sec. 4. Cis-Juran and Trans-Juran Burgundy.
CHAPTEE IV.
Spain, the Arabs, and the Greeks, ....,,... 243 Section 1. Struggle between the Arabs and Spanish Christians. Sec. 2. The Greek Empire.
CHAPTEE Y.
The Church and Feudalism, 248
Section 1. The Catholic Hierarchy in and about the Tenth Century. Sec. 2. Conversion of the Scandinavians ; St. Anscarius. Sec. 3. Conversion of the Slavs.
FOUBTH EPOCH.
CHAPTEE I.
The Popes and the Empire (1073-1250), . 254
Section 1. Investitures. Sec. 2. The Popes and the Hohenstaufens (1137-1272).
CHAPTEE II.
The Crusades in the East, 272
Section 1. First Crusade (1095-1099). Sec. 2. The Children's Crusade (1212) ; Fifth Crusade (1217-1221). Sec. 3. The Two Crusades of St. Louis.
CHAPTEE III.
The Crusades in Europe, 283
Section 1. Crusades against the Moors in Spain. Sec. 2. Crusade against the Albigenses (1208-1229). Sec. 3. Crusades against the Pagans of the Baltic (1204-1237).
chapter IV. PAGE
France, England, and Ireland, 290
Section 1. Progress of Royalty in France ; Philip I. (1060-1108). Sec. 2. England. Sec. 3. Ireland. Sec. 4. Struggles in England; Magna Charta.
CHAPTER Y.
The Scandinavians, Slavs, and Mongols, 304
Section 1. Scandinavian Kingdoms. Sec. 2. The Slavonian Tribes. Sec. 3. The Mongols and the Empire of Jenghis Khan.
CHAPTER TI.
The Two great Centuries of the Middle Ages, 312
Section 1. Zenith of the Papacy and the Church. Sec. 2. Theological Sciences, National Languages, Christian Art.
FIFTH EPOCH.
CHAPTER I. The Great Schism of the West, . 318
Section 1, Boniface Till, and Philip the Fair. Sec. 2. The Great Schism (1378-1417).
CHAPTER II. France and England — The Hundred Tears' War, 327
Section 1. The Last Capets. Sec. 2. Anarchy in England and France.
CHAPTER III. Germany, Switzerland, and Italy, 337
Section 1. Germany. Sec. 2. Switzerland and Italy. Sec. 3. Italy: Struggle of the Guelphs and Ghibelines.
CHAPTER IT.
Spain — The Five Kingdoms, 347
CHAPTER T.
Scandinavia and the Slavic Countries, ..... • 351
Section 1. The Three Scandinavian Kingdoms. Sec. 2. The Enslaved Slavs.
Contexts. 15
chapter yi.
PAGE
The Greek Empire and the Ottoman Turks, 356
Section 1. Turkish Conquests to the Battle of Angora (1299-1402). Sec. 2. The Mongol Empire. Sec. 3. The Ottoman Turks to the Taking of Constantinople.
MODERN HISTORY.
FIRST EPOCH.
CHAPTER I. Struggle with the Turks, . . 363
Section 1. Mohammed II. (1451-1481). Sec. 2. The Renaissance in Italy.
CHAPTER II. The Decline of Feudalism, 366
Section 1. France: Louis XI. (1461-1483); Charles Vni. (1483-1498). Sec. 2. England: Wars of the Roses (1455-1485). Sec. 3. Spain: Ferdinand the Catholic (1479-1516) and Isabella (1474-1504). Sec. 4. Maritime Discoveries and Conquests of the Spaniards. Sec. 5. Portugal : Maritime Discoveries and Conquests. Sec. 6. Germany: Frederick HI. (1440-1493) and Maximilian I. (1493-1519).
CHAPTER III. Religious Wars in France, 411
Section 1. Francis II. (1559-1560). Sec. 2. Regency of Catherine de' Medici. Sec. 3. Henry III. (1574-1589). Sec. 4. Henry IY. (1589-1610).
CHAPTER IY.
Philip II. and Elizabeth, 418
Section 1. Philip II. (1556-1598). Sec. 2. Elizabeth (1558-1603). Sec. 3. Mary Stuart.
CHAPTER Y.
Louis XIII. (1610-1643)— Thirty Years' War, 428
Section 1. Concini, De Luynes, and Richelieu. Sec. 2. Ministry of Richelieu (1624-1642). Sec. 3. The Thirty Years' War (1618-1648). Sec. 4. The Swedish Period (1630-1635). Sec. 5. The French Period under Louis XIII. (1635-1643).
THIRD EPOCH.
CHAPTER I. Louis XIY. and Mazarin (1643-1661), 437
Section 1. Regency of Anne of Austria (1643-1651). Sec. 2. The Fronde (1 648-1652) ; Treaty of the Pyrenees (1659). Sec. 3. England: James I. (1603-1625) ; Charles I. (1625-1649) ; the Commonwealth (1649-1660); the Protectorate (1653-1658).
CHAPTER II. First Wars and Conquests of Louis XIY. (1661-1668), 446
Section 1. Personal Government of Louis XIY. Sec. 2. War of Spoliation (1667). Sec. 3. Second War of Spoliation (1672-1678). Sec. 4. Declaration of 1682 ; Jansenism ; Revocation of the Edict of Nantes (1685). Sec. 5. Revolution of 1688 in England ; Charles II. (1660-1685) ; James II. (1685-1688); William III. (1689-1702).
CHAPTER III. Ireland, 453
Section 1. English Invasion of Ireland. Sec. 2. Ireland and the Tudors- (1509-1603). Sec. 3. Ireland and the Stuarts (1603-1649). Sec. 4. Cromwell in Ireland. Sec. 5. William and Mary (1689-1702).
chapter it.
PAGE
Louis XIY. after the League of Augsburg (1688-1715), . . . .459 Section 1. War of the League of Augsburg (1688-1697). Sec. 2. "War of the Spanish Succession (1701-1714).
CHAPTER V. Europe in the Time of Louis XIY., 462
Section 1. Sweden and the North; Charles XII. (1697-1718). Sec. 2. Russia: Peter the Great (1682-1725). Sec. 3. Humiliation of Turkey.
FOURTH EPOCH.
Chapter I
Section 1. The Regency (1715-1723) and Ministry of the Duke de Bourbon (1723-1726). Sec. 2. Ministry of Cardinal Fleury (1726-1743). Sec. 3. The American Colonies. Sec. 4. England : Queen Anne (1702- 1714) ; the House of Hanover. Sec. 5. The Seven Years' War (1756- 1763)
chapter ii. PAGE
Section 1. The Empire to the Treaty of Tilsit (1804-1807). Sec. 2. The Empire in its Zenith (1807-1812). Sec. 3. Decadence and Fall of the Empire (1812-1814). Sec. 4. Great Britain and Ireland. Sec. 5. The | American Union.
SIXTH EPOCH.
CHAPTER I.
The State of France, . . . • 543
Section 1. France after the Fall of Napoleon. Sec. 2. The Revolution of 1830.
CHAPTER II.
Catholic Emancipation and Reform in Great Britain and Ireland, . . . 546 Section. 1. George IT. (1820-1830). Sec. 2. The Political Struggle in Great Britain.
CHAPTER m.
Reform on the Continent of Europe, 548
Section 1. Popular Discontent. Sec. 2. Growing Rivalry between Austria and Prussia.
chapter iii. PAGE
Concentration of the Great Powers, 562
Section 1. Downfall of the French Republic. Sec. 2. Movements in Italy. Sec. 3. Prussian Development. Sec. 4. "War between France and Germany (1870-1871).
CHAPTER IT.
Russia after the Crimean War, 570
Section 1. Reforms of Alexander II. Sec. 2. Russian Schemes of Aggrandizement. Sec. 3. War between Russia and Turkey (1876-1877). Sec. 4. The new German Empire. Sec. 5. Austro-Hungary (1867-1881).
CHAPTER Y.
Recent Events in Italy, France, Spain, and the minor States of Europe, . 577 Section 1. Italian Unification. Sec. 2. The new French Republic. Sec. 3. Spain (1868-1881). Sec. 4. Minor States of Europe.
CHAPTER YI.
The British Empire (1848-1881), 584
Section 1. The Indian Mutiny. Sec. 2. Irish Disturbances (1854-1880).
CHAPTER YII.
The United States since the Mexican "War 590
CHAPTER Till.
The American Continent, 596
Section 1. Canada. Sec. 2. Mexico. Sec. 3. Brazil. Sec. 4. Other States of Central and South America.
History of the World.
ANCIENT HISTOET.
Chapter I. E&ypt
The history of Egypt, frora the formation of the empire to its subjugation by the Persians, divides itself into three periods: 1. The Ancient Empire, which was marked by the building of the Pyramids ; and the Middle Empire, which was destroyed by the invasion of the Hyksos, or Shepherd-kings. 2. The New Empire, founded by the kings of the eighteenth and nineteenth dynasties. 3. The decline of the New Empire, from the end of the fourteenth century b.c. to the conquest of Egypt by Cambyses, King of the Persians, B.C. 525. There were twenty-six dynasties in all.
SECTION I. Ancient Empire. 1. Memphis. — After the dispersion of mankind Misraim, son of Cham, peopled Egypt, which was called the land of Misraim and stretched along the fertile banks of the river Nile. But the founder of the Egyptian monarchy was Menes, a descendant of Misraim. Menes was the first to check the waters of the Nile, on whose annual overflow the land depends for its fruitfulness, there being little rain in Egypt. He dug a new bed for the river, whose waters wasted themselves on the Libyan sands. On the left bank, near the delta of the Nile, he built a city which he named Memphis, or "the good residence." This was Egypt's first capital.
State divisions of history of Egypt. How many dynasties were there ? 1 . Where does Egypt lie 1 Who founded the Egyptian monarchy 1 For what is he famous 1 What was Egypt's first capital ?
2. The Pyramids. — The people grew in numbers and in wealth, and Egypt in time extended from the Libyan deserts to Mount Sinai and became a great power. Evidences of this power and of the wealth and resources of the country, as well as of the genius of her rulers, remain to this day. The construction of the Pyramids, which have withstood all the tests of time, proclaims a wouderf ul people. These were vast symmetrical monuments, unequalled for size and completeness of structure, which were intended to be the last resting-place of the kings. The largest of them is attributed to Cheops, a king of the fourth dynasty.
J3. Lake Moeris. — Egypt depended for its crops and harvests on the overflow of the Nile. But to render the country fertile the overflow had only to reach a certain height. Above or below this was equally disastrous. To secure this level King Moeris had a deep lake dug about ten leagues in circumference. This served as a reservoir which received the Avaters of the river when they rose too high, and replenished them when they fell too low. The lake fisheries became a source of revenue, and on the shores were built palaces and pleasure-houses.
4. End of the Ancient Empire. — King Moeris was a great monarch, and the records that remain testify to the splendor of his reign. He was equally successful in commerce and in war. The power of his arms extended to Ethiopia, while he established trade with Asia by the Eed Sea. Eecords attest a high degree of civilization and luxury among the Egyptians at this time. But luxury and riches brought their curse. So rich a prize as Egypt became an object of ambition. Eival competitors for the throne sprang up in the sixth dynasty.
5. The last of the kings of this dynasty was slain by an
2. Wliat were the Pyramids ? 3. On what did Egypt depend for its harvests ? Why was Lake Mosris constructed ? 4. How far did King Mceris' power extend ? Why did ancient Egypt decline 1 assassin. His sister, Nitocris, famed for her wisdom and her beauty, assumed the government and held it for twelve years, during which time she completed the third great Pyramid. Her reign was beneficent, but ended disastrously. She treacherously put to death the men implicated in the death of her brother. Their partisans revolted, and Nitocris perished in the revolt.
6. Thebes. — Anarchy ensued, and in the midst of it one of the contending princes founded Thebes and made it the capital of Upper Egypt, or the Thebaic!. In the eleventh dynasty the king of Thebes established his sway over all the country, and Tiiebes then became the capital of Egypt. It was made one of the most magnificent cities that the world has known, and its hundred gates have been celebrated by Homer. At Thebes, it is believed, the true God was worshipped under the name of Amnion, or " the Invisible." He was adored as the " Lord of eternity," the "great God dwelling in truth," and Thebes was "the holy city of Amnion." But the holy city soon gave itself up to corruption and the pagan worship of the stars and of animals, and so became the centre of idolatry,
7. Egypt under the Middle Empire. — With the twelfth dynasty Egypt recovered all the territory and power it had lost during the civil wars. New conquests were added in Ethiopia, and the masterpieces of Egyptian art were produced during the prosperous reigns of these princes. The most famous is known as the Labyrinth, founded by King Amenehme III. This structure was a series of twelve magnificent palaces, each distinct in itself yet communicating with the others.
8. The Hyksos. — Wealth and luxury begot corruption, and corruption begOt dissension. Egypt was again given up to
5. Who was Nitoeris ? What was her end? 6. Give origin of foundation of Thebes. What was the worship at Thebes'? 7. For what is the twelfth dynasty famed ? What was the Labyrinth '?
civil strife and the state dismembered. Under the thirteenth dynasty it was invaded by the Hyksos, hardy shepherd chieftains from Syria and the neighboring states. These nomads poured into the country, defeated the reigning princes, destroyed cities, overthrew temples and gods, and wrought all the evil accompanying a barbaric invasion. They then seized the country for themselves, and remained masters of it for about three centuries. They inhabited the lower valley of the Nile and levied tribute from the rest of the country. Their last king, Apophis, raised Joseph to the position of his chief minister of state.
SECTION II. New Empire: Kings of the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Dynasties ; Thoutmosis III. and Ramses II.
9. Expulsion of the Hyksos. — About the year 1700 B.C. Amosis, King of Thebes, expelled the Hyksos and became the head of the eighteenth dynasty and founder of a new empire. The Hyksos migrated to Arabia, Phoenicia, and the country afterwards known as Palestine. King Thoutmosis I. laid Syria under tribute, subjugated Ethiopia, and extended his conquests to Mesopotamia.
10. Thoutmosis III. — His second son, Thoutmosis III., became the greatest of Egyptian conquerors. A minor on ascending the throne, the country was wisely governed by his eldest sister, Hatason. At her death the Syrians and Chanaanites revolted, but were defeated by Thoutmosis at Mageddo, in Palestine. Thence the young conqueror marched into the interior of Asia and laid tribute on the kings of Mnive and Babylon. Armenia and Arabia fell under the yoke ; and his vessels, manned by Phoenicians, conquered the coasts of Asia Minor and Greece, the isles of Cyprus and Crete, and opened the way for the acquisition
8. Who were the Hyksos and what did they accomplish 1 How long did they remain masters of Egypt ? What of their last king ? 9. By whom were the Hyksos expelled 1 10. Give history of Thoutmosis in.
of the African coast to Algeria. Thus Egypt became mistress of the world as then known.
11. Amenophis III, Hamses II. — This vast empire lasted till the reign of Amenophis III., the third successor of the great Thoutmosis. Amenophis was more celebrated for the number and magnificence of the monuments he had erected than for military exploits. After him the power of Egypt waned, but was revived under Eamses, the head of the nineteenth dynasty. Sethos, his son, regained all the conquests of Thoutmosis III. But the glory of the father was eclipsed by that of the son, Ramses II., celebrated in history as Sesostris.
12. Sesostris. — Sesostris secured the conquests of his predecessors. His title to fame rests chiefly on the number and magnificence of the monuments he caused to be erected in the valley of the Nile. In this he surpassed all the Pharaos. The city of Thebes was especially enriched by him.
13. According to the Greek writers he was a great lawgiver as well as a great conqueror. But the best laws of Egypt came before his time. Notwithstanding his magnificence, he seems to have been a harsh ruler and full of vainglory. He is set down as that Pharao of the Bible who was so cruel to the Jews in their captivity. He reigned for sixty-five years.
14. End of the Nineteenth Dynasty. — At his death Sesostris left Egypt exhausted by his tyrannical exactions. The country was invaded on all sides. The Italians and Greeks entered Lower Egypt and ascended the Nile. Merenphtah, the son of Sesostris, fled before them ; but the invasion was finally repulsed. Merenphtah collected at Pelusium "all the lepers and impure" of his kingdom to the number of
11. For what was Amenophis III. famed ? For what Ramses I. and Sethos ? 12-13. On what does the fame of Sesostris rest? 14. What occurred after the death of Sesostris ?
80,000. They took up arms and were reinforced by hordes from Asia. War raged in Egypt for thirteen years, during which Merenphtah disappeared. His son came back from Ethiopia, where he had been a fugitive, and, assuming the title of Sethos II., claimed his inheritance. In the struggle for the throne the nineteenth dynasty ended miserably. It was the first chief persecutor of the Jewish people.
SECTION III. Decline of the New Empire: Ethiopian Kings (725-665 B.C). and Saite Kings (665-525 B.C.) ; Conquest of Egypt by Cainbyses (525 B.C.)
15. As the twentieth dynasty neared its close the valor of Eamses III. restored much of its glory and power to Egypt. He conquered the Libyans and Syrians, but his successors were not equal to their inheritance. The high-priest of Amnion usurped the chief military and civil authority, and about 1150 B.C. assumed the title of king. There was a rival dynasty at Tan is, in Lower Egypt. The high-priest sought the alliance of the Assyrian kings and to secure that renounced the right of sovereignty that for five centuries Egypt had exercised in Asia.
16. This weakening of Egypt allowed King David to enlarge his kingdom by conquest over the adjacent smaller states. Solomon became Pharao's son-in-law. The schism of the ten tribes divided the kingdom of Israel. The Pharaos of Lower Egypt drove the descendants of the high-priest into Ethiopia. Jeroboam invited Sesac, master of all Egypt, to invade Juda (971). He entered Jerusalem and despoiled the Temple and the palace of Eoboam.
17. The Ethiopian Kings and the Assyrian Invasion (725- 665). — The high -priest's descendants established an independent kingdom in Ethiopia. One of them, Zara, invaded Egypt and Juda, but was defeated. Anarchy still prevailed
15. What did Ramses III. achieve 1 State what occurred after his death. 16. What connection was there between Egypt and Israel 1 17. How did the early invasions of Egypt come about ?
in Egypt, and Sabacon, another Ethiopian, again invaded the country and subdued almost the whole of it. The Jews, threatened by the Assyrians, in spite of the warnings of the prophet Isaias, sought the alliance of the Egyptians. It was given, but did not prevent the ruin of the kingdom of Israel, /iior the invasion of Egypt itself.
18. The Twelve Kings (665-650).— After a long period of anarchy twelve of the Egyptian chieftains agreed to reign in common. Their union lasted fifteen years. One of them, Psammeticus, was deposed. He fled, but, gaining the assistance of the Greeks, returned and deposed the others. He drove the Ethiopians from the Thebaic!, became master of Egypt, and named his dynasty Sai's after his father. He was a powerful warrior, but a preference for his Greek allies gave such dissatisfaction to his own subjects that a large number of them emigrated to Ethiopia. His reign is rendered memorable by the siege of Azoth, a city of the Philistines, which it took him twenty-eight years to capture.
19. Hechao (616-600).— Nechao followed the warlike policy of his father. Josias, King of Jucla, objected to the Egyptians passing his frontiers, and, rejecting the offer of friendship, gave battle at Mageddo, but was defeated and slain (610). Nechao took Jerusalem and laid tribute on Jucla. He conquered Syria and advanced to the Euphrates, where he was met by ISTabuchoclonosor at Circesium, and in a single day lost all his conquests (604). He had striven unsuccessfully to increase Egyptian commerce by reopening the canal made by his father between the Nile and the Eed Sea. The work cost the lives of one hundred and twenty thousand workmen, and was finally abandoned.
20. Psammis (600-594) and Apries (594-569) ; Usurpation of Amasis (569-526). — ISTechao was succeeded by his
18. Give history of the twelve kings and of Psammeticus. What famous siege occurred during the reign of Psammeticus 1 19. Give history of ISTechao. What famous project did he attempt ?
son Psammis, who, after an unsuccessful expedition into Ethiopia, left the crown to Apries, called Ophra in the Bible. Apries seized the city of Sidon, and foolishly defied Heaven to shake his throne. To avenge his grandfather's defeat at Circesinm he offered the Jews his protection against JSTabuchodonosor. Sedecias, the last king of Juda, accepted the offer. They were defeated, and the Babylonian enemy spent their fury on Sedecias and the city of Jerusalem (587).
21. Pharao, whose death had been predicted by the prophet Jeremias, fell a victim to a revolt of his own troops. Amasis, an officer of low birth, was chosen king by the rebels. He was a man of power and capacity, and became a wise ruler of the people. The favor he showed to the Greeks awoke the jealousy of the Egyptians, and an alliance he made with the enemies of Cyrus proved disastrous to his son.
22. Psammenitus (526-525) ; Conquest of Egypt by Cambyses (525). — Oambyses, son of Cyrus, invaded Egypt under pretence of this alliance with the enemies of the Persians. He defeated Psammenitus under the walls of Pelusium. The king fled to Memphis, but was made prisoner and put to death. Thus ended the most ancient and flourishing empire in the world.
SECTION IV. Religion, Government, Laws, Science, etc., of the Egyptians.
23. Keligion of the Egyptians. — The Egyptians, being so near the cradle of the human race, shared in the primitive revelation and had a knowledge of the true God. With the gradual corruption of morals this knowledge became more and more confused and corrupt, and finally degenerated into idolatry. The sun was adored as the supreme being, and
20. What happened on the death of Nechao 1 21. Who was Amasis 1 22. Who was Cambyses ? How did the Egyptian Empire end 1 23. What was the religion of the Egyptians ?
Egypt, 29
the animals peculiar to the country were also worshipped as gods. The crocodile was sacred, and the bull Apis was especially honored and had magnificent temples erected to him. The Egyptians believed in the immortality of the soul ; but this belief changed afterwards into the doctrine of metempsychosis, or the transmigration of the soul from one body into some other body after death. They reverenced the dead and embalmed their bodies. The bodies thus embalmed are called mummies.
24. The Government of Egypt. — The chief ruler was a king, who called himself the son of the sun, and who was worshipped as a god by his subjects, but who himself was compelled to observe rigorously the religious laws of the country. At his death the crown passed to the eldest of his sons, or, failing them, of his daughters, or, children failing, to his brothers and sisters. He was surrounded by a royal court- . The country was divided into districts presided over by governors appointed by the king. The use of money was unknown ; taxes were paid in kind, and commerce was carried on by exchange, or by ingots according to their weight.
25. The People. — In Egypt were two privileged classes, the priests and the warriors, each possessing a third of the soil. The third class consisted of the people, agriculturists or shepherds for the most part. There were also many skilled artisans — builders, weavers, and workers in the fine metals. The classes or castes were hereditary and could not be interchanged. What the father was the son was, soldier, priest, or shepherd. The priests were also the literary class, the men of science and of medicine. The priests, as was seen, grew to be so powerful as to overthrow the twentieth dynasty. The warriors lost their hold when two hundred
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The end
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