chants and Travellers.—Journey of Marco Polo.—Genoese Commerce.—Travels of
Jenkinson and others.—Queen Elizabeth encourages Commerce with Babylon,
Travels of Benjamin of Tudela and others.—The Author visits Asia, and descends the
Euphrates in 1830.—The French Republic attempts to open a Commerce through
Egypt.—!Plans of Napoleon.—Proposed Expedition to the mouth of the Orontes, and
his subsequent plan of combined operations against India.
CHAP T E R XVII.
[P age 53 8 to 56 6 .]
LITERATURE AND SCIENCE OF THE EAST.
State of Oriental Literature considered at four different periods.—Asiatic Civilization
during the first period.—Thales and other Sages acquire Knowledge in the East.—
Intercourse between Asia and Europe.—Second Period : Literary intercourse commenced
by Alexander the Great.—Library and School of Alexandria.—The people of
the East were prepared for Christianity.—Influence of the change of Religion upon
literature.—Spread of Learning and Civilization from Alexandria.—Rome becomes
the centre of the Christian world.—Third period : Rise of the Arab nation.—The
Arabs resort to literature as an occupation, and become the medium of modern
Civilization.—Study of the Koran, and practical use of Astronomy, Geometry,
Grammar, and Jurisprudence.—Learned men employed at Baghdad.—History,
Novels, and learned works.—Music and Literature cultivated by the Arabs in the
eighth century.—Bede’s knowledge of Eastern Countries, and use of Arabic names,
&c.—The Benedictine Monks.—Their friendly relations with the Arabs.—The Monks
spread a knowledge of the East.—The modern Sciences cultivated at Baghdad.—
Pursuits of A1 Marnun.—Rare Works collected.—Sanscrit and other Works translated.
—Cultivation of Astronomy.—The Abbot of St. Gallen.—Arabic Manuscripts
collected and preserved in Europe.—The Moors introduce Arabic Learning into
Europe.—Rhymes of Olfrid.—European Versification like the Arabic.—Provençale
Poetry, and Rhymes of Boethius.—Lyric and romantic Poetry.—The Italians adopt
the Arabic Poetry.—Mathematical Sciences studied in Spain.—First use of Indian
Notation.—Arabic studied in the schools in France and Spain.—Spread of Arabic
Learning in Europe.—Learned Arabs of the Eleventh and Twelfth Centuries.—
Progress of Oriental studies in Africa.—Gerhard of Cremona translates the Almagest
and other works.—Raymond, Archbishop of Toledo, encourages Oriental studies.—
Abü-1-Senna and other works translated.—First translation of the Koran.—Hermannus
translates Aristotle’s works.—Constantinus introduces Arabic medicine into Italy.—
Travels and Acquirements of Constantinus.—Adelard of Bath, and his translation of
Euclid, &c.—Astronomical Tables prepared.—Adelard’s Treatise on the Astrolabe.—
Arabic Seminaries in France and Spain.—Samuel, a Jew of Fez.—Translation of El
Battani's works.—Roger of Hereford.—Daniel Morley.—The Emperor Frederic II.
encourages Eastern Learning.—His Circular to the Colleges, &c.—Michael Scot and
his Translations.—Alphonso encourages the study of Astronomy.—Fourth period :
Superiority of Western Literature over that of Eastern Countries.
C H A P T E E XVI I I .
[P ag e 567 to 6 0 3 ;] '
ANCIENT AND MODERN COMMERCE.
Proposed Notice.—Ancient Commerce of India.—Trade overcomes the difficulties caused
by "Wars, &c.—Various branches of ancient Comraerce.WTrade of Egypt and1 the
Ishmaelites.—Commerce of Arabia with Tyre.—Routes from Tyre to Palmyra and
Babylon. Route to Central Asia.—Trade of the Hindus, eastward and westward.—
Trade with Asia in the time of Pliny.—Routes to Eastern China and India, throngh
Bilkh, &c.—Commerce on the Southern Shores o f the Euxine.—Limited extent of the
Greek Commerce by Sea.—Commerce of the Rhodians, Phrygians, Milesians, and
Carians.—Greek Colonies in Asia Minor.—Limits of their Voyages.—Commerce of
the Phcenieians, Carthaginians, and Gauls with Britain.—Nature of this Trade.—
Early Trade of the Hindus, and Merchandise in demand.—Trade from the Persian
Gulf, F irs , &c., to China.—The earliest Navigation was probably that of the Persian
Gulf.—Early Navigation of the Persians, the Arabs, and Hindus.—Commerce in the
time of Nebuchadnezzar.—The black Jews settle in Malabar.—Arab Vessels in the
time of Nearchus.—Commerce encouraged by Alexander’s successors.—Route from
Egypt to India.—Discovery of the Trade Winds.—Direct voyages made to India, in
the time of Augustus, from the Southern Coast of Arabia.—Mufiammed enjoins Trade
as a religious duty.—Mercantile cities of the Arabs.—Extensive range and intercommunication
of their Commerce.—Mekkah becomes one of the centres o f Trade. Prosperity
of the Arabs in the time of the Abassides.—Effects of Luxury.—Mutawakkel
establishes Trading Factories.—Learned Men accompany the Caravans.—Precious
Stones and other valuable Commodities are exchanged throughout the Arabian Empire.
—Furs, &c., brought from the Northern Regions across the Caspian and Black Seas,
and European goods sent into Ehorasdn.— Trade in Silk, Pearls, Carpets, rich Cloths,
&C;, partly by barter, partly by coin.—Exports of Glass, Carpets, Cloth, &c. Swords
were not sent abroad.—Costly staffs, Cloths, and other fabrics.—Embroidered stuffs
representing Historical and Geographical subjects.—Commerce from Basrah to India,
China, and Africa.—Change of system in Trading with China.—A Hindu Physician
sent by land to Hdriin-el-Rashid.—Eastern Commerce carried on by Jews, through
the Red Sea, &c.—Route through Aleppo to India, and through Barbary to Baghdad.
,—Arabian Trade chiefly confined to Eastern Countries.—Trade by a circuitous route
between Constantinople , and India.—Venice becomes a trading Port.—Rise of Commerce
in England.—Merchants settle in Constantinople.—Rapid progress of Venetian
Trade.—Genoa becomes a mercantile Republic.— Trade of this Port with India through
the Black Sea.—Colonies established on the Shores of the Euxine.—Trade of the
Genoese with Europeans.—England shares indirectly in Eastern CommerceMA
Company called the Merchant Adventurers established in England.—Scale of Duties
fixed for foreign Trade.—Exports from England to Flanders, &c.—The Venetian
Trade opened with India through the Red Sea.—Bruges becomes a mercantile Depot.
—Prosperity of Commerce in France.—-Discovery of the Western Coast of Africa.—
Discovery of America.—Rise of Antwerp.—Trade drawn to Lisbon.—Various routes
to India The River Euphrates becomes the principal line.—Voyages of Rauwolf,
Balbi, and Newberrie!—Patent of Queen Elizabeth for Trade by this Route.—Application
of thè Merchants for a Loan.—Voyages of Fitch and Newberrie along the
Euphrates.—Queen Elizabeth keeps a fleet of Boats on the Euphrates.—Consequent
cheapness of Goods from India.—Establishment of the E ast India Company.—Colonial
Trade of England, and its advantages.—Increase of Exports and Imports during Five
Centuries.—The Turkey or Levant Companies of England and France.—State of the
Trade of the Levant, of Egypt, Syria, Asia Minor, Persia, and Mesopotamia— Trade
of the Arabian and Persian Gulfs.—Partial and proposed Navigation o f the Euphrates.
—Facilities and advantages òf opening the River Euphrates.—Openings for commercial
enterprise on the Rivers of Mesopotamia.
! C H A P T E R XIX.
[Page 604 to 632.]
ARCHITECTURE, SCULPTURE, ETC., OF I’RAN, SYRIA, AND ARABIA.
Ruins in Babylonia.—Kiln-burnt and Sun-dried Bricks.—Construction of the Pyramids.