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CHAPTER II. 



Short Retrospect on the History of the ancient Sovereigns of MEDIA, 

 according both to Oriental and Classical History. Its Union 

 with the Persian Throne formed the Basis of the Grandeur of the 

 latter Empire. The vast Extent of IRAN, or PERSIA, in the 

 Reign of the early Monarchs of the CAIANIAN Dynasty. Its 

 History, as connected with that of INDIA, resumed and continued 

 down to the Period of the Invasion of the latter Country by 

 GUSHSTAP, or Darius Hystaspes. 



JL HE empire of Media, if that name be justly derived from Madai, 

 the son of Japhet, which is the most probable etymon, must have been 

 one of the most ancient in the world, and co-aeval with the first esta- 

 blishment of regular governments in Asia. This great branch of the 

 Japhetic family probably for a long time flourished in undisturbed 

 security, owing to the strong and almost inaccessible nature of the 

 country which they inhabited. The lofty mountains of Azerbijian, 

 the Hyrcanian cliffs of Caucasus, and dark Iberian dales, noticed by 

 Milton, which are stated in the Short History of Persia principally to 

 have reference to SHIRVAN, the region of lions, and DAGHESTAN, 

 the country of rocks, provinces widely extending along the in- 

 hospitable shores of the Caspian Sea, sheltered the first settlers from 

 the desolating fury of ambition, and on this account there is strong 

 reason for believing that the dynasties of most ancient Median sove- 

 reigns, inserted in Herodotus and in Diodorus, from Ctesias, and 

 affirmed by those writers to have reigned during an immense period 

 Vol. in. U 



