BEACON LIGHTS OF HISTORY.

BY JOHN LORD, LL.D.

VOLUME IV.

IMPERIAL ANTIQUITY.

CONTENTS

CYRUS THE GREAT.

ASIATIC SUPREMACY.

The Persian Empire

Persia Proper

Origin of the Persians

The Religion of the Iranians

Persian Civilization

Persian rulers

Youth and education of Cyrus

Political Union of Persia and Media

The Median Empire

Early Conquests of Cyrus

The Lydian Empire

Croesus, King of Lydia

War between Croesus and Cyrus

Fate of Croesus

Conquest of the Ionian Cities

Conquest of Babylon

Assyria and Babylonia

Subsequent conquests of Cyrus

His kindness to the Jews

Character of Cyrus

Cambyses; Darius Hystaspes

Xerxes

Fall of the Persian Empire

Authorities

JULIUS CAESAR.

IMPERIALISM.

Caesar an instrument of Providence

His family and person

Early manhood; marriage; profession; ambition

Curule magistrates; the Roman Senate

Only rich men who control elections ordinarily elected

Venality of the people

Caesar borrows money to bribe the people

Elected Quaestor

Gains a seat in the Senate

Second marriage, with a cousin of Pompey

Caesar made Pontifex Maximus; elected Praetor

Sent to Spain; military services in Spain

Elected Consul; his reforms; Leges Juliae

Opposition of the Aristocracy

Assigned to the province of Gaul

His victories over the Gauls and Germans

Character of the races he subdued

Amazing difficulties of his campaigns

Reluctance of the Senate to give him the customary honor

Jealousy of the nobles; hostility between them and Caesar

The Aristocracy unfit to govern; their habits and manners

They call Pompey to their aid

Neither Pompey nor Caesar will disband his forces; Caesar recalled

Caesar marches on Home; crosses the Rubicon

Ultimate ends of Caesar; the civil war

Pompey's incapacity and indecision; flies to Brundusi

Caesar defeats Pompey's generals in Spain

Dictatorship of Caesar

Battle of Pharsalia

Death of Pompey in Egypt

Battles of Thapsus and of Munda

They result in Caesar's supremacy

His services as Emperor

His habits and character

His assassination,--its consequences

Causes of Imperialism,--its supposed necessity when Caesar

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