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and SCIENCES, and their PROGRESS among the moft ANCIENT NATIONS.

INTRODUCTION.

T

HE fpace of time which elapfed from the deluge to the death of Jacob, was, without contradiction, the most disagreeable part of our work. We have not facts enow, nor fufficient hiftorical details, to frame an abfolutely clear idea of the human race in the first ages. We ought not indeed to promise ourselves more in the infancy of the world; it is even more than one durft hope for in times fo remote. In fpite of the fcarcity of monuments, one may always have a glimpse of the steps by which thefe people gradually arose to perfection.

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We fhall not be expofed to the fame inconveniencies in the ages of which I am going to give an account. Although in the number of facts which prefent themfelves, there are fome greatly altered by fable, they afford, notwithstanding, a great deal for the gratification of curiofity. Sufficient particulars have been tranfmitted to us of the state of politics, arts, fciences,, commerce, navigation, and the art-military in fome parts of Afia, and in Egypt.

Greece, which until this time there has been scarce any notice taken of, begins now to fix our attention. In propor tion as we come down from the ages near the deluge, we fhall fee arts and fciences introduce them felves into that part of Europe, and its inhabitants emerge from barbarifm.

The picture of all thefe different objects is not difficult to trace. The epochs of them are known, we are able to deter. mine them; in a word, we may eafily follow the progress of nations, determine exactly enough the degree of their knowledge, and eftimate their scientifical attainments.

VOL. II.

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PART II.

From the death of Jacob to the establishment of monarchy among the Ifraelites, containing about 600 years.

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HE hiftory of the Upper Afia will not afford us, in the course of the present æra, any infight in politics, laws, and the form of government. The events that happened in that part of the world during the whole space of time under our prefent examination, are abfolutely unknown. The hiftory of Egypt is not quite fo barren in those times as that of the Upper Afia; it will give us fome affistance in each of the objects which I have just indicated: but Greece will abundantly repay us for the fmall affistance which Afia and Egypt will afford us for that period. The history of that part of Europe affords, in the ages we are now treating of, variety of events, of circumftances and details, abundantly fufficient to inftruct us in the progrefs of laws and politics among the different people, known under the name of Greeks.

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Of the Babylonians and Affyrians.

7E have feen in the first part of this work, that Ninus. had united the throne of Babylon to that of Affyria. We have there likewife feen, that, on the death of that prince, the vast empire formed by his conquefts fell into the

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