559 Cyrus the first king of Persia.

538 The kingdom of Babylon finished; that city being taken by Cyrus, who in 536, issues an edict for the return of the Jews.

534 The first tragedy was acted at Athens, on a waggon, by Thespis.

-526 Learning is greatly encouraged at Athens, and a public library first founded. 515 The second Temple at Jerusalem is finished under Darius.

509 Tarquin the seventh and last king of the Romans is expelled, and Rome is governed by two consuls, and other republican magistrates, till the battle of Pharsalia, being a space of 461 years.

504 Sardis taken and burnt by the Athenians, which gave occasion to the Persian invasion of Greece.

486 Eschylus, the Greek poet, first gains the prize of tragedy.

481 Xerxes the Great, king of Persia, begins his expedition against Greece. 458 Ezra is sent from Babylon to Jerusalem, with the captive Jews, and the vessels of gold and silver, &c. being seventy weeks of years, or 490 years before the crucifixion of our Saviour.

454 The Romans send to Athens for Solon's laws.

451 The Decemvirs created at Rome, aud the laws of the twelve tables compiled and ratified.

430 The history of the Old Testament finishes about this time.

Malachi the last of the prophets.

400 Socrates the founder of moral philosophy among the Greeks, believes the immortality of the soul, and a state of rewards and punishments, for which, and other sublime doctrines, he is put to death by the Athenians, who soon after repent, and erect to his memory a statue of brass.

331 Alexander the Great, king of Macedon, conquers Darius king of Persia, and other nations of Asia. 323, Dies at Babylon, and his empire is divided by his generals into four kingdoms.

285 Dionysius of Alexandria, began his astronomical æra, on Monday, June 26, being the first who found the exact solar year to consist of 365 days, 5 hours, and 49 minutes.

284 Ptolemy Philadelphus, king of Egypt, employs seventy-two interpreters to translate the Old Testament into the Greek language, which is called the Septuagint.

269 The first coining of silver at Rome.

264 The first Punic war begins, and continues 23 years. The chronology of the

Arundelian marbles composed.

260 The Romans first concern themselves in naval affairs, and defeat the Carthagi

nians at sea.

237 Hamilcar the Carthaginian causes his son Hannibal, at nine years old, to swear eternal enmity to the Romans.

218 The second Punic war begins, and continues 17 years. Hannibal passes the Alps, and defeats the Romans in several battles; but being amused by his women, does not improve his victories by the storming of Rome.

190 The first Roman army enters Asia, and from the spoils of Antiochus brings the Asiatic luxury first to Rome.

168 Perseus defeated by the Romans, which ends the Macedonian kingdom. 167 The first library erected at Rome, of books brought from Macedonia.

163 The Government of Judea under the Maccabees begins, and continues 126

years.

146 Carthage, the rival to Rome, is razed to the ground by the Romans.

135 The history of the Apocrypha ends.

52 Julius Cæsar makes his first expedition into Britain.

47 The battle of Pharsalia, between Cæsar and Pompey, in which the latter is defeated.

The Alexandrian library, consisting of 400,000 valuable books, burnt by accident.

45 The war of Africa, in which Cato kills himself.

The solar year introduced by Cæsar.

44 Cæsar, the greatest of the Roman conquerors, after having fought fifty pitched battles, and slain 1,192,000 men, and overturned the liberties of his country, is killed in the senate-house.

35 The battle of Actium fought, in which Mark Antony and Cleopatra are totally defeated by Octavius, nephew to Julius Cæsar.

30 Alexandria, in Egypt, is taken by Octavius, upon which Antony and Cleopatra put themselves to death, and Egypt is reduced to a Roman province.

27 Octavius by a decree of the senate, obtains the title of Augustus Cæsar, and absolute exemption from the laws, and is properly the first Roman emperor.

8 Rome at this time is fifty miles in circumference, and contains 463,000 men fit to bear arms.

A. C.

The temple of Janus is shut by Augustus as an emblem of universal peace, and JESUS CHRIST is born.

12 JESUS CHRIST disputes with the doctors in the temple;

27

33

is baptized in the Wilderness by John;
is crucified;

His Resurrection and Ascension.

36 St. Paul converted.

39 St. Matthew writes his Gospel.

Pontius Pilate kills himself.

- 40 The name of Christians first given at Antioch to the followers of Christ. 43 Claudius Cæsar's expedition into Britain.

44 St. Mark writes his Gospel.

49 London is founded by the Romans; 368, surrounded by ditto with a wall, some parts of which are still observable.

51 Caractacus, the British king, is carried in chains to Rome.

St. Luke writes his Gospel.

59 The emperor Nero puts his mother and brothers to death.

persecutes the Druids in Britain.

61 Boadicea, the British queen, defeats the Romans; but is conquered soon after by Suetonius, governor of Britain.

St. Paul is sent in bonds to Rome; writes his Epistles between 51 and 66. 62 The council of the Apostles at Jerusalem.

63 The Acts of the Apostles written.

Christianity is supposed to be introduced into Britain by St. Paul or some of his disciples, about this time.

64 Rome set on fire, and burned for six days; upon which began (under Nero) the first persecution against the Christians.

67 St. Peter and St. Paul put to death.

70 Whilst the factious Jews are destroying one another with mutual fury, Titus, the Roman general, takes Jerusalem, which is razed to the ground, and the plough made to pass over it.

83 The philosophers expelled Rome by Domitian.

85 Julius Agricola, Governor of South Britain, to protect the civilized Britons from the incursions of the Caledonians, builds a line of forts between the rivers Forth and Clyde, defeats the Caledonians under Galacus on the Grampian hills; and first sails round Britain, which he discovers to be an island.

96 St. John the Evangelist wrote his revelation; his Gospel in 97.

121 The Caledonians reconquer from the Romans all the southern parts of Scotland: upon which the emperor Adrian builds a wall between Newcastle and Carlisle; but this also proving ineffectual, Pollius Urbicus, the Roman general, about the year 144, repairs Agricola's forts, which he joins by a wall four yards thick.

135 The second Jewish war ends, when they were all banished Judæa. 139 Justin writes his first Apology for the Christians.

152 The Emperor Antoninus Pius stops the persecution against the Christians.

222 About this time the Roman empire begins to sink. The Barbarians begin their irruptions, and the Goths have annual tribute not to molest the empire.

260 Valerius is taken prisoner by Sapor, king of Persia, and flayed alive. 274 Silk first brought from India; the manufactory of it introduced into Europe by some monks, 551; first worn by the clergy in England, 1534. 306 Constantine the Great begins his reign.

308 Cardinals first made.

313 The tenth persecution ends by an edict of Constantine, who favours the Christians, and gives full liberty to their religion.

314 Three bishops or fathers are sent from Britain to assist at the council of Arles. 325 The first general council at Nice, when 318 fathers attended against Arius, where was composed the famous Nicene Creed, which we attribute to them. 328 Constantine removes the seat of empire from Rome to Byzantium, which is thenceforwards called Constantinople.

331.

orders all the heathen temples to be destroyed.

363 The Roman emperor, Julian, surnamed the Apostate, endeavours in vain to rebuild the temple of Jerusalem.

364 The Roman empire is divided into the eastern (Constantinople the capital), and western (of which Rome continued to be the capital), each being now under the government of different emperors.

400 Bells invented by bishop Paulinus of Campagnia.

404 The kingdom of Caledonia, in Scotland, revives under Fergus.

406 The Vandals, Alans, and Suevi, spread into France and Spain, by cession of Honorius, emperor of the West.

410 Rome taken and plundered by Alaric, king of the Vizi-Goths.

412 The Vandals begin their kingdom in Spain.

420 The kingdom of France begins upon the Lower Rhine, under Pharamond. 426 The Romans reduced to extremities at home, withdraw their troops from Britain, and never return; advising the Britons to arm in their own defence, and trust to their own valour.

446 The Britons, now left to themselves, are greatly harassed by the Scots and Picts, upon which they once more make their complaint to the Romans, but receive no assistance from that quarter.

447 Attila (surnamed the Scourge of God) with his Huns, ravages the Roman empire.

449 Vortigern, king of the Britons, invites the Saxons into Britain against the

Scots and Picts.

455 The Saxons having repulsed the Scots and Picts, invite over more of their countrymen, and begin to establish themselves in Kent, under Hengist. 476 The western empire is finished, 523 years after the battle of Pharsalia; upon the ruins of which several new states arise in Italy and other parts, consisting of Goths, Vandals, Huns, and other Barbarians, under whom literature is extinguished, and the works of the learned are destroyed.

496 Clovis, king of France, baptized, and Christianity begins in that kingdom. 508 Prince Arthur begins his reign over the Britons.

516 The computing of time by the Christian æra is introduced by Dionysius the monk.

529 The code of Justinian, the eastern emperor, is published.

581 Latin ceased to be spoken about this time in Italy.

596 Augustine the monk comes into England with forty monks.

606 Here begins the power of the popes, by the concessions of Phocas, emperor of

the east.

622 Mahomet, the false prophet, flies from Mecca to Medina, in Arabia, in the

44th year of his age, and 10th of his ministry, when he laid the foundation of the Saracen empire; and from whom the Mahometan princes to this day claim their descent. His followers compute their time from this æra, which in Arabic is called Hegira, i. e. the Flight.

637 Jerusalem is taken by the Saracens, or followers of Mahomet.

640 Alexandria in Egypt is taken by the Saracens, and the grand library there burnt by order of Omar, their caliph or prince.

653 The Saracens now extend their conquests on every side, and retaliate the barbarities of the Goths and Vandals upon their posterity.

664 Glass invented in England by Benalt, a monk.

685 The Britons after a brave struggle of near 150 years, are totally expelled by the Saxons, and driven into Wales and Cornwall.

713 The Saracens conquer Spain.

726 The controversy about images begins, and occasions many insurrections in the eastern empire.

748 The computing of years from the birth of Christ began to be used in history. 749 The race of Abbas became caliphs of the Saracens, and encourage learning. 762 The city of Bagdad upon the Tigris is made the capital for the caliphs of the house of Abbas.

800 Charlemagne, king of France, begins the empire of Germany, afterwards called the western empire; gives the present names to the winds and months; endeavours to restore learning in Europe; but mankind are not yet disposed for it, being solely engrossed in military enterprises.

826 Harold, king of Denmark, dethroned by his subjects, for being a Christian. 828 Egbert, king of Wessex, unites the Heptarchy, by the name of England. 836 The Flemings trade to Scotland for fish.

838 The Scots and Picts have a decisive battle, in which the former prevail, and both kingdoms are united by Kenneth, which begins the second period of Scottish history.

867 The Danes begin their ravages in England.

896 Alfred the Great, after subduing the Danish invaders (against whom he fought 56 battles by sea and land), composes his body of laws; divides England into counties, hundreds, and tithings; erects county courts, and founds the university of Oxford about this time.

915 The university of Cambridge founded.

936 The Saracen empire is divided by usurpation into seven kingdoms. 975 Pope Boniface VII. is deposed and banished for his crimes.

979 Coronation oaths said to be first used in England.

991 The figures in arithmetic are brought into Europe by the Saracens from Arabia. Letters of the alphabet were hitherto used.

996 Otho III. makes the empire of Germany elective.

999 Boleslaus, the first king of Poland.

1000 Paper made of cotton rags was in use; that of linen rags in 1170; the manu

factory introduced into England at Dartford, 1588.

1005 All the old churches are rebuilt about this time in a new manner of architecture. 1015 Children forbidden by law to be sold by their parents in England.

1017 Canute, king of Denmark, gets possession of England.

1040 The Danes, after several engagements with various success, are about this time driven out of Scotland, and never again return in a hostile manner.

1041 The Saxon line restored under Enward the Confessor.

1043 The Turks (a nation of adventurers from Tartary, serving hitherto in the armies of contending princes) become formidable, and take possession of Persia.

1054 Leo IX. the first pope that kept up an army.

1057 Malcolm III. king of Scotland, kills the tyrant Macbeth at Dunsinane; and marries the princess Margaret, sister to Edgar Atheling.

1065 The Turks take Jerusalem from the Saracens.

1066 The battle of Hastings fought between Harold and William (surnamed the bastard) duke of Normandy, in which Harold is conquered and slain; after which William becomes king of England.

1070 William introduces the feudal law.

Musical notes invented.

1075 Henry IV. emperor of Germany, and the pope, quarrel about the nomination

of the German bishops. Henry in penance walks barefooted to the pope, towards the end of January.

1076 Justices of Peace first appointed in England.

1080 Doomsday book began to be compiled by order of William, from a survey of all the estates in England, and finished in 1086.

The Tower of London built by William, to curb his English subjects, numbers of whom fly to Scotland, where they introduce the Saxon or English language; are protected by Malcolm, and have lands given them.

1091 The Saracens in Spain, being hard pressed by the Spaniards, call to their assistance Joseph, king of Morocco; by which the Moors get possession of all the Saracen dominions in Spain.

1096 The first crusade to the Holy Land is begun under several Christian princes, to drive the infidels from Jerusalem.

1110 Edgar Atheling, the last of the Saxon princes, dies in England, where he had been permitted to reside as a subject.

1118 The order of the Knights Templars instituted, to defend the Sepulchre at Jerusalem, and protect Christian strangers.

1151 The canon law collected by Gratian, a monk of Bologna.

1163 London bridge, consisting of nineteen small arches, first built of stone. 1164 The Teutonic order of religious knights begins in Germany.

1172 Henry II. king of England (and first of the Plantagenets) takes possession of Ireland; which, from that period, has been governed by an English viceroy, or lord-lieutenant.

1176 England is divided by Henry into six circuits, and justice is dispensed by itinerant judges.

1180 Glass windows began to be used in private houses in England.

1181 The laws of England are digested about this time by Glanville.

1182 Pope Alexander III. compelled the kings of England and France to hold the stirrups of his saddle when he mounted his horse.

1192 The battle of Ascalon, in Judea, in which Richard, king of England, defeats Saladin's army, consisting of 300,000 combatants.

1194 Dieu et mon droit first used as a motto by Richard, on a victory over the French. 1200 Chimneys were not known in England.

Surnames now began to be used; first amongst the nobility.

1208 London incorporated, and obtained their first charter, for electing their Lord Mayor and other magistrates, from king John.

1215 Magna Charta is signed by king John and the barons of England.

Court of Common Pleas established.

1227 The Tartars, a new race of heroes, under Gingis-Khan, emerge from the northern parts of Asia, over-run all the Saracen empire, and, in imitation of former conquerors, carry death and desolation wherever they march.

1233 The Inquisition, begun in 1204, is now trusted to the Dominicans.

The houses of London, and other cities in England, France, and Germany, still thatched with straw.

1253 The famous astronomical tables are composed by Alonzo, king of Castile. 1258 The Tartars take Bagdad, which finishes the empire of the Saracens. 1263 Acho, king of Norway, invades Scotland with 160 sail, and lands 20,000 men at the mouth of the Clyde, who are cut to pieces by Alexander III. who recovers the western isles.

1264 According to some writers, the commons of England were not summoned to parliament till this period.

1269 The Hamburgh company incorporated in England.

1273 The empire of the present Austrian family begins in Germany.

1282 Llewellyn, prince of Wales, defeated and killed by Edward I. who unites

that principality to England.

1284 Edward II. born at Caernarvon, is the first prince of Wales.

1285 Alexander III. king of Scotland, dies, and that kingdom is disputed by twelve candidates, who submit their claims to the arbitration of Edward, king

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