GENERAL HISTORY.

THE Countries, now under consideration, under the general denomination of Asiatic Turkey, were the theatre of the first transactions of men; and their history carries us back to the origin of human existence. Amidst the gloom of obscurity, in which we are left by profane historians, concerning the primitive state of mankind, the sacred annals of the Hebrew nation constitute a singular phenomenon in literature, as well as a source of religious instruction. All the literary monuments of the Chaldeans, the Egyptians, the Persians, and other nations of antiquity, have long since perished, but by a singular dispensation of Providence, those of the Hebrews remain, and throw a gleam of light into the obscure recesses of the primeval ages. The Hebrew history, alone, furnishes a rational account of the creation of the world, and exhibits the original ramifications of the human race; while the poets and philosophers of Greece have fabricated their absurd cosmogonies, and her historians have amused posterity with a mass of splendid fictions.

Of the whole space of time, which elapsed from the creation to the deluge, we have not the least authentic information, except the outlines given in the first chapters of the book of Genesis, and a few other detached portions of holy writ. Of the first ten or twelve postdiluvian centuries, our knowledge is very imperfect, and most of that, which is authentic, is derived from the Bible. From such scanty materials, very little can be collected.

The eastern and southern parts of the Turkish empire, comprised between the Tigris, the Euphrates, and the Nile, were the first, and for many centuries, the only theatre of human actions. All the knowledge of remote antiquity that has descended to modern times is concentrated in the history of Egypt, Palestine, and Assyria. Our natural curiosity respecting other parts of the world can obtain but little gratification.

from our existing records. Before the establishment of the Persian monarchy, the Greeks had scarcely emerged from barbarism, and Rome was only just come into existence. Europe, which now displays her splended scenery, her magnificent cities, and her polished society, was covered with impervious forests and impassable morasses; her regions unknown; and her inhabitants barbarians. All our knowledge of the history of this primitive period is comprised in the preceding histories of the first postdiluvian nations, who at an early period inhabited the country, now called Asiatic Turkey. These various nations, after several revolutions, for 1800 years after the flood, were conquered by Cyrus, and constituted a part of the Persian empire, from the time of Cyrus to that of Alexander. In that period of about 200 years the history of Asiatic Turkey is involved in that of Persia, and, separately considered, does not afford any striking or memorable events.

On the Macedonian invasion, the position of Asiatic Turkey, naturally exposed it to the first attacks of the enemy. Its provinces were therefore successively subdued by the conquering arms of Alexander. The city of Tyre, which after its destruction by Nebuchadnezzar had been rebuilt, not as before on the coast of the continent, but on an island half a mile distant from the shore; by sustaining a siege of seven months, greatly impeded the progress of the Macedonian conqueror. Alexander caused an immense mole to be constructed, which at length united the island with the continent, and Tyre was obliged to submit to his victorious arms. From the vigorous resistance of the Tyrians, it seems, that they had enjoyed great liberty under the Persians, and were strongly attached to their government. Alexander, after having completed the conquest of the Persian empire, made Babylon his residence, and the capital of his dominions. The central position of that ancient city almost equally distant from the Hellespont and the Indus, rendered it extremely suitable for that purpose.

The death of Alexander, and the division of his empire, gave rise to numerous revolutions in these countries. The

northern provinces of Syria, with part of Assyria and of Asia Minor, remained under the dominion of the Greek princes, the descendants of Alexander's generals, till the Grecian kingdom of Asia was conquered by the Romans.

Asiatic Turkey, being reduced into Roman provinces, and from that time successively composing a part of the Roman, the Byzantine, the Saracen, and Ottoman empires, must be considered as a whole, without any regard to its ancient divisions. The events of its history must consequently be viewed in subordination to the revolutions of those powerful states, to which it has been successively subject. During the existence of the Roman, and afterwards of the Greek or Eastern empire, these countries were generally in a flourishing state, although sometimes exposed to Parthian, and afterwards to Persian invasions.

After a series of those ordinary occurrences, which are met with in all political histories; these countries were destined to undergo, in the seventh century, rapid and extraordinary revolutions. While Asiatic Turkey was the battle ground between the Persians and the Eastern or Greek empire, a new power was growing up which extended its conquests over both.

The Arabians, previous to the period now under consideration, had scarcely been noticed in the history of nations. Sometimes, indeed, their rapacious bands had contributed to swell the numbers and augment the disorders of the Babylonian, Persian or other foreign armies; and, sometimes, numerous hordes issuing out of their extensive wildernesses, by their desultory invasions, had struck terror into the adjacent countries. The neighbouring nations frequently experienced their ravages, but the annals of the world did not record any of their conquests. Divided into numerous tribes, hovering round their extensive deserts, or penetrating into their inmost recesses in search of a few fertile spots interspersed in the boundless waste, they have in all ages led a pastoral and wandering life. From the times of remote antiquity, however, towns and cities existed in the southern part as well as near the shores of the Red Sea, and the Persian Gulf. In

these a profitable trade was carried on by caravans, between the Persian Gulf and the fertile countries of Egypt and Syria. Among the chief of these cities were Medina, and Mecca. The latter, in particular, although situated in a sterile soil, was grown rich by commerce and rapine. Mecca was a republic in which the tribe of Koreish appear to have had an ascendency. Whether Mahomet was of this eminent tribe, or of a plebeian origin is uncertain, and equally unimportant. Whatever might be his extraction, his property was small. He engaged himself as a servant to a rich widow of Mecca, who bestowed on him her hand, and her fortune; and raised him to the rank of an opulent citizen. He is said to have been a man of extraordinary bodily and mental accomplishments. The endowments of his mind, however, were the gifts of nature, not of education, as he was wholly illiterate.

Such was the man, who was destined to effect the greatest revolution in human affairs that has ever taken place since the establishment of Christianity. Inspired by enthusiasm or ambition, he withdrew to a cave about three miles from the city; and having there spent some time in silent contemplation, announced himself a prophet of the Most High, and proclaimed the religion of the koran. The religion then prevailing in Arabia, was Zabaism, which had degenerated into the grossest idolatry. Each tribe, each family, had its particular rites and object of worship. But a universal temple, called the kaaba or holy house, had from time immemorial existed at Mecca. Hither, each tribe had introduced its domestic worship, and this celebrated Arabian pantheon was filled with idols of all the different shapes that fantastic superstition could form or imagine.

The origin of the kaaba is unknown, but it claims a high antiquity. All Arabia revered its superior sanctity, and in the last month of each year, the city and temple of Mecca were crowded with pilgrims, a custom which the koran has confirmed. But universal toleration, together with uncivilized freedom, prevailed in Arabia, and while the adjacent countries were shaken with the storms of conquest and tyranny, the victims of political and religious oppression took refuge

in the deep recesses of those extensive deserts. In the reigns of Titus and Adrian, great numbers of Jews had retired into Arabia; and Christians of all the persecuted sects, had sought the same calm retreat. Arabia, therefore, displayed a mixture of Pagans, Jews, and Christians, of all sects and denominations. Mahomet, although destitute of literature, had studied the nature of man, and conceived the great design of instituting a religion that might unite all the Arabians under its banners. His scheme was admirably calculated for that purpose. His observations on the state of the world might convince him, that idolatry was not only an unreasonable, but a declining system. His strong understanding and sound judgment would enable him to perceive the existence of one Supreme and sole Diety, to be so rational an article of belief, that no permanent system of religion could be established, except on that solid basis. By testifying his regard for the Scriptures, and acknowledging the prophetic character, and divine mission of Moses, and Jesus, he lessened the prejudices of the Jews and Christians against his doctrine; while his recommendation and practice of prayer, fasting and giving alms, acquired him the reputation of superior sanctity. Comprising, in his grand design, a military as well as a religious system, he promised a paradise of sensual delights to all, who should fall in the cause of his faith. He allowed polygamy, to which he knew the Arabians to be strongly inclined; but he reprobated drunkenness to which they had much less propensity. Considering intoxication as incompatible with a capacity for great undertakings, he resolved to take away temptation to a habit so pernicious, by prohibiting the use of inebriating liquors. All the particulars of his system were admirably adapted to the ideas and circumstances of his countrymen. His pretensions, however, to a celestial authority, excited the jealousy of the citizens of Mecca, and a powerful faction expelled him from his native city.

In the year of the Christian æra 622, the memorable epoch of the Hegira, Mahomet, with his friend Abubekar, and a few other followers, escaping from Mecca, fled to Medina, where he assumed the military as well as the prophetic VOL. II.

17