A COMPENDIUM OF UNIVERSAL HISTORY, FROM THE CREATION TO THE PRESENT TIME. Translated from the Twenty-fourth Edition of the BY CHARLES THEOMARTYR STAFFORD. SECOND EDITION. TO WHICH ARE ADDED QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION. LONDON: LONGMAN, BROWN, GREEN, AND LONGMANS. 223. C. 19. Critical Opinions on the First Edition. "This is an admirable specimen of what a Compendium should be, and is much more interesting than the generality of Outlines. It will be found very serviceable, either as a preparatory sketch for the young student, or as a finishing résumé for the well-instructed historian." English Journal of Education. "A very admirable manual, compiled with diligence, and translated with accuracy. Popular as a school book in Germany, it would be advantageously used in the same way here. We recommend it to our readers who may need it for such a purpose." Eclectic Review. "This is a translation from the twenty-fourth edition of a German original, -a sufficient proof that, in the country of its first publication, the work has been found useful and instructive. It is unquestionably a skilful abridgment; and is rendered peculiarly acceptable by certain interesting chapters, which treat of the origin of some of the most useful discoverfes and inventions, &c." Gentleman's Magazine. "The work is such as will be found serviceable to the man of letters, as a book of reference, and as a compendious review of discursive reading; and to the student, as a well-drawn outline of history. The style is clear, concise, and agreeable." Morning Advertiser. "We think that Mr. Stafford's Compendium will be found useful to the student, from the admirable manner in which it is arranged. A very moderate degree of labour will enable the learner to fix in his memory the important events recorded in this little volume, so as to form a continuous chain of causes and effects, which will naturally assist him in the classification of historical knowledge, derived from detached and diffuse works in his subsequent course of reading." Sunday Times. "Three months' constant use of Stafford's Compendium enables me confidently to state that it is admirably calculated to convey to young students a clear and comprehensive view of Ancient and Modern History. In one respect it is especially valuable: it contains, in my opinion, the precise amount of information that the youthful mind is capable of receiving with advantage; while the knowledge which it conveys is so skilfully imparted as to raise a desire for further information, which the careful preceptor will easily know how to provide from other sources. As a Class Book, it has proved highly interesting to my pupils, and I purpose using it very extensively." REV. JOHN FELL, M. A., Trinity College, Cambridge; Head Master, "The design of this excellent Compendium is thus stated by the translator:This work, it is hoped, may be serviceable, both to the student and the man of letters; to the latter as a book of reference, and as a compendious review of discursive reading; to the former as a well-drawn outline for the clear arrangement of future stores, or as the "leading strings" of history, for his early guidance. Though an outline, it is not a "bare skeleton." Beyond the classes referred to, it is fitted to be useful. There are thousands anxious for knowledge, whose hours of research are limited. To all such the book will be invaluable. To teachers it would be an admirable auxiliary. The translator has executed his part well. An hour's perusal of this work will impart the knowledge contained in volumes, of what men were and did, and of those great pats by which nations have been brought into their present individual diveonditions." Christian Times. PREFACE. THIS volume is a literal translation of a German work of great celebrity, carefully revised by a clergyman of the Church of England, with the addition of a few interesting extracts and anecdotes, distinguished by an asterisk. This work, it is hoped, may be serviceable, both to the student and the man of letters: to the latter, as a book of reference, and as a compendious review of discursive reading; to the former, as a well-drawn outline for the clear arrangement of future stores, or, as "the leading-strings" of History, for his early guidance. Still, though an outline, this is not a bare skeleton. Frequent notices of inventions, arts, and sciences, serve as flowers and fruit to this Tree of History; and will in some degree account for its extensive circulation in Germany, where it has gone through twenty-four editions, and is adopted in almost every school. In this translation, the strength and the spirit of the original is not sacrificed to mere fluency or elegance of expression: still, in respect of that perspicuity which is so essential to rivet the attention of youth, this work will not prove deficient ; and should it be as extensively used in England as in Germany, I shall be satisfied that I have rendered no little assistance in the diffusion of useful knowledge. CHARLES THEOMARTYR STAFFORD. Berlin, January 1. 1850. CONTENTS. Chap. CHRONOLOGICAL SUMMARY I. What do we learn from History? IV. Mode of Life among the First of Mankind, and V. Discovery of Agriculture and the Implements necessary thereto VII. The first means of retaining Fire, of Cooking, of working Metals, and of building Houses XI. The Egyptian Castes. Priests the possessors XIL Abraham. Joseph. Moses XIII. Samuel. Saul. David. Solomon XIV. Discovery of Navigation Navigation. Colonies and Dis- |