no UNIVERSAL ERUDITION. 



XVII. (3) The hiftory of the A/yrian Monarchy. 

 "We have already mentioned this hiftory in the 

 tenth feclion, but we cannot avoid fpeaking of it 

 here, as one of the four grand monarchies, fo 

 called by way of excellence, and to which it is 

 frequently the cuftom to reduce almoft all ancient 

 hiftory. From this point of view, therefore, we 

 regard the A/Tynans, not as a particular nation, 

 but as the fovereigns of Syria, Mefopotamia, 

 Babylon, Perfia, and, in a word, of all Afia ex- 

 cept India. It is all thefe countries united that 

 are comprehended under the name of Afiyria 

 the Great, which formed the empire of Ninus 

 and Semiramis, and which is called for that reafon 

 thefirft monarchy , and fometimes it is alfo called 

 the monarchy of the Babylonians, Chaldeans, 

 Aflyrians, &c. by which is always meant the 

 fame empire-, and which they make to com- 

 mence, for that reafon, not before the year of 

 the world 2737, with Ninus the fon of Bel, and 

 with Semiramis his confort ; and to finilh with 

 Balthazer, who was (lain by the foldiers at the 

 taking of Babylon by Cyrus : and thus the 

 AfTyrian monarchy was overthrown, and pafled 

 to the Medes and Perfians. 



XVIII (4) The hiftory of the Perfian Mo- 

 narchy , which is the fecond of thofe that were 

 called Grand. This vaft empire comprehend- 

 ed not only Perfia, properly fo called, and of 

 which we have made mention in the fecond fec- 

 tion, but almoft all Afia, and fometimes alfo all 



the 



