The use of these works, therefore, as text-books in classes, has been kept continually in mind in the preparation of them. The running index on the tops of the pages is intended to serve instead of questions. These captions can be used in their present form as _topics_, in respect to which, when announced in the class, the pupils are to repeat substantially what is said on the page; or, on the other hand, questions in form, if that mode is preferred, can be readily framed from them by the teacher. In all the volumes, a very regular system of division is observed, which will greatly facilitate the assignment of lessons. CONTENTS. Chapter Page I. THE MOTHER OF XERXES 13 II. EGYPT AND GREECE 33 III. DEBATE ON THE PROPOSED INVASION OF GREECE 56 IV. PREPARATIONS FOR THE INVASION OF GREECE 78 V. THE CROSSING OF THE HELLESPONT 100 VI. THE REVIEW OF THE ARMY AT DORISCUS 125 VII. PREPARATIONS OF THE GREEKS FOR DEFENSE 151 VIII. THE ADVANCE OF XERXES INTO GREECE 178 IX. THE BATTLE OF THERMOPYLAE 201 X. THE BURNING OF ATHENS 224 XI. THE BATTLE OF SALAMIS 245 XII. THE RETURN TO PERSIA 284 ENGRAVINGS. Page ARTABANUS AND THE GHOST _Frontispiece._ MAP OF THE PERSIAN EMPIRE xii PHERON DEFYING THE NILE 48 MAP OF GREECE 101 XERXES CROSSING THE HELLESPONT 121 FATE OF THE PERSIAN EMBASSADORS AT SPARTA 160 CITADEL AT ATHENS 241 RETURN OF XERXES TO PERSIA 297 [Illustration: MAP OF THE PERSIAN EMPIRE] XERXES. CHAPTER I. THE MOTHER OF XERXES. B.C. 522-484