The use of these works, therefore, as text-books in classes, has been kept continually in mind in the preparation of them. The running index on the tops of the pages is intended to serve instead of questions. These captions can be used in their present form as _topics_, in respect to which, when announced in the class, the pupils are to repeat substantially what is said on the page; or, on the other hand, questions in form, if that mode is preferred, can be readily framed from them by the teacher. In all the volumes, a very regular system of division is observed, which will greatly facilitate the assignment of lessons.
MAP OF THE PERSIAN EMPIRE _Frontispiece._
The Persian monarchy.--Singular principle of human nature.--Grandeur of the Persian monarchy.--Its origin.--The republics of Greece.--Written characters Greek and Persian.--Preservation of the Greek language.--Herodotus and Xenophon.--Birth of Herodotus.--Education of the Greeks.--How public affairs were discussed.--Literary entertainments.--Herodotus's early love of knowledge.--Intercourse of nations.--Military expeditions.--Plan of Herodotus's tour.--Herodotus visits Egypt.--Libya and the Straits of Gibraltar.--Route of Herodotus in Asia.--His return to Greece.--Doubts as to the extent of Herodotus's tour.--His history "adorned."--Herodotus's credibility questioned.--Sources of bias.--Samos.--Patmos.--The Olympiads.--Herodotus at Olympia.--History received with applause.--Herodotus at Athens.--His literary fame.--Birth of Xenophon.--Cyrus the Younger.--Ambition of Cyrus.--He attempts to assassinate his brother.--Rebellion of Cyrus.--The Greek auxiliaries.--Artaxerxes assembles his army.--The battle.--Cyrus slain.--Murder of the Greek generals.--Critical situation of the Greeks.--Xenophon's proposal.--Retreat of the Ten Thousand.--Xenophon's retirement.--Xenophon's writings.--Credibility of Herodotus and Xenophon.--Importance of the story.--Object of this work.
Cyrus was the founder of the ancient Persian empire--a monarchy, perhaps, the most wealthy and magnificent which the world has ever seen. Of that strange and incomprehensible principle of human nature, under the influence of which vast masses of men, notwithstanding the universal instinct of aversion to control, combine, under certain circumstances, by millions and millions, to maintain, for many successive centuries, the representatives of some one great family in a condition of exalted, and absolute, and utterly irresponsible ascendency over themselves, while they toil for them, watch over them, submit to endless and most humiliating privations in their behalf, and commit, if commanded to do so, the most inexcusable and atrocious crimes to sustain the demigods they have thus made in their lofty estate, we have, in the case of this Persian monarchy, one of the most extraordinary exhibitions.