The introduction of the alphabet to the exclusion of the cruder methods was a feat accomplished within the historic period by the Phœnicians, some details of which we shall have occasion to examine later on. This feat is justly regarded as one of the greatest accomplishments of the entire historic period. But that estimate must not blind us to the fact that the Egyptians and Babylonians, and probably also the Chinese, were in possession of their fully elaborated systems of writing long before the very beginnings of that historic period of which we are all along speaking. Indeed, as has been said, true history could not begin until individual human deeds began to be recorded in written words. PART II THE HISTORY OF EGYPT BASED CHIEFLY UPON THE FOLLOWING AUTHORITIES H. C. BRUGSCH, E. A. WALLIS BUDGE, C. K. J. BUNSEN, J. F. CHABAS, ADOLF ERMAN, K. R. LEPSIUS, A. E. MARIETTE, G. C. C. MASPERO, EDUARD MEYER, W. M. FLINDERS PETRIE, J. GARDNER WILKINSON TOGETHER WITH A CHARACTERISATION OF EGYPT AS A WORLD INFLUENCE BY ADOLF ERMAN WITH ADDITIONAL CITATIONS FROM CLAUDIUS ÆLIANUS, WM. BELOE, THE HOLY BIBLE, J. B. BIOT, SAMUEL BIRCH, J. F. CHAMPOLLION, DIODORUS SICULUS, GEORG EBERS, AMELIA B. EDWARDS, ROBERT HARTMANN, A. H. L. HEEREN, HERODOTUS, FLAVIUS JOSEPHUS, H. LARCHER, J. P. MAHAFFY, MANETHO, AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS, JOHN MAUNDEVILLE, MELA POMPONIUS, L. MÉNARD, PAUSANIAS, PETRONIUS, PLINY, PLUTARCH, R. POCOCKE, PETER LE PAGE RENOUF, I. ROSELLINI, E. DE ROUGÉ, C. SAVARY, F. VON SCHLEGEL, G. SERGI, SOLINUS, STRABO, ISAAC TAYLOR, THE TURIN PAPYRUS AND THE DYNASTIC LISTS OF KARNAK, ABYDOS, AND SAQQARAH, A. WIEDEMANN, HENRY SMITH WILLIAMS, AND THOMAS YOUNG COPYRIGHT, 1904, BY HENRY SMITH WILLIAMS. _All rights reserved._ EGYPT TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE INTRODUCTORY ESSAY. EGYPT AS A WORLD INFLUENCE. BY DR. ADOLF ERMAN 57 EGYPTIAN HISTORY IN OUTLINE 65 CHAPTER I. THE EGYPTIAN RACE AND ITS ORIGIN 77 CHAPTER II. THE OLD MEMPHIS KINGDOM 90 CHAPTER III. THE OLD THEBAN KINGDOM 106 CHAPTER IV. THE RESTORATION 126 CHAPTER V. THE XIXTH DYNASTY 141 CHAPTER VI. THE FINDING OF THE ROYAL MUMMIES 155 CHAPTER VII. THE PERIOD OF DECAY 162 CHAPTER VIII. THE CLOSING SCENES 180