AUTHOR'S PREFACE.

THE following Work contains the outlines of a course of Lectures on General History, delivered for many years in the university of Edinburgh, and received with a portion of the public approbation amply sufficient to compensate the labours of the author. He began to compose these Elements principally with the view of furnishing an aid to the students attending those lectures; but soon conceived that, by giving a little more amplitude to their composition, he might render the work of more general utility. As now given to the public, he would willingly flatter himself, it may be not only serviceable to youth, in furnishing a regular plan for the prosecution of this most important study, but useful even to those who have acquired a competent knowledge of general history from the perusal of the works of detached historians, and who wish to methodize that knowledge, or even to refresh their memory on material facts and the order of events.

In the composition of these Elements, the author has endeavoured to unite with the detail of facts so much of reflection, as to aid the mind in the formation of rational views of the causes and consequences of events, as well as of the policy of the actors; but he has anxiously guarded against that speculative refinement which has sometimes entered into works of this nature, which, professing to exhibit the philosophy or the spirit of history, are more fitted to display the writer's ingenuity as a theorist, or his talents as a rhetorician, than to instruct the reader in the more useful knowledge of historical facts.

As the progress of the human mind forms a capital object in the study of history, the state of the arts and sciences, the religion, laws, government, and manners of nations, are material parts, even in an elementary work of this nature. The history of literature is a most important article in this study. The author has therefore endeavoured to give to each of these topics its due share of attention; and in that view they are separately treated, in distinct sections, at particular periods. Of the defects of this work the author is more sensible than perhaps any other person can be. Of any merits it may possess beyond those of simplicity and perspicuity, those are the best judges who have an extensive knowledge of the subject, and who know the difficulty of giving general views, and of analyzing a science so comprehensive and complicated as UNIVERSAL HISTORY.

ALEX. FRASER TYTLER.

EDINBURGH.

CONTENTS.

(The Sections marked are additions to the original work)

INTRODUCTION.

Advantages arising from the study of History, and more particularly
from prosecuting it according to a regular plan,

Plan of the Course,

PART FIRST.

ANCIENT HISTORY,

PAGE

ix

BECT.

1.* Earliest authentic accounts of the History of the World-the

antediluvian period-the deluge-the formation of Nations,

2. Considerations on the Nature of the first Governments, and on the

Laws, Customs, Arts, and Sciences, of the early ages,

3.* History of the Babylonians, Assyrians, and Medes,

4. On the Government, Religion, Customs and Manners, and Arts

and Sciences of the early Babylonians and Assyrians,

5.* History of Egypt to the reign of Psammeticus, B.C. 650,

6. The Antiquity, Government, Arts and Sciences, Religion, and Man-

ners and Customs of the Egyptians, .

7.* Of the Phoenicians,

8.* History of the Jews from Abraham to the establishment of the Mo-
narchy, 1996-1096 B.C.,

9.* History of the Jews-Civil Constitution of the Jews previous to

the Monarchy,.

10. History of the Jews-The Monarchy, until the division of the

kingdom, 1096–976 b.c.,

11. History of the Jews-General view of the two kingdoms of Judah

and Israel,

12.* History of the Jews-The kingdom of Judah,

13.* History of the Jews-The kingdom of Israel,

14. History of Greece-First Period, to Cadmus, 1519 B.C.,

27

15. Reflections on the first and rudest periods of the Grecian History, 73

16. History of Greece--Second Period-The Argonautic Expedition

-Wars of Thebes and of Troy. 1225-1184 B.C.,

17. History of Greece-Establishment of the Greek Colonies,

18. History of Greece-The Republic of Sparta,

19. History of Greece-The Republic of Athens,

20. History of the Persian Empire, from the time of Cyrus to the Con-

quest by Alexander the Great. 560-330 B.C.,

21.* History of Egypt from the reign of Psammeticus to the Conquest

by Alexander. 650-332 B.C.,

22. History of Greece-Third Period. The Persian Wars, from 500

-449 B.C.,

97

23. History of Greece-Age of Pericles-The Peloponnesian War-

The Thirty Tyrants at Athens,

24 History of Greece The Theban, Social, Phocian, and Locrian or

Sacred Wars, to the battle of Cheronæa. 382---230 B.C.,

25. History of Macedon, to the death of Philip, 336 B.C.,

26. History of Macedon-Alexander the Great, .

27. The Successors of Alexander,

28. Fall and Conquest of Greece,

101

SECT.

PAGE

29. Political Reflections arising from the History of the States of Greece, 124

30. State of the Arts in Greece,

31. Of the Greek Poets,

32. Of the Greek Historians,

33. Of the Greek Philosophers,

34.* History of the Jews From the Babylonian Captivity to the de-

struction of Jerusalem by Titus. 606 B.C.—71 A.C.,

35. History of Rome-Earliest Period,

126

On the Government and State of Rome during the period of the Kings, 153

36. History of Rome-under the Consuls,

155

37. History of Rome-the Law of Volero-the Agrarian Laws,

161

38. History of Rome-the Decemvirate,

. 164

39. History of Rome-Increase of the Popular Power,

40. History of Rome-Conquest of Italy by the Romans,

44. The Gracchi, and the Corruption of the Roman Commonwealth,

45. The Civil Wars-Second Triumvirate-and Fall of the Republic, . 185

46. Considerations on such particulars as mark the Genius and Na-

tional Character of the Romans,

47. Of the Progress of Literature among the Romans,

48. State of Philosophy among the Romans,

170

174

176

49. Of the public and private Manners of the Romans,

50. Of the Art of War among the Romans,

51. Reflections arising from a View of the Roman History during the

52. Rome under the Emperors. 30 B.C.-54 A.C.,

53. The same suoject continued. 54-138 A.C.,

54. The History of Rome-from the accession of Antoninus to the

death of Constantine, 138-337 A.c.,

55. State of the Roman Empire at the time of Constantine-his

Successors,

56. Progress of the Christian Religion, from its Institution, to the Ex-

tinction of Paganism in the reign of Theodosius,

57. Extinction of the Roman Empire in the West,

58. Of the Origin, Manners, and Character, of the Gothic Nations

before their establishment in the Roman Empire,

59. Of the Manners, Laws, and Government of the Gothic Nations

after their establishment in the Roman Empire,

60. Method of studying Ancient History,

SECT.

Comparative View of Ancient and Modern Geography,

PART

SECOND.

THE MIDDLE AGES.

1. Fall of the Western Roman Empire,

2. The Eastern Roman Empire Of Arabia, and the Saracens,.

3. Monarchy of the Franks,

4. On the State of France during the Merovingian race of its Kings,. 272

5. Charlemagne-The new Empire of the West,

275

6. Manners, Government, and Customs of the Age of Charlemagne, 277

7. View of the Affairs of the Church preceding the Age of Charlemagne, 280

8. Empire of the West under the successors of Charlemagne,

9. Empire of the East during the Eighth and Ninth Centuries,

282

285

SECT.

10. The progress of Ecclesiastical power, and the state of the Church

from the Fifth to the end of the Eleventh Century,

11. Of the Saracens in the Eighth and Ninth Centuries,

12. Empire of the West and Italy in the Tenth, Eleventh, and Twelfth

Centuries,

PAGE

288

295

297

13. History of Britain from its earliest period to the Norman Conquest, 299

14. Of the Government, Laws, and Manners of the Anglo-Saxons, 303

15. State of Europe during the Tenth, Eleventh, and Twelfth Centuries, 308

16. History of England in the Eleventh, Twelfth, and part of the

Thirteenth Centuries,

17. The Crusades, or Holy Wars,

18. Of Chivalry and Romance,

19. State of Europe in the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Centuries,

20. Revolution of Switzerland,

· 310

. 319

324

21. State of Europe (continued) in the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and

part of the Fifteenth Centuries,

22. History of England in the Thirteenth Century,

326

329

331

23. History of Scotland to the Fourteenth Century,

335

24. History of England in the Fourteenth Century,

338

25. England and France in the Fifteenth Century.-State of Manners, 341

26. Decline and Fall of the Greek Empire,

27. Government and Policy of the Turkish Empire,

28. France and Italy at the end of the Fifteenth Century,

29. History of Spain in the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Centuries,

30. History of England from the middle to the end of the Fifteenth

Century.-Civil Wars of York and Lancaster,.

31. History of Scotland from the beginning of the Fourteenth Century

to the death of James V., 1306-1513,

32. Of the Ancient Constitution of the Scottish Government,

33. View of the Progress of Literature and Science in Europe, from

the Revival of Letters to the end of the Fifteenth Century,

34. View of the Progress of Commerce in Europe before the Portuguese

Discoveries,

35. Discoveries of the Portuguese in the Fifteenth Century, and their

effects on the Commerce of Europe,

361

364

367

MODERN HISTORY.

SECT.

1. Introduction-View of the state of Europe at the end of the Fif-

teenth Century,

2. France, Spain, and Italy, in the end of the Fifteenth and begin-

ning of the Sixteenth Century,

3. Germany and France in the Reigns of Charles V. and Francis I.,. 378

4. Observations on the Constitution of the German Empire,

5. Of the Reformation in Germany and Switzerland, and the Revo-

lution in Denmark and Sweden,

6. Of the Reformation in England, under Henry VIII. and his Successors, 386

7. Of the Discovery and Conquest of America, .

8. Possessions of the other European Nations in America,

9. Of the State of the Fine Arts in Europe, in the Age of Leo X.,

10. Of the Ottoman power in the Sixteenth Century,.

11. State of Persia and other Asiatic Kingdoms, in the Sixteenth and

Seventeenth Centuries,

13. Ancient State of India; Manners, Laws, Arts and Sciences, and

Religion of the Hindoos, .

БЕСТ.

14. Of China and Japan,

15. Of the Antiquity of the Empire of China.-State of Arts and

Sciences, Manners, Government, Laws,

16. M. Bailly's Theory of the Origin of the Sciences among the Nations

of Asia,

17. Reign of Philip II. of Spain.-Revolution of the Netherlands and

Establishment of the Republic of Holland,

PAGE

18. Of the Constitution and Government of the United Provinces,

19. Reign of Philip II. continued,

20. State of France in the end of the Sixteenth Century-under Henry

II., Francis II., Charles IX., Henry III., and Henry IV.,

21. History of England and of Scotland in the Reigns of Elizabeth

and Mary Queen of Scots,

22. History of Scotland in the Reign of James VI., and of Great

Britain in the Reigns of James I. and Charles I.,

23. The Commonwealth of England,

402

403

407

410

412

414

415

418

422

30. France under Louis XIV.,

27. History of France under Louis XIII.,

28. Spain under Philip III. and Philip IV.-Constitution of Portugal

and of Spain,

29. Affairs of Germany from the Abdication of Charles V. to the Peace

of Westphalia,

31. On the Constitution of France under the Monarchy,

32. Of Peter the Great of Muscovy, and Charles XII. of Sweden,

33. A View of the Progress of Science and Literature in Europe,-

from the end of the Fifteenth to the end of the Seventeenth

Century,.

454

456

462

PART FOURTH.

MODERN HISTORY,

Continued from the Revolution in England in 1688 to the present time.

БЕСТ.

1.* Of England, from the Revolution of 1688 to the death of George

II., 1760.-Affairs of Ireland, .

2. Of the European System from 1700 to 1740.-War of the Succes-
sion in Spain. Of the Northern States of Europe,

3. Of the European System from 1740 to 1786.-Of the Southern

European States.-The Seven Years' War.-- Of the Northern

European States,

5.* Of England, from the Peace of Paris to the Conclusion of the

American War,

6.* Of the Political System of Europe from 1786 to 1821. The French

Revolution. The French Empire.--Restoration of the Political

System of Europe.-Congress of Vienna,

7.* Of England from the Termination of the American war in 1783

to the end of the reign of George III., in 1820.-Affairs of

Ireland,

PAGE.

467

496

504

8. Contemporary History of the Period after the Congress of Vienna, 588

Table of Chronology, .

598