ANCIENT HISTORY. 105 



anciently fubfifted in the world, and of whom no 

 knowledge is to be had, but from profane 

 writers." And among whom we confequently 

 find more obfcurity, lefs order, lefs connection, 

 and lefs certainty. Bur, before we proceed to 

 the analyfis of thefe hiftories, let us here make 

 fome general reflections, that perhaps may not be 

 \vithout their ufe. If we confider the vaft ex- 

 tent of the known part of the earth, and 

 remember that it has always been divided into 

 great, middling, and fmall dates ; and if we re- 

 flect on the immenfe number of mankind that 

 muft have there exifted, and that the human 

 race have conftantly been divided into nations, 

 governments, and colonies, more or lefs nume- 

 rous, we muft be furprized to rind, in the general 

 fyftcm of ancient hiftory, which comprehends a 

 fpace of 4000 years, lo fmall a number of parti- 

 cular hiftories. It is therefore neceflary to ob- 

 ferve, that, in the firft ages of the four quarters 

 of the world, Afia alone was civilized ; and, 

 confequcntly, the firft order of men was to be 

 found in that country only. Europe and Africa 

 were fcarce difcovered, or at moft their borders, 

 and the people who inhabited them, only were 

 known. The center of Europe was as unknown 

 as the center of Africa is at this day. That cen- 

 ter is about the country which is now called 

 Franconia-, for, if we place one point of .1 com- 

 part where flanJs the city of Nuren- 

 berp, ;be a circle with the othtr, we 



fhall iiend very nearly all our f the 



jbc. 



