Chapter XVIII: Phenicians

Phenicians and Assyrians — members of the Semitic family of the
human race. — Early presence of Phenician ships in the Grecian
seas — in the Homeric times. — Situation and cities of Phenicia.
— Phenician commerce flourished more in the earlier than in the
later times of Greece. — Phenician colonies — Utica, Carthage,
Gadês, etc. — Commerce of the Phenicians of Gadês — towards
Africa on one side and Britain on the other. — Productive region
round Gadês, called Tartêssus. — Phenicians and Carthaginians —
the establishments of the latter combined views of empire with
views of commerce. — Phenicians and Greeks in Sicily and Cyprus —
the latter partially supplant the former. — Iberia and Tartêssus
— unvisited by the Greeks before about 630 B. C. — Memorable
voyage of the Samian Kôlæus to Tartêssus. — Exploring voyages
of the Phôkæans, between 630-570 B. C. — Important addition
to Grecian geographical knowledge, and stimulus to Grecian
fancy, thus communicated. — Circumnavigation of Africa by the
Phenicians. — This circumnavigation was really accomplished —
doubts of critics, ancient and modern, examined. — Caravan-trade
by land carried on by the Phenicians. 264-289

CHAPTER XIX.

ASSYRIANS. — BABYLON.

Assyrians — their name rests chiefly on Nineveh and Babylon. —
Chaldæans at Babylon — order of priests. — Their astronomical
observations. — Babylonia — its laborious cultivation and
fertility. — City of Babylon — its dimensions and walls. —
Babylon — only known during the time of its degradation — yet
even then the first city in Western Asia. — Immense command of
human labor possessed by the Babylonian kings. — Collective
civilization in Asia, without individual freedom or development.
— Graduated contrast between Egyptians, Assyrians, Phenicians,
and Greeks. — Deserts and predatory tribes surrounding the
Babylonians. — Appendix, “Nineveh and its Remains,” by Mr.
Layard. 290-307