INTRODUCTION.

BEFORE the pupil can enter with advantage upon the study of the following Outlines of Chronology, he should possess some general ideas on the subject of the Creation, on Geography, and the History of the earth. The following brief hints can be enlarged upon by the teacher, in cases where it is deemed necessary.

1. The world we inhabit was created by the Almighty almost 6000 years ago it was made round, or nearly so, with an uneven surface, of mountains, vallies, hills, oceans, seas and rivers. It was created with two continents or vast regions of land upon it, beside many islands; the rest of its surface was water, and divided into oceans, seas, bays, &c.

2. The Eastern continent has been divided into three parts, which are named Europe, Asia, and Africa: the Western continent is called America. It is America, or the Western continent which we inhabit; Europe is that portion in which are England, France, &c. Africa is a vast country, principally inhabited by negroes; Asia is the jand where Adam and Eve lived, and where the human race began to exist. If you will look on a globe or map of the world, you will see the shape of these countries.

3. Adam and Eve were created near 6000 years ago, and placed in the garden of Eden in Asia. They had several children as you will read in Genesis 2d, 3d, 4th and 5th chapters. These children of Adam and Eve had children also, and thus began the great family of man, which is now spread over the face of the globe.

4. Now the object of History is to tell us what has happened on this globe, since the time of Adam; what extraordinary men or women have lived; what they have done; what nations have existed; what battles have been fought, &c.

5. Thus you will find that history tells you first how the descendants (the children, grandchildren, &c.) of Adam conducted themselves: how they became wicked, and God to punish them caused the whole face of the globe to be covered with water, so that they were all drowned, except Noah and his family. How, after this deluge, mankind multiplied and dispersed themselves over Asia, Africa, Europe, and lastly over America.

6. You will learn in a course of History, that after the world had existed 4004 years, Jesus Christ appeared in Judea in Syria, and by promulgating a pure and perfect religion, laid the foundation of a train of the most important events. The history of the period before Christ, we call Ancient History: from that date to the present time, we call Modern History.

7. As we go back from the present time, that is, as events are farther removed from us, the details of History gradually become fewer and more uncertain. From the present time to the invention of printing, which took place about 1435 to 1458, A. C. by means of which books are easily multiplied, the records of events being abundant, History is more clear and authentic. But previously to that invention, History is generally doubtful, and grows more so at every step, as we retire into the ages of antiquity. Great pains have been taken by learned men in searching after historical facts; they have bestowed unwearied labour upon the examination of ancient traditions; ancient historical poems, such as Homer's Iliad and Odyssey; ancient pillars and monuments; existing ruins of ancient cities, such as Balbec and Palmyra in Syria, and others; ancient coins and medals, of which many exist; and inscriptions on marbles, such as those brought from Greece by the Earl of Arundel, and are now in the university at Oxford in England. From these they have ascertained many important facts; still, many other interesting points of History lie buried in doubt and obscurity.

8. For about 3300 years after the creation, we have no authentic history, except that of the Scriptures, which, though it is highly interesting and important, is very limited and principally confined to the Jews. The principal facts related in it are the creation of the world, the Fall of Man, the Deluge, the dispersion of mankind at the Tower of Babel, the planting of different nations, the call of Abraham, the delivery of the Israelites from Egyptian bondage and their settlement in Canaan.

9. The earliest profane or uninspired historian, whose works are now extant, is Herodotus, who wrote about 445 years B. C. and who tells all he could learn of the Egyptians, Greeks, Persians, and other nations from 713 to 479, B. C.

10. All History, then, from the origin of the human race to the time when Herodotus begins, that is, for more than one half the time since the world was created, with the exception of Scripture History, being compiled from scattered and uncertain records, traditions, and fragments, by men who lived long after the ages of which they wrote, must be considered very imperfect. Of the early history of the world, the first settlement of different portions of it, the primitive state of society, and the progress of mankind in the remotest ages, we can, of course, know but little, and that must be involved in more or less obscurity and doubt.

11. In the following work, it is proposed only to notice a few of the most remarkable and well authenticated events, and some of the greatest personages which have lived since the creation to the present time; and to offer occasional observations upon the state of the world, and the progress of mankind. After having learned what is here given, you will obtain in Blair's Outlines of Ancient History and Outfines of Modern History more particular and extensive knowledge on the subject of History.

CHRONOLOGY may be divided into two parts, viz. Ancient and Modern.

Ancient Chronology extends from the Creation of the world to the Nativity of Christ, a period of 4004 years: Modern Chronology extends from the Nativity of Christ to the present time.

The word Chronology means, at large, the science of computing and adjusting periods of time, and treats of its division into certain portions, as days, months, years, and centuries. But it is here used only in its application to History, and as marking certain distinct events, which have occurred on the globe.

ANCIENT CHRONOLOGY extends from the Creation of the world, 4004 years Before Christ, to his Nativity.

For the purpose of fixing certain prominent events in the mind, by which we may be able to recollect other events connected with these, and thus establish an outline of History in the memory, we will divide Ancient Chronology into Ten Periods.

The word period, strictly signifies a point of time; but it is here used to signify an interval of time, or a section of History.

GENERAL DIVISION.

Period X. will extend from the Creation of the world, 4004 years Before Christ, to the Deluge, 2348 years B. C. To this period we give the name of Antediluvian.

Period XX. will extend from the Deluge, 2348 years B. C. to the Calling of Abraham, 1921 years B. C. This is the period of Confusion of Languages.

Period XXX. will extend from the Calling of Abraham, 1921 years B. C. to the departure of the Israelites from Egypt, 1491 years B. C. This is the period of Egyptian Bondage.

Period V. will extend from the departure of the Israelites from Egypt, 1491 years B. C. to the Dedication of Solomon's Temple, 1004 years B. C. This is the period of the Trojan War.

Period V. will extend from the Dedication of Solomon's Temple, 1004 years B. C. to the Founding of Rome, 752 years B. C. This is the period of Homer.

Period V. will extend from the Founding of Rome, 752 years B. C. to the Battle of Marathon, 490 years B. C. This is the period of Roman Kings.

Period VXX. will extend from the Battle of Marathon, 490 years B. C. to the birth of Alexander, 356 years B. C. This is the period of Grecian Glory.

Period VXXX. will extend from the Birth of Alexander, 356 years B. C. to the Destruction of Carthage, 146 years B. C. This is the period of Roman Military Renown.

Period XX. will extend from the Destruction of Carthage, 146 years B. C. to the First Campaign of Julius Cæsar, 80 years B. C. This is the period of the Civil War. between Marius and Sylla.

Period X. will extend from the First Campaign of Julius Cæsar, 80 years B. C. to the Nativity of Jesus Christ, and the Commencement of the Christian era. This is the period of Roman Literature.

PERIOD I,

THE ANTEDILUVIAN PERIOD,

EXTENDS FROM

THE CREATION,

4004 YEARS B. C.

ΤΟ

THE DELUGE,

2348 YEARS B. C.

Antediluvian signifies before the flood, and the period under this name embraces 1656 years.

Emportant Events in Period X.

This period includes four principal events. First, the Creation:

Second, the Transgression of Adam and Eve : Third, the Murder of Abel by his brother Cain:

Fourth, the Prediction of the Deluge to Noah.

The only account we have of these events is contained in the Bible, which is extremely brief, though interesting, and in the highest degree authentic.