# Ancient History (Myers)

Plate 1.—Babylon and its Three Towers. (From a photograph of the original picture by William Simpson, Esq., R.I.) This restoration is based on the data afforded by recent excavations and research
ANCIENT HISTORY
BY
PHILIP VAN NESS MYERS
Author of "A History of Greece", "Rome: Its Rise and Fall" and "A General History"
REVISED EDITION
Boston, U.S.A., and London
GINN & COMPANY, PUBLISHERS
The Athenæum Press
Entered at Stationers' Hall
Copyright, 1904, by PHILIP VAN NESS MYERS
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
510.8
The Athenæum Press
GINN & COMPANY·PROPRIETORS·BOSTON·U.S.A.
PREFACE
I cannot perhaps better introduce what I have to say here than by quoting the following paragraph from the preface to the 1888 edition of this work. "The following pages are a revision and expansion of ... my Outlines of Ancient History, which was published as a library book in 1882 by Messrs. Harper & Brothers. It is through the generous action of these publishers that I have had the advantage of making this earlier work the basis of the present text-book."
After the lapse of sixteen more years I now give out the present revised edition. The Oriental portion of the work has been almost wholly rewritten; the Greek part is based on my History of Greece (1895); the Roman portion on my Rome: Its Rise and Fall (1901).
Besides this brief statement of fact there are various other things relating to the scope and aim of the work that might properly enough be said in this place; but the book must speak for itself. I write these prefatory words solely to express my gratitude to those who have helped me, and in doing this to disclaim title to that which does not belong to me. It would not be right should I withhold the fact that during the years I have labored on the volume I have from time to time been assisted by several eminent historical scholars, and that, while the faults of the book are all my own, to these scholars should be ascribed in part whatever merits it may possess. To Professor Nathaniel Schmidt of Cornell University I am deeply indebted for aiding me in the revision of the proof sheets of the chapters of the Oriental part of the volume; to Dr. Rufus B. Richardson, for many years head of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens, I owe special thanks for reading the proofs of the Greek portion; to Dr. Eduard Meyer of the University of Halle and ​Professor Henry F. Pelham of the University of Oxford I am indebted for reading all the chapters, but in their more extended form as they appear in my Rome: Its Rise and Fall, of the Roman part; while to Professor George L. Burr of Cornell University I am under like deep obligation for giving me his scholarly aid in the revision of the sheets of those chapters of my Middle Ages on which the continuation of the present work from the extinction of the Roman Empire in the West to its restoration by Charlemagne is based.
I wish further to make grateful acknowledgment of the assistance given me by Mrs. Mabel E. Hodder, graduate student of Radcliffe College, Cambridge, in the revision and extension of the bibliographies of the Greek and Roman chapters; and of the aid I have received from my former pupil, Miss Lucy M. Blanchard, who has kindly given me the benefit of long class-room use of the earlier work by making various suggestions which I have found very helpful.
I would also tender my thanks to the officers of the Architectural Library of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, of the Fogg Museum of Harvard University, of the Public Library of Boston, and of the Public Library of Cincinnati, for the use and loan of books, photographs, and other illustrative material. To the courtesy of the editors of the magazine Records of the Past I am indebted for a photograph of the original picture entitled "The Three Towers of Babylon." In this connection it is fitting that mention should be made of the fact that the many fine pen drawings which embellish the book are by the artist Mr. Homer W. Colby of Boston.
Lastly, to my publishers I feel prompted to express my appreciation of the generosity they have shown, exceeding even what I have dared to suggest, in enriching the volume with maps, cuts, and plates; and to make acknowledgment of the courtesies and efficient aid I have received from the heads and members of the various departments of their house.
P. V. N. M.
    College Hill, Ohio,
       May 12, 1904.
CONTENTS
* PAGE
* List of Illustrations................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ix
* List of Plates................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................xiv
* Lists of Maps................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................xv
* CHAPTER
* I.General Introduction: Prehistoric Times................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................1
* II.Races and Groups of Peoples at the Dawn of History................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................14
* PART I—THE EASTERN NATIONS
* III.Ancient Egypt (from about 5000 to 30 B.C.)................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................20
* I.The Land and the People................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................20
* II.Political History................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................23
* III.Religion, Arts, and General Culture................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................32
* IV.The Early City-States of Babylonia and the Old Babylonian Empire (from about 5000 to 1100 B.C.)................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................46
* I.Political History................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................46
* II.Arts and General Culture................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................51
* V.The Assyrian Empire (from an unknown date to 606 B.C.)................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................62
* I.Political History................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................62
* II.The Civilization................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................66
* VI.The Chaldean Empire (625–538 B.C.)................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................72
* VII.The Hebrews................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................75
* VIII.The Phoenicians................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................83
* IX.The Persian Empire (558–330 B.C.)................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................88
* I.Political History................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................88
* II.Government, Religion, and Arts................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................94
* X.India and China................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................98
* I.India................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................98
* II.China................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................102
* PART II—GREECE
* XI.The Land and the People................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................107
* XII.Prehistoric Times according to Greek Accounts................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................115
* XIII.The Inheritance of the Historic Greeks................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................127
* I.Political Institutions................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................127
* II.Religious Ideas and Institutions................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................129
* III.Language, Mythology, Literature, and Art................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................138
* XIV.The Growth of Sparta................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................141
* XV.The Age of Greek Colonization (about 750–600 B.C.)................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................152
* XVI.The Age of the Tyrants (about 650–500 B.C.)................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................162
* XVII.The History of Athens up to the Persian Wars................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................168
* XVIII.Hellas Overshadowed by the Rise of Persia: Prelude to the Persian Wars................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................178
* XIX.The Persian Wars (500–479 B.C.)................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................183
* XX.The Making of the Athenian Empire (479–445 B.C.)................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................200
* XXI.The Age of Pericles (445–431 B.C.)................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................210
* XXII.The Peloponnesian War (431–404 B.C.)................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................220
* I.The War to the Peace of Nicias (431–421 B.C.)................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................220
* II.From the Peace of Nicias to the Defeat of the Sicilian Expedition (421–413 B.C.)................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................229
* III.From the Sicilian Disaster to the Fall of Athens: the Decelean War (413–404 B.C.)................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................237
* XXIII.The Spartan and the Theban Supremacy (404–362 B.C.)................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................244
* I.The Spartan Supremacy (404–371 B.C.)................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................244
* II.The Ascendancy of Thebes (371–362 B.C.)................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................254
* XXIV.The Greeks of Western Hellas (413-336 B.c )................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................259
* XXV.The Rise of Macedonia: Reign of Philip II (359–336 B.C.)................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................266
* XXVI..Alexander the Great (336–323 B.C.)................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................273
* XXVII.The Greco-Oriental World from the Death of Alexander to the Conquest of Greece by the Romans (323–146 B.C.)................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................286
* XXVIII.Greek Architecture, Sculpture, and Painting................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................294
* I.Architecture................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................295
* II.Sculpture................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................300
* III.Painting................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................308
* XXIX.Greek Literature................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................312
* I.Introductory................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................312
* II.The Period before 475 B.C.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................313
* III.The Attic or Golden Age (475–300 B.C.)................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................315
* IV.The Alexandrian Age (300–146 B.C.)................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................324
* XXX.Greek Philosophy and Science................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................327
* XXXI.Social Life of the Greeks................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................340
* PART III—ROME
* First Period—Rome as a Kingdom (753?-509 B.C.)
* XXXII.Italy and its Early Inhabitants................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................350
* XXXIII.The Society and Government of Early Rome................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................355
* XXXIV.The Roman Religion................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................362
* XXXV.Rome under the Kings................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................367
* Second Period—Rome as a Republic (509–31 B.C.)
* XXXVI.The Early Republic; Plebeians acquire the Full Rights of Citizens (509–367 B.C.)................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................377
* XXXVII.The Conquest of Italy (367–264 B.C.)................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................394
* XXXVIII.The First Punic War (264–241 B.C.)................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................405
* XXXIX.Rome and Carthage between the First and the Second Punic War (241–218 B.C.)................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................414
* I.Rome................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................414
* II.Carthage................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................416
* XL.The Second Punic War (218–201 B.C.)................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................419
* XLI.Events between the Second and the Third Punic War: Conquest of the East by Rome (201–146 B.C.)................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................429
* XLII.The Third Punic and Numantine Wars................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................436
* I.The Third Punic War (149–146 B.C.)................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................436
* II.The Numantine War (143–133 B.C.)................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................439
* XLIII.The Last Century of the Republic; First Period (133–78 B.C.)................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................441
* XLIV.The Last Century of the Republic; Second Period (78–31 B.C.)................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................460
* Third Period—Rome as an Empire (31 B.C.–A.D. 476)
* XLV.The Establishment of the Empire and the Reign of Augustus Caesar (31 B.C.–A.D. 14)................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................484
* XLVI.From Tiberius to Marcus AureUus (A.D. 14–180)................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................494
* XLVII.The Empire under Commodus and "The Barrack Emperors" (A.D. 180–284)................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................514
* XLVIII.The Reigns of Diocletian and Constantine the Great................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................520
* I.The Reign of Diocletian (A.D. 284–305)................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................520
* II.Reign of Constantine the Great (A.D. 306–337)................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................524
* XLIX.The Last Century of the Empire in the West (A.D. 376–476)................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................532
* L.Architecture, Literature, Law, and Social Life among the Romans................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................549
* I.Architecture................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................549
* II.Literature and Law................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................555
* III.Social Life................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................562
* PART IV—THE ROMANO-GERMAN OR TRANSITION AGE (A.D. 476–800)
* LI.The Barbarian Kingdoms................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................571
* LII.The Church and its Institutions................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................576
* I.The Conversion of the Barbarians................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................576
* II.The Rise of Monasticism................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................579
* LII.The Rise of the Papacy................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................582
* LIII.The Fusion of Latin and Teuton................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................587
* LIV.The Roman Empire in the East................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................592
* LV.The Rise of Islam................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................595
* LVI.Charlemagne and the Restoration of the Empire in the West................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................603
* Index and Pronouncing Vocabulary................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................609
This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1929.
The longest-living author of this work died in 1937, so this work is in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 86 years or less. This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works.
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