A NEW CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE. 5& 



449 Vortigern, king of the Britons, invites the Saxons into Britain, against the 

 Scots and Picts. 



455 The Saxons, having repulsed the Scots and Picts, invite over more of their 

 countrymen, and begin to establish themselves in Kent, under Hengist. 



476 The western empire ends, 523 years after the battle of Pharsalia ; upon the 

 ruins of which, several new states arise in Italy and other parts, consist- 

 ing of Goths, Vandals, Huns, and other barbarians, under whom litera- 

 ture is extinguished, and the works of the learned destroyed. 



496 Clovis king of France baptised, and Christianity begins in that kingdom. 



508 Prince Arthur begins his reign over the Britons. 



513 Constantinople besieged by Vitellianus, whose fleet is burned by a speculum 

 of brass. 



516 The computing of time by the Christian sera introduced by Dionysius the 

 monk. 



529 The code of Justinian, the eastern emperor, published. 



557 A terrible plague all over Europe, Asia, and Africa, which continues near 

 50 years. 



581 Latin ceased to be spoken about this time in Italy. 



596 Augustine the monk comes into England, with forty monks. 



606 The power of the popes begins, by the concession of Phocas, emperor of the 

 East. 



622 Mahomet flies from Mecca to Medina, in Arabia, in the 54th year of his age 

 and the tenth of his ministry, when he laid the foundation of the Saracen 

 empire, and from whom the Mahometan princes to this day claim their 

 descent. His followers compute their time from this sera, which in Arabic 

 is called Hegira, i. e the flight. 



637 Jerusalem taken by the Saracens, or followers of Mahomet. 



640 Alexandria in Egypt taken by the same, and the grand library there burnt 

 by order of Omar, their caliph or prince. 



643 The Saracens extend their conquests on every side, and retaliate the barba- 

 rities of the Goths and Vandals upon their posterity. 



664 Glass introduced into England by Benalt, a monk. 



685 The Britons, after a brave struggle of near 150 years, are totally expelled 

 by the Saxons, and driven into Wales and Cornwall. 



713 The Saracens conquer Spain. 



726 The controversy about images begins, and occasions many insurrections in 

 the eastern empire. 



748 The computing of years from the birth of Christ began to be used in history,. 



749 The race of Abbas become caliphs of the Saracens, and encourage learning. 

 762 The city of Bagdad, upon the Tigris, is made the capital for the caliphs of 



the house of Abbas. 



800 Charlemagne, king of France, begins the empire of Germany, afterwards 

 called the western empire ; gives the present names to the days and 

 months; endeavours to restore learning in Europe ; but mankind are nofi 

 yet disposed for it, being solely engrossed in military enterprises. 



826 Harold, king of Denmark, dethroned by his subjects for being a Christian. 



828 Egbert, king of Wessex, unites the Heptarchy, by the name of England. 



838 The Scots and Picts have a decisive battle, in which the former prevail, and 

 both kingdoms are united by Kenneth ; which begins the second period of 

 the Scottish history. 



867 The Danes begin their ravages in England. 



896 Alfred the Great, after subduing the Danish invaders (against whom he 

 fought 56 battles by sea and land) composes his body of laws ; divides 

 England into counties, hundreds, tythings ; erects county-courts, and 

 founds the university of Oxford about this time. 



915 The university of Cambridge founded. 



936 The Saracen empire is divided by usurpation into seven kingdoms. 



975 Pope Boniface VII, is deposed and banished for his crimes. 



979 Coronation oaths said to be first used in England. 



991 The figures in arithmetic are brought into Europe by the Saracens from 

 Arabia. Letters of the alphabet were hitherto used. 



996 Otho III, makes the empire of Germany elective. 



999 Boleslaus, the first king of Poland. 

 1000 Paper made of cotton rags was in use ; that of linen rags in 1770: the ma- 

 nufactory introduced into England at Dartford, 1588. 



