Sources, and their critical examination: 1. Jewish writings, particularly the books of Kings, Chroniclers, and the Prophets; together with the Mosaic records. 2. Greek writers, Herodotus, Ctesias, and Diodorus: later chroniclers, Syncellus, Eusebius, Ptolemy. 3. Native writer, Berosus. Futility of all endeavours to arrange into one work the accounts of authors so entirely different by birth and the times in which they flourished: a task attempted by the French writers, SEVIN, FRERET, and DEBROSSE, in their papers contained in the Mem. de l'Acad. des Inscript. VOLNEY, _Recherches nouvelles sur l'Histoire ancienne_. 1808-1814: very important and authentic, so far as regards the system of Herodotus's chronology. I. _Assyrian monarchy._ 1. With the Greeks, Assyrian is generally a common name applied to the ruling nations about the Euphrates and Tigris before the time of Cyrus. With the Jews, on the contrary, it signifies a distinct nation of conquerors, and the founders of an empire. Hence a necessary discrepancy between the Grecian and Hebrew statements. 2. Assyrian history, according to Grecian authorities, particularly Ctesias and Diodorus, is nothing more than mere traditions of ancient heroes and heroines, who at some early period founded a large kingdom in the countries about the Euphrates and Tigris; traditions without any chronological data, and in the style of the east. Ninus--Semiramis--Ninyas--Sardanapalus. According to Herodotus, an Assyrian empire of 520 years' duration, 1237-717. Lists of Assyrian kings in the chronicles of Syncellus and Eusebius. 3. Assyrian history, according to Jewish authorities. Chronological history of an Assyrian empire between B. C. 800 and 700.--Seat of the nation in Assyria, properly so called.--Capital: Nineveh on the Tigris.--Extension of their dominion as far as Syria and Phoenicia. Line of Assyrian kings: 1. Pul, about 773. Invasion of Syria. 2. Tiglath-Pileser, about 740. He overthrows the kingdom of Damascus. 3. Shalmaneser, about 720. He destroys the kingdom of Samaria. Transplantation of the inhabitants into inner Asia. 4. Sennacherib, about 714. Mighty expedition against Egypt, frustrated by a pestilence. 5. Esarhaddon. _Contemporary_: Jews, the divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah.--Greeks, decennial archons at Athens.--Romans, rise of the state and the two first kings. II. _Median monarchy._ 1. The name of Medes is undoubtedly often used by the Greeks to designate one nation; it is, however, frequently made use of as a common appellation of the ruling nations in eastern Asia, from the Tigris to the Indus, (or Persia, in the more extensive sense of that word,) before Cyrus.--With the Jews: nothing more than general hints of the Medes as a conquering nation.