Death of Cyrus. CHRONOLOGY OF ASIA. Cam-by'-ses succeeds his father Cyrus. Da-ri'-us began to reign.. Xerx'-es defeats Le-on'-i-das at Ther-mop'-y-læ. Death of Xerxes... Alexander invades Persia. Kingdom of Syria founded by Se-leu'-cus. Empire of Parthia founded... Pontus becomes independent under Mith-ri-da'-tes II.. Ar-tax'-a-res made king of Persia.. Judas Mac-ca-bæ'-us drives the Syrians out of the Jewish Kingdom Pontus, with other parts of Asia Minor, conquered by the Romans.. Vati, emperor of China.... Jesus Christ was born 4004 years after the Creation: this period is called the Christian Era. It is the custom in all Christian countries to date from the birth of Christ. B. C. means before Christ; A. C. means after Christ; A. D. stands for Anno Domini, that is, in the year of our Lord. Thus we say A. D. 1858, by which we mean in the year of our Lord, or from the birth of Christ, 1858 years. This is called the Hegira [he-ji'-ra], and is the era from which the Turks date, as we do from the birth of Christ. Death of Mohammed... 632 Sar'-a-cen empire established 638 Bagdad, the seat of the caliphs, founded. 672 Chosroes [kos'-ro-eze], or Khosrou, the Great, king of Persia, began to reign. 660 Si-given, emperor of China, began to reign.. 617 Chwang-tsong 1037 Shah Husseyn Genghis Khan invaded China.. Saracen empire overturned by the Turks. Japan discovered by Europeans. Shah Abbas ascended the throne of Persia. Kouli Khan made king of Persia... Yong-tching came to the throne of China. War between China and Great Britain........... Can-ton' taken.... Peace between Great Britain and China.. Treaty between China and the United States. 1209 1258 1400 1586 1730 1737 1840 1841 1842 1844 1852 Treaty between United States and Japan. 1854 1858 N. B.-The teacher may now proceed to ask such questions as he deems proper, in regard to the several events noticed in the table: it may be well to turn to the pages where the details are given respecting the events, and interrogate the pupil upon them. Questions like the following may be useful: How long from the birth of Abraham to that of Moses? From that of Moses to that of David? From the beginning to the end of the Saracen empire? &c. CHAPTER XXXVI.-AFRICA. About the Geography of Africa.-The Inhabitants. 1. AFRICA is one of the Six Grand Divisions of the globe. It is an immense extent of country, and includes nearly one fourth of all the land on the earth. It is separated from America by the Atlantic Ocean; the part nearest to our country is about three thousand miles from New York or Boston. 2. It is separated from Europe by the Mediterranean Sea, and from Asia by the Red Sea. It is, however, attached to Asia by a narrow neck of land, called the Isthmus of Su-ez'. 3. Africa is less known than any other grand division of the globe. Many portions of the interior have never been visited by Europeans. The greater part of the inhabitants are negroes, of which there are CHAP. XXXVI.-1. What of Africa? How is it separated from America? How far is the nearest point from New York or Boston? 2. How is it separated from Europe? Asia? What neck of land joins it to Asia? 3. Is Africa well known? What of the inhabitants? many tribes. Some of these are intelligent, and live tolerably well, but the greater part are either in a savage or barbarous state. 4. The climate being warm, they need little shelter or clothing. Their houses are therefore poor mud huts, or slight tenements, made of leaves or branches of trees. Their dress is often but a single piece of cloth tied around the waist. They are, however, a cheerful race, and spend much of their time in various amusements. 5. Besides the negroes, there are several other races of Africans. The inhabitants from Egypt to Abyssinia appear to consist of the original Egyptian people, mixed with Turks, Arabs, and others. The people of the Barbary States are the descendants of the ancient Carthaginians, mingled with the Saracens who conquered the country, together with Turks and Arabs. 6. The immense Desert of Sahara-which is almost as extensive as the whole United States-with part of the adjacent regions, appears to be occupied by wandering tribes of Arabs, who move from place to place with their horses and camels, like the people of Arabia, for pasturage or plunder. 7. Africa may be considered as, on the whole, the least civilized division of the earth. The people are mostly Mohammedans, and one half of them are nearly in a savage state. The rest are in a barbarous condition. 8. The central parts of Africa abound in wild animals, such as lions, panthers, leopards, elephants, rhinoceroses [ri-nos-e-ros-es], zebras, and quaggas. The woods are filled with chattering monkeys, the thickets are infested with monstrous serpents, ostriches roam over the deserts, various kinds of antelopes and deer, in vast herds, graze upon the plains, hippopotami are seen in the lakes and rivers, and crocodiles abound in the stagnant waters. Wild birds of every hue meet the eye of the traveler in nearly all parts of the country. CHAPTER XXXVII.—AFRICA-CONTINUED. Early Sovereigns of Egypt. 1. THE natives of Africa are supposed to be descended from Noah's son, Ham, who went thither and settled in Egypt after the building of the tower of Babel, this country being near the land of Shinar. The kingdom of Egypt is very ancient, and, according to 4. What of the climate? Houses? Dress? What of the negroes? 5. What of other races? Describe them. 7. How may Africa be considered? State of the people? 8. What of animals in Central Africa? CHAP. XXXVII-1. From whom are the natives of Africa descended? general tradition, was founded by Menes [me'-nez], one of the children of Ham, about 2188 B. C. In the Bible he is called Misraim. 2. Egypt is bounded north by the Mediterranean Sea, east by the Red Sea, south by Nubia, and west by the desert. The Nile runs through the midst of Egypt, from the south to the north. This river overflows its banks once a year, and thus fertilizes the country, for it very seldom rains in Egypt. 3. Menes, or Misraim, the first king of Egypt, turned aside the Nile from its original channel, and built the city of Memphis where the river had formerly flowed. He was so great a monarch that the people worshiped him as a god, after his death. 4. The history of Egypt is very obscure during a considerable time after the reign of Menes. From the year 2084 to the year 1825 before the Christian era, it was governed by rulers who originally led the lives of shepherds, and were therefore called Shepherd Kings. They are also known in history under the name of Hyksos. 1. By whom and when was Egypt founded? What of Menes? 2. How is Egypt bounded? What of the Nile? Does it often rair in Egypt? 3. Where and by whom was Memphis built? What was thought of Menes? 4. What of the history of Egypt? |