A SKETCH OF ANCIENT GEOGRAPHY. BY A LADY, FOR THE USE OF HER PUPILS. BRIGHTON: HANNAH WALLIS, PRINTER, BOOKSELLER, & STATIONER, LONDON: WHITTAKER & Co., AVE MARIA LANE. 1857. 201.9.50. A SKETCH OF ANCIENT GEOGRAPHY. THE most important document on the origin of Nations, is the tenth chapter of Genesis, from which we gather, that after the dispersion. of mankind consequent on the confusion of languages at the building of the Tower of Babel, the posterity of Shem peopled Asia, with the exception of those states now forming Turkey in Asia, including Asia-Minor (or Natolia), Georgia, Circasia, and Armenia. The posterity of Ham peopled Syria, and the whole of Africa. The descendants of Japhet peopled Natolia, Georgia, Circasia, B Armenia, and Europe, (called in Scripture the Isles of the Gentiles.)* The geographical knowledge of the Ancients was naturally extremely limited. America was of course unknown to them, and the same may be said of the north of Europe and Asia, and the middle and south of Africa; for although the account given by Herodotus and Pliny, of a voyage by Phoenician mariners, in the service of Pharoah Necho, king of Egypt, round the Cape of Good Hope, is probably true, (although its authenticity is much questioned,) the discovery was not followed up, and no beneficial results ensued; and Vasca de Gama enjoys the reputation of being the first navigator who doubled that important Cape. *It is uncertain by what nation America was peopled, but from the traditions of the Natives, at the time of its discovery, it is generally supposed that it must have been from the inhabitants of the north of Asia, but at what period is not known. EUROPE, (THE BRITISH ISLANDS.) THE Romans were acquainted only with the name of Ireland, which they called Hibernia, and from which the more modern Erin is derived. This Island is said to have been colonized by the Greeks, in very early times, from which they crossed into Scotland, under a chief named Briatan, and formed a settlement, to which they gave the name of Britain. Their descendants in the course of time, spread into England, where they occupied most of the northern counties, under the name of Brigantes. The southern part of England, called Albion from its white cliffs, was probably peopled from Gaul; the inhabitants retained the name of Belgæ, from Belgic Gaul, until Britain became a Roman Province. Little is known of the geography of ancient |