INTRODUCTION.

THE attempt has been made, in the following work, to furnish, within limits accessible to the general reader, a succinct and con- nected historical account of such nations as have played the most important, conspicuous, or interesting parts in the progress of the "World.

To most minds, undoubtedly, the chief charm of such an account consists in the frequency of personal details ; and though the plan of this book necessarily precludes the narration of many extraneous events, the more momentous passages of history are displayed as fully as possible, and scenes characteristic of the age, or of any celebrated personage, are related with as much minuteness as may consist with the limits of the work.

Much attention has been paid to the frequency and accuracy of dates, so indispensable to a clear and connected view of the history of nations, especially in their mutual relations ; and the arrangement of the several articles has been made, as far as might be, with an especial view to the general connection and progress of mankind.

Repetition, as far as possible, has been avoided, and where, as it frequently occurs, the history of one nation is for a long period involved in that of another, the events common to both are detailed but once, though with the proper reference.