1. HISTORY is a narration of the events which have happened among mankind, including an account of the rise and fall of nations, as well as of other great changes which have affected the political and social condition of the human race.

2. Chronology is a department of history which treats of the exact time, or date, of each event, with reference to some fixed time, called an era or epoch. The epoch usually employed in our times among Christian nations for reckoning dates, is the birth of Christ, called the Christian Era.* All dates preceding this are marked B. C., that is, Before Christ; and all subsequent to it are marked A. D., that is, Anno Domini, which means In the year of our Lord; that is, After the birth of Christ.

3. Previous to the fifth century B. C., there are but few dates that can be fixed with tolerable certainty; that is to say, no uninterrupted series of dates can be accurately and positively assigned to events which are known to have occurred. In the earliest ages all dates are uncertain, authorities differing very much with regard to them, from the absence of reliable information respecting these very remote periods.

4. History is best divided into Ancient, Mediæval, and Modern. Ancient history is considered to end 476 A. D., the date of the destruction of the western division of the Roman Empire. Mediæval history, or the history of the Middle Ages, extends from 476 A. D. to about the time of the fall of the eastern division of the Roman Empire, in 1453. All subsequent history belongs to the third division. This mode of dividing the subject is, however, entirely arbitrary.

5. The most important facts to be learned in history are those that refer to the progress of mankind in civilization,—in the arts, sciences, literature, political freedom, social culture, and religious truth. Whatever events have no immediate bearing upon these, though often affording matter for curious reflection and interesting research, are of secondary importance.

6. The chief sources of ancient history are the Sacred Scriptures of the Old and New Testament, which are the compositions of inspired writers, the works of ancient writers not divinely inspired, and ancient monuments, medals, coins, inscriptions, etc.