Page images
PDF
EPUB

EXPLANATION OF THE CHART OF HISTORY,

Representing, in a Chronological Series, the Rise, Revolutions, and Fall if the principal Empires of the World.

ON THE PLAN OF DR. J. PRIESTLEY.

It is necessary to notice, that the space allotted .o each country is rather according to its relative political importance, than to its geographical extent.

The spaces between the vertical lines which cross the chart, represent time, viz., each a century or 100 years; those between the horizontal lines represent countries, the names of which are expressed at the end of the chart.

By examining the vertical columns, we ascertain the contemporary state of different nations at the period we fix upon. For instance: about 1500 years before Christ, we see states forming in Greece; the Israelites in Egypt (from whence they depart nine years after); the Egyptian, Assyrian, Persian, Chinese, and other kingdoms had been founded several centuries previous-but their history uncertain and obscure. At the time of Christ, we find the Roman Empire spread over a greater part of the then known world, but the Parthians, Britons, and Germans, as yet unsubdued by them. 700 years after, this empire exists only in Turkey, and its former territories are under barbarians: the Heptarchy in England; the Lombards in Italy, the Franks in Gaul; the African provinces, and a large part of Asia under the Saracens. In 1500 we find the Eastern or Greek Empire fallen under the Turks; the Tartars powerful in Asia: many of the modern states of Europe founded; America discovered by the Europeans, &c. &c.

On the other hand, the revolutions of each country may be seen in continuation by looking along the chart horizontally: the Persian empire is founded in remote antiquity; united with that of the Medes, about 600 B. c. ; is extended by Cyrus into Assyria, Asia Minor, and Egypt, 536; falls in turn, under the Macedonians, Parthians, Saracens, Turks, and Tartars, successively.-The Israelites in Egypt from 1706 to 1491 B. C.; in Canaan 1451; under the Judges about 1300; under Kings, 1095; Ten Tribes separated, 975; they are conquered, 721, and Judah, 588, by the Assyrians; restored by the Persians, 535; under the Macedonians, 330; restored to independence by the Maccabees, 150; conquered by the Romans, 63; by the Saracens, A. D. 622; afterwards by the crusaders, Mamelukes, and Turks, successively.-England subdued by the Romans in the first century; relinquished by them, A. D. 410; subdued by the Saxons, 500; by the Danes, 860; by the Normans (receiving French territories), 1066; united with Ireland, 1170; with Wales, 1280; with Scotland, 1600.-Italy in antiquity possessed by several petty tribes; by the Romans from 300-200 B. C. to 450 A. D., then by the Herulii, Ostrogoths, Lombards, and Franks, successively;-in modern times, divided into several small republics and principalities; joined to the French empire about 1800, and now divided chiefly between Austria, the Grand Dukes of Tuscany, Modena, &c., the Pope, and the King of Naples.

"They are rather melancholy reflections which the view of such a chart of history is apt to excite in the minds of persons of feeling and humanity. What a number of revolutions are marked upon it! What torrents of human blood has the restless ambition of mortals shed, and in what complicated distress has the discontent of powerful individuals involved a great part of their species!"—Priestley.

[blocks in formation]

ERGAMOS PPADOCIA Citicians &C

63

43

[blocks in formation]

ASIA

AFRICA

EUROPE

ni a

10

68

31

46

[blocks in formation]

THE
is Tripoli
Joiers

rocco

N

ROMKS

T

F

-S

ONS

EDONIANS
Scuites

[blocks in formation]

RMANIT

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]
[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small]

1

THE WORLD'S PROGRESS.

PART I.

TABULAR VIEWS OF UNIVERSAL HISTORY.

L. ANCIENT CHRONOLOGY-from the Creation to the Birth of Christ-4004 years. II. MODERN CHRONOLOGY-from the Birth of Christ to the present time-1850 years

[blocks in formation]

From the Creation to the Christian era, the dates are reckoned B. c.— BEFORE CHRIST. They are then changed to A. D.-the Year of our Lord.

« PreviousContinue »