Elements of History, Ancient and Modern

PREFACE.

THIS volume is furnished with a Chart of General History, a series of Tables of History, and a copious list of Questions, in order to facilitate its use. The method of using the work will be found simple and easy. After the student has attended to the three short sections on the Uses, Sources, and Divisions of History, it is recommended that he should study carefully the Chart of History with the use of the Description, Illustration, and Questions, (see page 313.) By this means he will have the general outlines of history, with the periods of the rise and fal! of the principal states and empires, impressed on his mind; and by having thus gained a comprehensive view of the whole ground, he will be prepared to study the particular parts with greater advantage. The Tables of Grecian, Roman, French, English, and American History are designed to be attended to in connection with the portions of the volume relating to the history of Greece, Rome, France, England, and the United States respectively.

The outlines of history may be acquired with incom parably greater facility by the use of Charts and Tables than by the perusal of volumes, independently of such aid; and, what is of great importance, the information thus obtained, will be so impressed on the mind as to be much more durable, than if acquired by any other method. By means of them one may easily trace the rise, progress, revolutions, decline, and fall of states and empires; see what states have been contemporary, and what have existed at different periods; take comprehensive views of the whole ground of history, and comparative views of the particular parts; mark the succession of the different dynasties and sovereigns in the different kingdoms and empires; learn the leading events of the several reigns and of different ages, and observe the periods when the most illustrious persons have flourished.

But for a knowledge of the internal condition and history of a state, the particular details of events, with their causes and consequences, and the exploits of individuals who have figured upon the theatre of the world, recourse must be had to other sources of information. In order, therefore, that the study of history may be pursued to the best advantage, and a proper attention be paid to the connection both of time and of subject, the use of charts should be united with that of histor ical narrative.

As it would be impossible, in a volume of the size of this, to trace a regular series of events relating to all the states and empires that have flourished in the world, the chief attention of the author has been paid to a few of them; those of which the history is of the greatest importance, particularly to American students, namely, Greece and Rome in ancient history, and France, England, and the United States, in modern. Brief notices, however, of various other states have been given, and also some short treatises on topics of importance in an introduction to the study of history.

Sacred and Ecclesiastical History has received some attention; and the volume will be found to afford, in addition to the details of general history, much information relating to religion, literature, and the progress of society.

In the preparation of the Elements, the author has endeavored to unite so much of reflection with the details of facts, as to assist the reader in forming correct views of the causes and consequences of events; and in order to render the work more interesting, he has, in some instances, introduced short anecdotes and memorable observations of distinguished men on important

occasions.

Every one, much conversant with history, must be aware of the frequent and often great diversity in the

accounts given of the characters of men and events, even by authors of reputation. This diversity is to be attributed partly to the peculiar principles and prejudices of the historians, and partly to the contradictory statements in the original sources of history.

As the line of truth is in so many cases obscure and difficult to be discovered, the author cannot hope that he has in no instances fallen into error. It has, however, been his object to follow the best guides, and to give true impressions of the character of persons and transactions, so far as they came under review; but it would be impossible for him, were it desirable, to give a complete enumeration of his authorities, as information has been derived from upwards of two hundred volumes.