The story of the ancient nations : a text-book for high schools

Preface

There is no other branch oi history taught in our High Schools in which so much new material lias come to light during the past forty years as in ancient history. No other of the larger divisions of historical study has been so rarely presented in our Universities by men well acquainted with the primary sources of information and abreast of the changes which each year's excavations have brought. Much of the best source material is not yet available, in translated form, to the teacher. As a result the High School teacher of ancient history is, to an unusual degree, at the mercy of his text-book and the more scholarly histories which may bo at his command.

This text-book has been written with the desire to put into the hands of High School teachers and pupils, in simple and concrete form, the story of the development of ancient civilization as it appears in the light of the historical material recently discovered. It is the outcome of more than a decade of teaching, both in High School and University classes, during which the writer's respect for the spirit of the Greek and Roman world and his interest in its achievement have continually ripened with increased acquaintance.

The attempt has been made to present the progress of ancient civilization as a continuous and unified process. The writer has felt it necessary to give, in simple terms, as much of the business and social background as the limited space afforded by the crowded High School curriculum might permit. The pupil must, above all, become acquainted with the great historic figures of antiquity and their place in the world's work; but these historic personalities must be seen as moving in an atmosphere of real life. Otherwise they move as puppets without background or scenery and no amount of clever and epigrammatic characterization can vitalize them.

Wherever possible, quotations have been taken from the pag< - ancient rather than modern historians for the reason that the former are usually more simple in expression as well as more valu-

Vi PREFACE

able historically. The illustrations, with the exception of a few carefully selected restorations, are almost entirely drawn from ent sour. -

It is a pleasure to the author to feel that the general character of this text-hook is in close accord with the suggestions embodied in the recent report of the Committee of Five oi the American Historical Association embodied in their booklet upon the "Study oi History in Schools." This agreement, however, was not oi his designing, as the text was completed before the report appeared.

The writer is grateful to many friends for suggestions made by them which have taken form here and there in the text. He lias been materially helped, both in proof-reading and in pedagogical criticism, by Professors Fred Duncalf of the University of Texas, August Krey oi the University of Illinois (formerly of the South Division High School of Milwaukee), and Jesse Wrench of the University of Missouri, and he gratefully acknowledges his indebtedness to them.

The publishers deserve mention for their patience and the careful and competent criticism to which they have continually subjected this book in the process of its growth. It has undergone searching and thorough review at the hands of the following: Mr. J. Herbert Eow. Manual Training High School. Brooklyn. New York: Mr. A. C. Shong, Principal West Division High School. Milwaukee. Wis.: Mr. J. R. H. Moore. Manual Training High School. Indianapolis, Indiana: Mr. P. T. Campbell. Public Latin School. Boston, Mass.: and Miss Abby Barstow Pates. Morris High School. New York City. Their knowledge of the needs and difficulties of the pupil of High School age has been an invaluable aid to the writer. He. however, is alone responsible for the entire work and desires merely to thank them for their interest and stance.

W. L. Westermanx.

March. 1912.

Madison. Wis.

Contents

PAGE

Introduction

p vRT i—THE EARLY CIVILIZATION OF EGYPT AND WESTERN ASIA

CHAPTER

I. Ancient Egypt '

II. The Spread of Egyptian Civilization 21

III. Babylonian Civilization 31

IV. The Peoples Who Spread the Civilization of the

East 4 * 2

V. The Phoenicians and Hebrews. — The Growth of

Trade with the West 51

VI The End of the Development of the Oriental

Nations 0w

PART n— THE HISTORY OF GREECE

VII. Hellas and the Hellenes '9

VIII. Early Hellenic Civilization as Shown in the

Homeric Poems s '

IN. The Spreading of the Greeks Along the

Mediterranean Shore 93

X. Democracy Develops in Attica 101

XL Development of Spartan Life and of Spartan

Leadership in the Peloponnesus HI

NIL The Westward Expansion of Persia Threatens

to Destroy Greek Civilization 120

XIII. The Deli an League and the Growth of Athenian

Power 134

XIV. The State System of Athens at the Height of

Her Greatness 1-io

vii

Vlll

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

XV. The Intellectual Greatness of Athens in the

Fifth Century 153

XVI. The Poweb of the Athenian Empire Broken. —

Peloponnesian War 105

XVII. The Western Greeks on the Defensive against

Carthage: The Fatal Lack of Unity .... 174

XVIII. The Uniti of Greece Brought About by the

Macedonian Conquest 187

XIX. Alexander the Great 199

XX. The End of the Greek States 215

XXI. The Eellenizing of the East and its Industrial

Life 225

XXII. The Intellectual Life of the Hellenistic Ace . 233

PART 111— THE STORY OF ROME

XXIII. Italy Its People and Early History .... 245

XXIV. The Old Roman State 255

XXV. The Spread of the Power of Rome over Italy . . '203

XXVI. Rome and Carthage Begin a Wab fob Supremacy

in the West 279

XXVII. Hannibal in Italy. — Rome Becomes Supreme in

the West 291

XXVIII, The Government OF the Roman State .... 303 XXIX. Rapid Eastward Expansion and the Hellenizlng

OF Rome 314

XXX. The Chance in Roman Life 322

XXXI. The Gracchi and the Democratic Parti . . . 331 XXXII, The Struggle Between the Popular and Sena-

tobial Parties Continues 341

XXXIII. The Rise of Cesar to Sole Leadership . . . 354

XXXIV. C.esau Rets an End to the Roman Republic . 307 XXXV. Augustus lnd the Founding of the Empire . . 370

XXXVI, The Imperial Literature and Spirit 391

XXXVII, The Development of the Empire During the

First Century \. d 300

XXXVIII. Christianity \nd mc Empire in the Eirst Century 409

CHAPTER

XXXIX.

XL.

XLI.

XI. II.

XLIIT.

XL1V

XLV.

CONTENTS »

PAGE

Tin: Decline of C.keco-Roman Civilization in

the Third Century 437

The Fourth Century.— The Victory of Christianity 451

The Barbarians Break into the Empire ... 461 The Attempt to Reestablish the Old Roman- Empire *'*

The Development of Roman-Teutonic Civilization in Western Europe 4S2

The Spread of Mohammedanism in the East — The Papacy and the Carolinians Rule the

West *9!

Summary of Ancient Civilization 498

Historical Synopsis and List of Events and

Dates ^

Pronouncing Vocabulary and Index . . . 533

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

PAGE

Stone Implements of the Paleolithic Age 3

St one Lance-Head and Knife of the Neolithic Age 3

Ancient Egyptian Weapons of Bronze 3

Sketch of Reindeer Made Upon Slate by Cave-Dwellers of the Old

Stone Age 4

A Portion of the Rosetta Stone 9

Hunting the Hippopotamus < n the Nile 12

Old Egyptian House 13

Egyptian Bartering a Necklace for Onions 14

Statues of Rahotep and His Wife, Nefert 14

Horus and Anubis Leading Rameses II 16

Mummy Wrapped in Its Swathmgs 17

Pyramid of Khufu, the Sphinx, and the Temple of the Sphinx . . IS

Ruins of the Great Temple of Ancient Thebes 19

Two Companies of Negro Soldiers in the Egyptian Army .... 22

Ships of Queen Hatshepset, Aunt of Thothmes III 26

Ruins of the Colossal Statues of Amenhotep III at Thebes ... 27

Rameses II in His Chariot of War 29

Ancient Babylonian Writing 32

Hammurabi Receiving His Laws from the Sun-God 35

Palace of an Assyrian King with Platform Temple 38

Hittite Warrior 43

Cretan Seal Representing the Minotaur 45

Lion Gate and Entrance to the Palace at Mycena? 46

Cretan Work in Fine. Porcelain 47

Painted Cretan Vase 47

Young Cretan Girl 48

Cretan Vase of Hard Stone 48

Phoenician Fleet of An Assyrian King 51

Engraved Phoenician Gem 54

Hebrew Women and Child of the Peasant Class 54

Restoration of a Bronze Column from the Temple at Jerusalem . 57

Israelites Bearing Tribute to an Assyrian King 59

Tiglath-Pileser Besieging a Walled City 63

Ashurbanipal Banqueting with His Queen 65

Assyrians Flaying their Captives 66

xi

Xll LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

PAGE

Lydian Gold Coin of Croesus 69

A Persian Archer 73

King Darius Piercing a Rebel with His Lance 73

Mountain and Valley Landscape in Thessaly 80

Coastline and Mountains of the Peloponnesus M

Bust of Hermes, the God of the Streets 82

Early Mycenaean Greek Yase-Painting 83

Achilles Slaying Hector SS

Odysseus Slaying the Suitors SS

Study of Homer .•••■" 89

Old Greek Vase-Painting of the Early Homeric Period 90

Athenian Vase 94

Greek Ship with One Bank of Oars 95

Silver Tetradrachm of Syracuse 95

Silver Drachma of Trapezus 90

Vase-Painting of the Sixth Century b. c 97

Great Temple and Altar of Zeus at Olympia 102

The Stadium Race (210-Yard Dash) 103

Broad Jump with Weights 103

Four-Horse Chariot Race 104

A Greek Hoplite 115

Fragments of a Column Dedicated by Croesus in the Temple of

Artemis at Ephesus 122

Piece of Pottery Found at Athens with the Name and Deme of

Themistocles Upon It 128

Supposed Arrangement of Rowers on a Trireme 128

Man Carrying a Calf to Sacrifice 132

Fragment of a Decree of the Athenian Boule and Assembly . . . 130

Part of the Old "Walls of Themistocles Around Athens 138

Ancient Bust of Pericles 141

A Greek Bronze Foundry 147

Scene in a Vase-painter's Studio 148

The Barber 148

Sophocles L56

The Acropolis at Athens as it Appears To-day 158

Doric. Ionian, and Corinthian Columns 159

Rearing Horse from the Parthenon Frieze 100

Ruins of the Parthenon at Athens 101

The Discus-Thrower of Myron 162

Copy of the Head of a Statue of Athena by Phidias 162

Medea 172

A Ballista, or Stone-Thrower 175

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS xiii

PAGE

Formation of the Battle of Leuctra 183

Bust of Socrates 185

Demosthenes 191

Bust of Plato 193

View of the Seats and Orchestra of the Old Greek Theater at

Epidaurus 196

Head of the Hermes of Praxiteles 197

Apollo Playing with a Lizard 197

At the Shoemaker's Shop 199

Greek Furniture 200

Head of Alexander 202

Portrait-Bust of Alexander 203

Remains of the Theater of Dionysus at Athens 211

The Dying Gaul 218

Greek Youth Wearing Chlamys and Hat 226

Coin with Head of Ptolemy V of Egypt 227

A Restoration of the Lighthouse of Pharos 230

Greek Silver Coin Minted by Seleucus I of Syria 232

Restoration of the Acropolis at Pergamum 237

Boy with a Goose 238

The Venus of Melos 238

Etruscan Grave Monument 247

Ancient Etruscan Urn in the Form of a House 247

Portion of the Hadrianic Altar Showing Romulus and Remus Nourished by the Wolf 251

Mouth of the Cloaca Maxima as it Appears To-day 253

Ancient Urn Made in the Form of an Italian House 256

Roman Medallion Showing the Form of the Ancient Temple of

Vesta 257

Restoration of the Capitoline Hill in Ancient Times 258

A Roman Warrior 264

Gallic Horsemen 269

Etruscan Vase-painting of a Chariot Race 271

Samnite Warriors Returning Home from Battle 273

The Appian Way 274

Engraved Razor-Blade of Carthaginian Manufacture 279

Roman Copper Coin of About 33S b. c 281

Sea Fight Between Two Ancient Vessels 284

A Restoration of the Column of Duilius 286

Carthaginian Silver Coin Issued in Spain 289

The Ancient Alignment of Roman Troops by Maniples .... 294

Types of Roman Helmets ... 294 xiv LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

PAGE

Three Types of the Pilum 295

The Curule Chair, from a Roman Coin 303

Bronze Statue of a Roman Orator of about 200 b. c 306

Booty of War Carried in a Roman Triumphal Procession .... 317

Scene from a Roman Comedy 324

Terra Cotta Statuette Representing the Slave Type in Greek

Comedy 324

Taking the Auspices from the Sacred Chickens 326

An Italian Ploughman 332

A Roman Field Slave 333

A German Warrior 343

Leaden Bullet Used by a Slinger in the War of the Allies . . . .346

Athenian Silver Coin Stamped with the Head of Mithradates . . 347

Roman Coin (living the Only Trustworthy Likeness of Sulla . . 352

Pompey the Great 354

Gladiatorial Combat between a Samnite and a Thracian .... 354

Marcus TuUius Cicero 356

A Roman Lamp of the First Century 362

Coin Showing the Head of Julius Caesar as he Looked in the Last

Years of His Life 371

A Roman Villa by the Sea 376

Gladiatorial Combat ; >77

The Youthful Octavius (Augustus Caesar) 370

Marcus Antonius 380

Egyptian Copper Coin with the Head of Cleopatra 381

A Silver Pan of the Time of Augustus 386

The Pantheon as it Stands To-day 387

Head of Horace from a Medallion of the Third Century 394

A Roman School 397

Roman Writing Materials 398

Tiberius Caesar 100

Restoration of the Villa of Tiberius in the Island of Capri 101

Coin with Head of Vespasian 10 1

Ruins of the Flavian Amphitheatre at Rome 107

View of a Corner of an Italian Walled Town in Antiquity . . 100

A Street of Pompeii as it Looks To-day 11()

Ruins of the Temple of Jupiter in the Forum of Pompeii . . . .411

Wall-Painting from a Room in an Ancient Villa 414

The Philosopher and Statesman, Seneca 120

A Roman Soldier and a Dacian with a Dacian Hut in the Background 423

The Mausoleum of Hadrian, Now Called Castle St. Angelo . . . 426

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS xv

Marcus Aurelius Receiving the Submission of Barbarians .... 427

A Street Scene in Rome 4 ; i()

Column of Trajan and Ruins of the Forum of Trajan 431

Soldiers of the Praetorian Guard 4 ;^ s

Gold Coin with the Head of Julia Domna 4;;, • ,

Mosaic from the Province of Africa 44()

Ruins of Palmyra 44 *

A Part of Aurehan' s Wall, as it. Now Stands 444

Coin with Head of Diocletian 445

A Restoration of the Roman Forum as it Appeared about 300 a. d. . 447

Earlv Christian Statue of the Good Shepherd 448

Bust of Constant me l ' _

Arch of Constantine at Rome 4 '^

Gold Medallion of Theodosius 4f)7

Fortifications along the Danube in the Time of Marcus AureHus . 461

German Women, in One of Their Wagons, Led as Captives by

Roman Soldiers 46()

Roman Aqueduct near Ntmes in Southern France 471

Tomb of Theodorie at Ravenna *'*

• • 475

The Emperor Justinian

Bronze Lamp of the Fifth Century ... • • ■ • • ■ 47()

Old Christian Mosaic in the Mosque Called Saint Sophia in Constantinople

AFrankish House 482

Burgundian Clasp for a Girdle, of the Sixth Century 483

Coin of Dagoberl 4S ; 5

Bridge over the Moselle River at Treves 489

An Arabian Sword

Mohammedan Gold Coin from Spain

Charlemagne

LIST OF MAPS

PAGE

Egypt and the Nile Valley 7

Extent of the Egyptian Empire, 1500 b. c 23

Babylonian Kingdom of Hammurabi 34

Areas in which Hittite and Mycenaean-Cretan Remains are Found . 44

Map of Ancient Palestine 55

The Four Great Kingdoms in 600 b. c 68

Extent of the Persian Empire in 500 b. c 74

Greece, the vEgean Sea and Asia Minor, Showing the General

Relationship by Tribes facing 84

Area of Greek and Phoenician Colonization about 500 b. c. .facing 98

Extent of the Peloponnesian League 500 b. c 118

Field of the Persian Wars, Showing Routes of the Invasions . . . 126

Map of the Battle-field of Salamis 130

Long Walls Connecting Athens and the Piraeus 139

The Delian and Peloponnesian Leagues and their Allies before

the Peloponnesian War facing 166

Territory and Dependencies of Dionysius of Syracuse 175

Route Travelled by the 10,000 Greeks under Cyrus the Younger . 178

Macedon in the Time of Philip 189

Extent of Alexander's Empire and the Routes which his Army

Travelled 208

The Four Great Kingdoms of Alexander's Successors . . . facing 216

Extent of the Continents According to Eratosthenes 234

Early Italy and its Important Peoples facing 248

The Mediterranean World and its Peoples in 500 b. c. . . facing 256

Roman Territory in 350 b. c 272

Italy at the Time of the Samnite Wars and the Wars with Pyrrhus . 277

Scene of the First Punic War 282

The Field of the Second Punic War 296

The Mediterranean Powers at the End of the Second Punic War . . 300

Extent of the Roman Possessions in 133 b. c 321

Asia Minor at the Beginning of the Mithradatic Wars 348

Extent of Roman Power in the East at the End of the Mithradatic

Wars 359

Extent of the Roman Empire at the Death of Augustus .... 388 Map of the Journeys of Paul in the Eastern Mediterranean Lands . 417

xvi

LIST OF MAPS xvn

PAGIl

Roman Empire After the Conquests of Trajan, and the Great

Roman Roads 424

Early Homes of the Germanic Tribes and the Huns 464

Germanic Kingdoms and the Roman Empire at the Accession of

Justinian, 526 a. d facing 480

Germanic Kingdoms and the Roman Empire at the Death of Justinian, 565 a. d facing 480

Frankish Kingdom at the Death of Dagobert 486

Extent of Christianity under Pope Gregory the Great, 590-604 a. d. 487 Extent of Christianity and Mohammedanism at the Death of

Charlemagne, 814 a. d 497

THE STORY OF THE ANCIENT NATIONS

INTRODUCTION

1. Ancient History and Its Important Nations.— It has taken thousands of years for man to develop from his early state of savagery and helplessness to the condition in which we now live. In order to understand thoroughly our present life, it is necessary to study the slow growth of mankind through these past ages. N This story or record of the past life and development of man is the science called history. That part of the story which is commonly called "Ancient History" covers over 4.000 years, extending from the time when first we know of men through reliable records, down to about 800 years after the birth of Christ.

It is not necessary, however, to take up the story of all the nations which lived upon the earth during that long stretch of time. We can deal only with those which have done most in developing the ideas that have given to us the present civilized life of Europe and America; for our own American society is so like that of Europe, that it is safe to speak of the two as the European-American civilization of to-day. The nations of ancient times which made the greatest contributions to this civilization were the early Egyptians, the Babylonians, and Assyrians, the Cretans, the Hittites. the Hebrews, the Greeks, the Romans, and the early Germans. Upon them, therefore, our study will be centered. All of them belong to the White Race of mankind, not to the Yellow or Black Races. It is the White Race which has done the most in advancing the civilization of the world.

2. Kinds of Historical Sources. — The sources from which we learn the events of a people' s history, their methods of life and ways of thinking, may be divided into two classes: ' the monumental and the written evidence.

2 THE STORY OF THE ANCIENT NATIONS

The monumental sources include all those remains accidentally left to us by any nation, which tell us of the religion, architecture and art, or the dress of this nation, or of any other side of its life. These sources may include the contents of graves, such as bodies, pottery, and implements of many kinds. The statues which are dug up from the ruins of old cities, and the remains of the houses and temples tell us of the artistic skill of the people. Coins are often found where the peoples of antiquity lived, and from these scholars derive information regarding the extent and nature of their commercial life. The pictures painted on the walls of houses or in tombs help us to form some knowledge of the daily life and habits of the race.

The written sources include, first of all, books of every kind, especially histories written by men of these ancient nations. Almost as important is the information we gain from inscriptions. These are records cut into tablets of stone or bronze, or upon the sides of stone tombs and temples. They give us the laws passed by the kings and assemblies, records which at the present day are printed and filed in the government archives. The tomb inscriptions tell us the names and deeds of the kings or the great men whose bodies rested there. On the bases of statues we read the names of the artists who carved beautiful works in stone.

In addition to histories and inscriptions, the stories told by the ancient peoples about their early history maybe used, with caution, to complete the picture. These are the legends of their gods and heroes, handed down for centuries by word of mouth. They are generally classed under one head and called "oral tradition. ,, Although not very trustworthy as to the events narrated, they show what these peoples thought about their own past, and sometimes give us vague hints regarding actual events.

3. Prehistoric Ages. — The history of a people really begins at the time when first they become known to us through 'some reliable written narrative. It is then that individuals and separate events begin to stand out clearly. The life of the races before that time, in what is called the "prehistoric

INTRODUCTION 3

period," can only be known to us in general outlines. The study of this period is a science by itself, called Prehistoric Archaeology.

The prehistoric ages of man's development stretch back for unknown thousands of years. During this time, man was slowly learning by bitter experience to light fires, to

Stone Implements of the Paleolithic Age.

Stone Lance-Head and Knife of the Neolithic Age.

cook food, and to tame and make use of some of the gentler animals, such as the dog and the horse. Then came the knowledge of the value of certain kinds of grain, and the raising of crops. This long space of time has been divided by historians into four periods, according to the material used in making hatchets, knives, spearheads, and arrow heads:

1. The Paleolithic or Rough Stone Age.

The Neolithic or Polished

Stone Age.

The Bronze Age.

The Iron Age.

The change from savage or barbarous ways of living to what we call " civilized" life, did not take place at one time in all parts of the earth. Some tribes of the Philippine Islands, of Australia, Africa, and South America are still using tools made of bone and stone. Even now they are in the state of savagery characteristic of

Ancient Egyftian Weapons of Bronze.

4 THE STORY OF THE ANCIENT NATIONS

the Stone Age. Yet, at least 6,000 years ago, the Egyptians were a cultured people, far advanced in the civilization of the Bronze Age and to a limited extent they even used iron tools.

4. Stone-Age Remains in Europe.— The European countries offer the best chance to study the Stone Age, for the museums of Europe contain thousands of articles which tell a little of the life and habits of the Stone-Age men. In

Sketch op Reindeer made upon Slate by Cave-Dwellers of the Old Stone Age

Found in a cave in Prance.

the Paleolithic Ag?, arrow-heads and hatchets were made of chipped flint, very like the arrow-heads of our own American Indians. Those who made them did not even grind down the edges for cutting. With remains of these stone implements, dug up from the gravel-beds in various parts of Europe, archaeologists have found the teeth and bones of savage animals which no longer exist on that continent. These are the mammoth, or great, hairy elephant, the rhinoceros, and the hippopotamus. The saber-toothed tiger, the cave bear, and grizzly bear lived in England during the Stone Age. In a cave in France a piece of ivory was found, on which some man of the Stone Age had carved the outlines of a mammoth having great curved tusks and long hair.

INTRODUCTION 5

From the time when man learned to extract copper from the ore, and shape it for tools and weapons, his advance towards civilized life was much more rapid. Soon he learned to obtain a harder material, by alloying the copper with tin. This gave him bronze implements, which would take a keener edge and keep it longer. When he learned to get iron from the iron ore, man was in a position to master nature and the physical world.

Seignobos, Ancient Civilization, ch. 1, 2; Hoernes, Primitive Man, pp. 1-44, G4, 93; Starr, First Steps in Human Progress, ch. 1-3, 6, 10, 11 ; Clodd, Story of Primitive Man, pp. 1-101; Joly, Man before Metals, pp. 188-252; Tylor, Anthropology, ch. 8, 9.

1. Fire-making Among Primitive Peoples. — Joly, pp. 188-198;

Tylor, Anthropology, pp. 260-268; Tylor, Early History of Mankind, ch. 9.

2. Primitive Methods of Getting Food. — Tylor, Anthropology, pp.

2015-221.

3. Picture Writing. — Keary, ch. 12; Tylor, pp. 167-175; Joly, pp.

320-326.

4. Primitive Tools and Weapons. — Joly, pp. 222-251; Tylor, ch. 8.

5. Primitive Art.— Joly, pp. 287-311; Clodd, pp. 52-55.