Elements of universal history

Front matter

ELEMENTS

OP

UNIVERSAL HISTORY,

Preface

This Volume contains a brief narrative of the principal events in the History of the World, from the earliest ages to the present time. With the view of facilitating the researches of the student, as well as of rendering the work more available for the purposes of tuition, the compiler has adopted the novel arrangement of a division into periods of centuries. This plan appeared to him likely to simplify the study of history, by its enabling the unpractised reader to synchronize facts, to group round one common centre the events occurring at the same time in various and sometimes widely distant countries, and to prevent that confusion of dates and occurrences so common with those who have read history in detached portions. As an initiatory work, he trusts that it will be found valuable in promoting a knowledge of one of the most useful branches of learning ; and it is accordingly presented to the Public, not without hope of indulgence and approbation.

The writer lays no claim to originality: if he shall be pronounced fortunate in the choice and condensation of his materials, he will have attained the object of his wishes. He has consulted the best works in the English language, and acknowledges his great obligations to several of the more recent French and German writers. The references introduced into the body of the work serve to indicate the main sources from which his information has been derived ; and it is hoped they will also be serviceable to the student, by directing the course of his further researches, as well as inducing him to continue them in a more extended field.

As to the method to be pursued in using this manual for the purposes of tuition, the compiler deems it unnecessary to offer any lengthened directions ; the experienced teacher will readily adopt that best suited to the capacities of those under his charge. The work may be used simply as a reading-book ; but a certain portion should be given out for the attentive study of the pupil, after which he should be questioned closely, not only as to the more 1* (v)

Vi PREFACE.

general facts, but also the most trivial circumstances recorded. With this view, he might be required occasionally to return written answers to a series of questions somewhat like the following, which are selected from a list the Compiler has drawn up for the use of his own classes : — Origin of the Wars of the Roses, describing also the principal events ? — Attacks on the power of the English and Scotch aristocracy from 1450 to 1513? — Obstacles that Henry VII. encountered on ascending the throne? — Number of wars between Charles V. and Francis I., with their principal events'? — Causes that led to and favoured Reformation in Germany ? — -Defects and good qualities of Elizabeth's administration ! and similar subjects. In these exercises, the pupil will of course be aided by the explanations and directions of the teacher, with reference to the authorities to be consulted.

The importance of combining geographical with historical information, will be readily appreciated, and the pupils should at all times be able to give at least a general description of the various countries and cities mentioned under each century. Those more advanced may from time to time be required to construct maps f — i. The world, immediately after the dispersion, indicating the parts settled by the sons of Noah and their descendants ; 2. Empire of Alexander ; 3. Roman Empire under Augustus ; 4. Roman Empire at period of Barbarian Invasion ; 5. World in time of Charlemagne; 6. Europe at Ottoman Invasion; 7. Europe at breaking out of French Revolution. They may also be advantageously employed in forming synoptical tables, as indicated in the body of the Work. These may be increased or diminished at the option of the teacher ; but the design should ever be to make the scholar his own historian, and so to interest and exercise him in the study, as to impress the facts and dates permanently on his memory.

January, 1843.

Contents

INTRODUCTION, Page 11.

Part First.— Ancient History

FROM THE CREATION, 4004 B. C, TO THE FALL OF THE WESTERN EMPIRE, A. D. 476.

41st Century b.c.

Creation of the World 13

9th Century b. c.

Death of Abel — Posterity of Adam — Seth born 14

24th Century b. c.

Universal Deluge ib.

23d Century b. c.

China 16

Formation of Nations ib.

22d Century b. c.

Egypt - — Beginning of Genuine History 17

20th Century b. c.

Sacred History 19

19 th Century b. c.

Egypt 20

Egypt ib.

Greece — Origin of the Greek Nations ib.

16th Century b.c.

Sacred History 23

Greece .

PAGE

Phoenicia ib.

Greece ib.

Greece ib.

Grecian Colonies 36

Syria 40

Carthage 44

Macedonia 45

8th Century b.c.

Judaea 45

Greece .

(vii)

Vlll

CONTENTS

Lydia 51

Rome — Origin of the Roman

People 52

Media 55

Rome 60

Rome 69

China 70

Greece ib.

Rome 78

Carthage 81

Arts, Literature and Science among

the Greeks 89

3d Century b. c.

Rome 95

Greece and Macedon 98

Parthia 100

PAG*

2d Century b.c.

Rome 101

Judaea and Syria 110

1st Century b.c.

Rome 112

Second Literary Era 122

Judaea ib.

CHRISTIAN ERA.

1st Century a. d.

Rome 124

History of the Church 131

2d Century a. d.

Rome 134

3d Century a.d.

Rome 139

Palmyra 143

Persia ib.

Barbarian Invasions 144

The Church ib.

Rome 147

Barbaric Migrations 153

5th Century a. n.

Division of the Empire 158

Venice 165

Gaul ib.

The Church ib.

Appendix to Part First — History

of Literature 168

Part Second—history Of The Middle Ages

FROM THE FALL OF THE WESTERN EMPIRE. A.D. 476, TO THE ERA OF THE REFORMATION. AT THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY.

174 177 178

CONTE NTS.

IX

The Church ib.

The World in the time of Charlemagne 208

Appendix to Eighth Century — Fine Arts, from the Fall of Rome to Charlemagne 211

The Northmen 218

Arabian Empire 233

The World at the End of the

Tenth Century 235

Arabian Empire 244

PAGE

The Crusades 251

State of the World at the Epoch of the Crusades, from 1096 to 1273 254

Italy ib.

Britain ib.

Crusades 284

Inventions, &c 306

Ottoman Empire and Turkey . . . 308

Discoveries and Colonies 339

Appendix to Part Second — Commerce, the Progress of Learning, Discoveries, &c 343

CONTENTS

Part Third.— Modern History

FROM THE ERA OF THE REFORMATION. AT THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY.

PAGE

Ireland 361

The Netherlands 376

Hungary and Bohemia 383

Poland and Russia 384

Denmark, Sweden and Norway . . 386 Ottoman Empire and the East. . . 387

Colonies and Discoveries 391

Discoveries and Settlements in

North America 392

Letters, Arts and Sciences 398

Spain and Portugal 410

Poland 419

Ottoman Empire 422

Colonies 425

Settlement of the United States. . 426

Literature, Arts and Sciences ib.

PAGE

Portugal 452

Poland 465

Prussia 468

Turkey 474

India 477

United States 481

Hayti 484 fepam

Portugal 506

Denmark ib.

Prussia ib.

Turkey 512

British India 513

United States 515

Brazil 517

Spanish Colonies ib.

Conclusion 520

Introduction

Universal History is commonly divided into three portions : —

I. Ancient History, which, beginning with the creation of the world, 4004 b. c, terminates a. d. 476, in the destruction of the Roman empire.

II. The Middle Ages, which extend from the fall of Rome, a. d. 476, to the discovery of America, a. d- 1492.

III. Modern History, which commences at the latter epoch, and, if we do not distinguish it from Contemporaneous History, is continued to the present time.

The events which mark the separation between the First and Second periods, are the Irruption of the Barbarians, the consequent fall of the Western Empire, and the foundation of the modern European states ; between the Second and the Third are the extension of learning by the invention of printing, the taking of Constantinople, the maritime discoveries of Spain and Portugal, with the more extensive use of fire-arms.

I. Ancient History may be subdivided into four periods: —

1. The Antediluvian, comprising the creation, the fall of man with its immediate train of consequences, and ending with the general deluge, 2348 b. c.

2. The Heroic, commencing with the establishment of the eai liest empires and most ancient cities, and including the fabulous ages of Greece.

3. The Historic, which begins with the first Olympiad, 776 b. c, nearly synchronous with the foundation of Rome, 753 b. c, and comprises the legislative eras of Lycurgus and Solon, the rise and fall of the Persian monarchy, and the earlier part of Roman history to the end of the Punic wars.

4. The Roman, from the fall of Carthage, 146 b. c, to that of Rome, a. d. 476.

II. The Middle Ages may be conveniently arranged in the following six periods : —

1. The foundation of the modern states of Western Europe, a. d. 476-622, when the Saxons invaded Britain, 449; the Visigoths settled in Spain, 507 ; the Ostrogoths in Italy, 489 ; and the Franks began the formation of the French monarchy, a. d. 481.

Xll INTRODUCTION.

2. The second comprehends the age of Mohammed, with the propagation of his creed and the establishment of the states which embraced his religion, a. d. 622-800.

3. The third embraces the period when the empire of the West was partially restored in the Franko-Germanic dominions of Charlemagne, 800-936.

4. The fourth is the interesting period of the dark ages, 936- 1100, during which the monarchy of Charlemagne fell to ruin, the Capetian dynasty began to reign in France, Italy was parcelled out among a number of petty princes; while in Germany Otho commenced the long-continued struggle against feudalism.

5. The fifth is the romantic or heroic period of the Crusades, 1096-1273, in which the Roman legal code, the foundation of great part of modern jurisprudence, began to be studied.

6. The sixth beheld the revival of the Fine Arts in Italy, the taking of Constantinople and consequent diffusion of its learned men, the revival of letters, the discovery of America, 1492, and the passage round the Cape of Good Hope, 1497.

III. Modern History may be conveniently divided into six portions : —

1. The period of the Reformation, from its commencement by Luther in 1517, till the termination of the long series of Italian wars in 1559.

2. The period of the religious wars, particularly in France, from 1559 to the peace of Westphalia in 1648, which produced many important changes in Europe.

3. The period from 1648 to the death of Louis XIV. in 1715, during which Russia entered into the European commonwealth, and Great Britain began to assume preponderating influence on the Continent.

4. The fourth period terminates with the peace of Versailles, 1783, which established the independence of the United States, and during which Prussia became a first-rate power.

5. The French Revolution, from the meeting of the States-general in 1789, to the restoration of the Bourbons in 1815.

6. The period from the battle of Waterloo, 1815, to the present day.

ELEMENTS

UNIVERSAL HISTORY.