A compendium of universal history, tr. from the Germ. [of G.G. Bredow] by C.T. Stafford

COMPENDIUM

UNIVERSAL HISTORY,

FROM THE

CREATION TO THE PRESENT TIME.

Translated from the Twenty-fourth Edition of the

German Original.

CHARLES THEOMARTYR STAFFORD.

LONDON:
LONGMAN, BROWN, GREEN, AND LONGMANS,

PATERNOSTER-ROW.

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.

Page

CHRONOLOGICAL SUMMARY - - - viii

I. What do we learn from History ? - - 1

II. Formation of the Earth to its present shape , 2

III. Creation of Plants, Beasts, and Men - -

IV. Mode of Life among the First of Mankind, and

the First Inventions - - - 4

V. Discovery of Agriculture and the Implements