tional laws yet in many respects his authority was extremely despotical.

Did they not acquire a considerable knowledge of the arts ?—Yes; in geometry, astronomy, mechanics, arithmetic, &c. But of the construction of an arch they knew nothing; and they were but imperfectly acquainted with painting and sculpture.

What was their national character ?-Notwithstanding their early civilization, and the great attainments of the people, their national character was extremely low among the nations of antiquity.

ABSTRACT OF THE ASSYRIAN EMPIRE. Who was the founder of the Assyrian empire?According to some chronologists NINUS was the first king, who began to reign about 2227 years B.C.; according to others ASSUR, the second son of Shem, founded the monarchy of Assyria. Nineveh, the capital, stood on the river Tigris.

By whom was the city of Nineveh built?-By Ninus, who is said to have conquered Egypt; and also all the then known parts of Asia.

Who was Semir'amis ?-The widow of Ninus. She was a bold, enterprising, and fortunate princess, and succeeded him in the government. She enlarged the city of Babylon, which she adorned with various edifices, and surrounded with a wall 300 feet high.

Who succeeded Semir'amis?-Her son Nin'yas, a pusillanimous and lascivious monarch, in whose reign the Medes, Babylonians, and Persians, shook off the Assyrian yoke.

Who succeeded Nin'yas?—It is uncertain, for from the death of Ninyas to the reign of Sardana

palus, a period of several hundred years, there is a chasm that can be supplied only by conjecture.

What occurred in the reign of Sardanapa'lus?The loss of his empire; for the Medes, Babylonians, Persians, and their allies, attacked the empire on all sides; and Sardanapa'lus, perceiving his affairs to be desperate, collected his wealth into a pile in his palace, and setting fire to it perished with his whole family in the flames. Thus terminated the Assyrian empire 767 years B.C.

To whom did the dominion of the Assyrian empire fall after the death of Sardanapa'lus?—To Belochus and Arba'ces. Belochus held Babylon and Assyria; Arba'ces held Media and Persia.

ABSTRACT OF THE BABYLONIAN EMPIRE.

By what name was Babylon known in ancient times?-By Shinar, or Shinaar; and it is supposed to have been denominated Babylon from the Tower of Babel, and Chaldæa from the Chaldæans.

Who built Babylon ?--Nimrod, the Belus of profane history, on the eastern side of the river Euphra'tes.

How do you distinguish the Chaldæans from the Babylonians? The Chaldæans were the priests and literati of the country; who applied themselves to the study of astronomy, mathematics, and philosophy. The Babylonians, so called, directed their attention to mechanics and the arts.

Who was Nabonassar?-He was the son of Phul, or Pul, an Assyrian monarch. He took possession of Babylon; and he was succeeded by Senache'rib, Esarhad'don, and Nabopolasser.

Who succeeded Nabopolasser?-His son, Nebuchadnez'zar the Great, a proud, a powerful, and an ambitious prince, of whom the Scriptures make mention. He was for seven years insane, but afterwards was restored to his reason.

By whom was he succeeded?-By Evil-Merodach, his son; and he died by the hands of Neriglissar, his sister's husband, who usurped the kingdom.

Who was the last sovereign of Babylon ?-Nabo nadius, called by the Jews Belshazzar; of whom we read, in Daniel, that at an entertainment given to his nobles, Belshazzar, having profaned the sacred vessels, which had been brought from Jerusalem, saw in a handwriting on the wall," that his kingdom was taken from him, and given to the Medes and Persians." The same night Belshazzar was slain, and the empire transferred to Dari'us Cyax'ares, the Mede; and Cyrus, the Persian, his nephew.

ABSTRACT OF THE MEDES.

From whom did the Medes derive the name ?— From MADAI, the third son of Japheth.

Who were the succeeding Sovereigns?-Of them little is known with certainty: there is a chasm in the history of many centuries, until the people were subjugated by PUL, 770 B.C.

Were the Medes long subject to Pul and his suc cessors? No; they shook off the yoke in the reign of Senache'rib, 700 years B.C.

What other changes did they undergo?—After the reigns of Dej oces (called in Scripture Arphaxad), and of his son Pharaortes, the crown of Media devolved on Cyax ares, a man of great courage and extraordinary abilities, about 625 years B.C.

Did Cyax'ares engage in any wars?—Yes; he subdued Armenia, Pontus, and Capadocia; and in conjunction with Nabopolassar, king of Babylon, levelled Nineveh with the ground, and subdued Phoenice, Syria, Samaria, &c.

By whom was he succeeded?-By his son Astyages (called in Scripture Ahasuerus), after whose death the crown devolved on his son Cyaxares 11.. called also Dari'us Cyax'ares.

Was it not Dari'us Cyax'ares, the Mede, that wrested the Babylonish empire from Belshazzar?— Yes; in conjunction with his nephew, Cyrus the Persian, afterwards called Cyrus the Great, who succeeded Dari'us Cyax'ares, and became heir to all his possessions.

What was the consequence?-From this time Assyria, Babylon, and Media cease to form distinct kingdoms, and are considered as constituting a part. of the Persian empire, which began with Cyrus the Great, 536 years B.C.

ABSTRACT OF THE PERSIAN MONARCHY.

Were the Persians known by any other name? Yes; by that of Elamites, from Elam, the son of Shem.

What was the ancient extent of Persia ?—As a province, Persia was originally but of small extent and but little is known of it till the time of Cyrus the Great, who founded the Persian monarchy, 536 B.C.

What countries did the Persian Monarchy include?-Part of India, Assyria, Babylon, and Media, with parts adjacent, as Syria, Arabia, and part of Lesser Asia.

From whence did Cyrus obtain the surname of Great? From his heroic actions and great achieve

ments.

How did he meet his death?-In an expedition against the Scythians he was surprised and slain.

Relate the circumstance.-Cyrus, marching against Tom'yris, queen of the Scythian nation, was defeated in a bloody battle, B.C. 530. The victorious queen, who had lost her son in a previous encounter, was so incensed against Cyrus, that she cut off his head, and threw it into a vessel filled with human blood, exclaiming, “ satia te sanguine quem sitisti." Cyrus, thy thirst was blood, now drink thy fill.

Who succeeded Cyrus in the empire ?-His son Camby'ses, distinguished for his tyranny, rashness, and cruelty. He subdued the Egyptians, and is the same that is called in Scripture Artaxerx'es.

Mention some of his deeds.-He sent an army to destroy the temple of Jupiter Ammon; he killed his brother Smerdis from mere suspicion; and flayed alive a partial judge.

Who was his successor?-Leaving no issue, his throne was usurped by the Magi, and ascended by Darius, the son of Hystas'pes soon after, who by a stratagem obtained the sovereignty.

In what wars was Darius engaged?-The Babylonians revolting in his reign, he besieged and took their city; he conquered Thrace; made an unsuccessful attack upon the Scythians, and subdued the Indians.

Did he not make war upon the Greeks ?—He did : but his first army was destroyed by the Thracians; and his second by 10,000 Athenians, at the memor◄