EXHIBITING

A SUMMARY VIEW

ОР

THE RISE, PROGRESS, REVOLUTIONS, DECLINE, AND FALI,

OF THE

STATES AND NATIONS

OF

ANTIQUITY

BY JOHN ROBINSON, D. D.

Rector of Clifton, in the County of Westmorland, and Author of the "Antiquities of Theological Dictionary." &c.

Greece,"

A NEW EDITION, IMPROVED, AND`ILLUSTRATED WITH MAPS.

London:

PRINTED FOR JOHN SOUTER, AT THE SCHOOL LIBRA 73, ST. PAUL'S CHURCHYARD.

1831.

PREFACE.

HISTORY is a pleasing and an useful science, which demands the regard and consideration of all who feel an interest in their own species, and in the transactions of the world in which they dwell.It directs our attention to past ages and events, and exhibits to our view the rise of states, their progress in arts and civilization, the revolutions by which they have been agitated, and the causes of their declension and decay. In the annals of the world we behold, as in a mirror, the different characters who have acted their parts in the drama of life, and who have distinguished themselves either by their virtues or their vices. We there behold the various changing scenes which have taken place in the great theatre of human affairs. The Assyrian, the Persian, the Grecian, and the Roman empire, all pass in perspective before our eyes, and present a view, which no one can see with indifference, of the instability and continual fluctuations of all things human.

History," says Cicero, "is the attestation of ages, the torch of truth, the storehouse of memory, the guide of life, and the herald of antiquity*;" and he adds that "for a person to be ignorant of the events which have preceded his own time, is always to remain in a state of childhood+." Indeed, if our knowledge were confined to the narrow limits of our own experience, and restricted to those events which fall within our own observation, the progress of mankind in art and science would be completely obstructed, and men would remain in utter ignorance of all those discoveries and inventions which the annals of the world have unfolded and made known. On the other hand, the prudent reflections which history affords, or enables us to make, teach us to be + Cic. in Orat.

*Cic. lib. 2. de Orat.

wise before our time, and are more efficacious than all the moral lessons of the greatest masters.

It appeared to the compiler a matter of surprise, that, since the utility of the study of history, and the necessity of its forming a prominent part in the education of youth are fully acknowledged, some manual of this kind had not before been attempted. In this volume, the reader will find an epitome of the most memorable transactions-a rapid, yet, it is hoped, a faithful delineation of events which have taken place in the several states and nations of antiquity from the earliest records of time, and of those illustrious characters from which history has been justly designated "philosophy teaching by example.” Abridgments, which contain the substance and the spirit of ponderous tomes, are useful in every science, and greatly promote the labours of the student. They are not to be disregarded, merely because they give only the outlines and lineaments of the subjects of which they treat. A map, which shows every town, village, and hamlet in a country, does not supersede one which delineates only the larger cities and more prominent objects. The work of Justin is useful, though merely an abridgment of that of Trogus Pompeius.

The present edition has been carefully revised and corrected; and, where necessary, certain portions have been added. Questions on the history of each country have also been annexed. These, it is expected, will enable the student, with greater facility, to make himself master of the subject. By this means, the work assumes the character of what it really is a Grammar of Ancient History, and is rendered greatly superior to the edition of 1807, and to those since published.

Rectory, Clifton, October 1, 1831,