CHRONOLOGY. 



1808 

 3 



15)1811(120 

 15 



1808 

 312 



15)1496(99 

 135 



31 

 30 



C the indie; ion for the 

 present year 



The Julian Period, some acquaintance 

 with which is indespensable in the study 

 of chronology, will be easily undertood 

 from the preceding account ofthe cycles. 

 It is formed by the combination of the 

 three, by multiplying the numbers 28, 19, 

 and 15, of the cycles of the sun, moon, 

 and indiction, into each other. The total 

 of years thus produced is 7980, of which 

 the Julian period consists, at the expira- 

 tion of which, and not sooner, the first 

 years of each of those cycles will again 

 come together. This period was invented 

 by Joseph Scaliger, as one by which all 

 aeras, epochs, and computations of time, 

 might readily be adjusted. The first year 

 ofthe Christian sera corresponds to the 

 4714th of the Julian period, anditextends 

 us far back as 706 years beyond the com- 

 mon date ofthe creation 4004. The year 

 of the Julian period, corresponding with 

 any given year before or since the com- 

 mencement of the Christian sera, may 

 easily be fonnd by the following rule. 

 If the year required be of the latter 

 kind, add to it 4713, the number or years 

 of the Julian period elapsed before the 

 Christian aera, and the sum will be the 

 year required. If it be of the former, 

 subtract the year B. C. from 4714, and the 

 difference will give it. 



This period has been esteemed by many 

 to be of the highest importance in chro- 

 nology, as affording a common standard 

 for the adjustment of different epochs. 

 Modern chronologers are not however so 

 warm in their admiration of it as their 

 predecessors have been. A common 

 standard is unquestionably ofthe highest 

 consequence in the comparison of dates 

 and aeras, and in the general arrangement 

 and division of time ; and from its great 

 utility, and the necessity of its frequent 

 application, it is of importance that it 

 should be as simple as possible in its na- 

 ture and construction. The Julian period 

 is liable to objection on the latter score, 

 as being rather complicated in its forma- 

 tion ; and its necessity is now altogether 

 superseded by the very general adoption 



of the Christian sera as the standard of 

 time. Any events or aeras, prior or sub- 

 sequent to its commencement, may easily 

 be computed by it, and the date of them 

 be impressed in the memory with very 

 little exertion or difficulty. 



It remains that we give some account of 



Epochs and JEras, terms which con- 

 stantly recur in history, and the elucida- 

 tion of which belongs to the province of 

 chronology. An epoch is a certain point, 

 generally determined by some remarka- 

 ble event, from which time is reckoned: 

 and the years computed from that period 

 are denominated an xra. The birth of 

 Christ is considered as an epoch the 

 years reckoned from that event are called 

 the Christian aera. 



In sacred chronology, the first and most 

 remarkable epoch is that of the creation 

 ofthe world. As learned men could not 

 agree as to the precise time when this 

 took place, the folly of reckoning from it 

 as a standard soon became appearent, and 

 the practice was in consequence aban- 

 doned. Archbishop Usher, whose scrip- 

 ture chronology is adopted in our Eng- 

 lish Bibles, fixes this event in the year 

 4004 before Christ. Plavfair places it in 

 4007. 



The universal deluge forms another 

 epoch, this is placed by 'Usher in the year 

 B. C. 2349. A third sacred epoch is" the 

 call of Abraham, which happened, accord- 

 ing to the same learned authority, B. C. 

 1921. The next epoch is the departure 

 ofthe Israelites from Egypt, which Usher 

 places B. C. 1491. 



In profane history, we shall first notice 

 the epoch of the Argonautic expedition, 

 an event much celebrated in ancient his- 

 tory, and of some importance in chrono- 

 logical discussion, from being adopted by- 

 Sir Issac Newton as the foundation of his 

 system of chronology. The date of this 

 transaction has been placed in the year 

 1225 B. C. but in this chronologers are 

 not agreed. 



The destruction of Troy forms another 

 remarkable epoch. Considerable uncer- 

 taintly prevails asto the exact time when 

 this event, as well as the preceding, took 

 place. Playfair fixes it in the year B C, 

 1184. 



The aera ofthe Olympiads we have no- 

 ticed above, and it will be unnecessary to 

 give any farther account of it here. The 

 epoch ofthe building of Rome is the next 

 that claims our attention. From the total 

 want of early records, and other necessa- 

 ry documents for deciding the question, 

 the date of this event is involved in the 



