FIRST BOOK OF HISTORY;

BEING

A COMPENDIUM OF ANCIENT HISTORY,

BOTH

SACRED AND PROFANE:

DESIGNED FOR THE USE OF SABBATH SCHOOLS.

BY A STUDENT OF HISTORY.

NEW-YORK:

PUBLISHED BY T. MASON AND G. LANE,

For the Sunday School Union of the Methodist Episcopal Church,

at the Conference Office, 200 Mulberry-street.

J. Collord, Printer.

1838.

HARVARD UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

047*172

CONTENTS

Preface,

Introduction,

ΤΟ

COMPEND OF ANCIENT HISTORY.

Page 7

9

CHAPTER I.

History of two kinds--Most commonly approved division

of ancient history,

15

CHAPTER II.

The antediluvians-Their wickedness-Supposed origin

of idolatry-Government,

17

CHAPTER III.

Noah commanded to build an ark-The deluge-Effects

of it-Sons of Noah-Tower attempted to be built-First

monarchy founded-State of society,

19

CHAPTER IV.

Abram called-His character-Destruction of Sodom-

Joseph in Egypt-Treatment of the children of Israel in

Egypt,

- 22

CHAPTER V.

Moses conducts the Israelites out of Egypt-Pelops, king

of Peloponnesus-Assyrian empire founded-Semiramis

queen of Assyria,

25

CHAPTER VI.

Burning of Troy-Illustrious men who flourished during

this epoch-Administration of Samuel-Reign of Saul-

Devotion of Codrus, king of Athens-Abolition of regal

4

CONTENTS TO ANCIENT HISTORY.

power in Athens-David-Solomon builds the temple of

Jerusalem,

Page 26

CHAPTER VII.

The kingdom of Israel is divided-Rehoboam-Jeroboam

-Abijah-Omri builds Samaria-Asa-Jehoshaphat—Ahab

and Jezebel-Carthage is founded by Dido-The house

of David is destroyed by Athaliah-Joash-Elijah and

Elisha-Athens and Lacedemon-Laws of Lycurgus-

Conduct of Joash after the death of Jehoiada, the high

priest-Jeroboam II.-Azariah-Israel is convulsed by in-

testine disorder-Conduct of Pul, the king of Assyria-

Eneas conducts his followers to Italy, on his escape from

Troy-Numiter and Amulius-Romulus and Rhemus, - 29

CHAPTER VIII.

The Assyrian monarchy degenerates through the effemi-

nacy of Sardanapalus-Conspiracy of Arbaces and Belesis-

Ahaz, king of Judah, is attacked by Resin, king of Syria-

The kingdom of Syria is destroyed by Tiglath-Pileser--Cha-

racter of Romulus, king of Rome-Colonies sent out from

Greece-Hezekiah-Manasseh-Esarhaddon-The Medes

begin to assume a respectable stand through the administra-

tion of Deioces-Tullius Hostilius-Psammitichus. king of

Egypt-Phraortes-Amon-Josiah reforms the Jewish state

-Nabopolasser, general of the army of Chinnilladen, rebels

against him-Nebuchadnezzar-Laws of Solon-Pharaoli

Necho of the Scriptures-Cyaxares-Tarquinius Priscus,

king of Rome, subdues Tuscany-Cyrus is sent to the as-

sistance of Darius against Neriglesser, king of Babylon-

Cyrus's conquests,

34

CHAPTER IX.

Cyrus publishes the decree for rebuilding the temple at

Jerusalem-The character of Cambyses, son of Cyrus-Hip-

parchus slain-Revolution at Rome; royal authority abro-

gated-Confederacy of three hundred Roman youths against

Porsenna-Plebian jealousies-Darius declares war against

Athens, and his army is defeated at Marathon-Coriolanus

is compelled to leave Rome; offers his services to the Volsci

against his country; lays siege to Rome, and is only induced

to raise the siege by the tears of his wife and mother-Xerxes

prepares an expedition against Greece-Conduct of three

hundred Lacedemonians under Leonidas-Xerxes is de-

CONTENTS TO ANCIENT HISTORY.

5

feated by land and sea-Artaxerxes-The Romans form a

code of laws after the Athenian model-War breaks out be-

tween the Athenians and Lacedemonians-Rome becomes

formidable to her neighbours-Thebes, under Epaminondas,

begins to rise into importance-Philip-Alexander the Great

-His character-Darius Codomanus-Alexander founds

the Macedonian empire,
Page 42

CHAPTER X.

The Romans engage in a war with the Samnites-Alex-

an dies, and the empire is divided-Revolutions in

Greece The Achaean League-The Carthagenians become

a powerful rival to the Roman nation-The first Punic war-

Hamilcar-Hannibal-Second Punic war-The governor of

Bactria rebels against the king of Syria-Hannibal enters

Italy-The death of the two Scipios-Scipio Africanus

overcomes Hannibal, and enters Africa, .

53

CHAPTER XI.

The Jews persecuted by Antiochus Epiphanes-Judas

Maccabeus, the Jewish champion-The Romans declare

war a third time against the Carthagenians, who are re-

duced by Scipio Emilianus-Revolutions in Syria-Thry-

phon-Cleopatra-The Gracchi-Jugurtha-The factions of

Marius and Sylla-Cicero-The triumvirate-The second

triumvirate-Rome is changed into an empire,
62

CHAPTER XII.

Christian era commences-Augustus dies-Characters of

Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, Nero-Senate condemn Nero

to death, and declare Galba emperor-Otho-Vitellius-

Vespasian-Jerusalem is besieged by Titus, and the temple

destroyed-Character and good qualities of Titus-Vespa-

sian sent into Britain-Nerva, Trajan, Adrian, Marcus An-

toninus, and Marcus Aurelius-Character of Verus-An

instance of miraculous interposition of Providence-Commo-

dus-Distressing situation of the Roman empire-Constan-

tine the Great-The seat of the Roman empire is removed to

Byzantium-Consequences-Constantius-Julian-Jovian

and Valentinian-The city of Rome is destroyed by Alaric,

king of the Goths, in the year of our Lord four hundred and

ten-Reflections,

74

Chronological Table,

91