The Chaldeans were undoubtedly great admirers of nature at the time
we first hear the name of Abraham mentioned in connection with the
Bible, about the year 1921 B.C.
The people had already arrived at a high degree of civilization. The
country belonged to the Assyrian empire under Ninus the Jupiter, 2069
B.C. How long this section of country had been populated, and its
inhabitants under a proper form of government, we have no record--in
all probability, for many centuries.
The Chaldeans had already invented a judicial astrology, which
was transmitted to the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans. The science
of astronomy was known to them, and of it there are records as
early as 2234 B.C. The science of arithmetic was used by them--in
all probability invented by them; concerning it we have nothing
recorded. The kingdom of Babylon existed 2245 B.C. An art of
architecture of some kind was already in use among its people, as we
see from the fact that they had built important structures. We have
no records as to the proficiency they had arrived at in any other
branch of science or art. That the art of writing was known to them
is probable, otherwise they could not have recorded certain facts
about astronomy. The credit of first using hieroglyphics, 2212 B.C.,
is given to Athates, or Hermes, the Egyptian.
The correct division of the days of the week, the months, and the
seasons may probably have been known to them, though the Jews take
the credit.
That these Chaldeans were great observers will not be
disputed--otherwise they could not have discovered the
fixed stars, planetary system, etc. That they must have had
considerable intellectual qualities--perceptive powers and skill
in reasoning--developed will be admitted, inasmuch as they were the
inventors of astrology, and of what more we have no knowledge.
They were great admirers of nature. We may infer that from the fact
that they were students of astronomy, acute and close observers
of nature.
What myths or fables they had, we have at the present time no idea. We
have no historical knowledge of these people. We know very little of
their manners, culture, science, arts, degree of civilization.
Other events occurred about that period. A Phoenician colony under
Partholani landed in Ireland 2048 B.C.
In 2207 B.C. the government of China was established--it had an
imperial dynasty. Fohi was the Chinese monarch.
In 2089 B.C. Sicyon was king of Greece.
In 2188 B.C. Egypt was established.
In 2085 B.C. Egypt was conquered by the shepherd kings of Phoenicia.
In 1998 B.C. Ching Hong teaches the Chinese the art of husbandry,
and the method of making bread from wheat and wine from rice.
In 2095 B.C. pyramids and canals in Egypt. The science of geometry
begins to be cultivated.
In 2100 B.C. sculpture and painting are employed to commemorate the
exploits of Asymandyas.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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