Q. Which was the first universal empire that ever existed? A. The Assyrian: founded at Babylon, on the Euphrates, by Nimrod, the grandson of Ham, 2204 B. C. Q. Where does the river Euphrates empty?-(See map of Asia.) Note. The scholar ought to have a knowledge of Geography before he commences the study of history: therefore the author recommends questioning him in regard to all places and rivers mentioned in the history. Q. Which was the second universal empire? A. The second universal empire was the Persian; founded by Cyrus upon the ruins of the Median and Babylonian kingdoms, 536 B. C. Q. Which was the third universal empire? A. The third universal empire was the Grecian; founded by Alexander the Great, 330 B. C. Q. Why was Alexander called the Great? A. He was called the Great, not on account of his virtues, but on account of his natural valor, and the great success of his arms. Q. Which was the fourth universal empire? A. The Roman; founded by Romulus, B. C. 753. A. Because they extended over the greatest part of the then known world. QBy whom was America discovered? A By Christopher Columbus. Q. Of what country was Columbus a native? Q. Where is Genoa? A. In Italy. Q. What led him to suppose that there was another continent to discover? A. He conceived that another continent must necessa rily exist, that the globe might be properly balanced, with a due proportion of land and water. Q. With what did he suppose this continent was connected? A. With the East Indies. Q. By whom was he assisted in the undertaking? A. The year 1492. Q. What land did he first reach? A. One of the Bahama Islands, named by him St. Salvador. Q. Can you tell how this island is situated?-(See map of the West Indies.) Q. How many voyages did Columbus make to the new world? A. Four. Q. In which of them did he discover the continent? A. In the third. Q. Where? A. At the mouth of the river Oronoco, in the north part of South America. Q. What discoveries did he make in his fourth voyage? A. He discovered the harbor of Porto Bello and the Gulf of Darien. Q. When and by whom was Greenland discovered? A. In the year 982, by the Norwegians. Q. Is Greenland a part of the continent? A. Late discoveries render it probable that it is sepa rated from the continent. Q. Why was the country called America? A. It was called America after Amerigo Vespucci, who was sent out the year after Columbus had reached the continent, to explore, still farther, the new regions; his description of them was the first published, and they, in consequence, gradually received his name. Q. How were the discoveries of Columbus limited? A. To South America and the West Indies. Q. Who explored the shores of North America? A. John Cabot, a native of Venice, but residing in Bristol, England. Q. When did he make his first discovery? A. In 1497, accompanied by his son Sebastian, he explored the coast of Labrador and Newfoundland. Q. What discoveries were made the following year? A. In 1498, Sebastian Cabot explored the continent from Labrador to Virginia. Q. What gave particular importance to the discoveries of the Cabots ? A. England claimed, by virtue of these discoveries, the greater part of North America. Q. When and by whom was Florida discovered? A. Florida was discovered, in 1512, by Juan Ponce de Leon, a Spaniard. Q. What induced Ponce de Leon to make the voyage? A. The hope of discovering a wonderful fountain, which was supposed by the natives of Porto Rico, and the Spaniards generally, to possess the property of restoring to youth and vigor all who bathed in, or drank of its waters. Q. Why was the country called Florida? A. Because, when first seen, it seemed like a land of flowers; and also, because it was discovered on Easter Sunday, which the Spaniards call Pascua Florida. Q. Who, about this time, visited the coast of Carolina? A. About this time Lucas Vasquez de Ayllon made two unsuccessful voyages to the coast of Carolina: the first for slaves; the second for conquest. Q. Who attempted the conquest of Florida? Q. When? and what was the result? A. In 1528 he landed with an army of three hundred men, only four or five of whom lived to return. Q. What other attempt was made? A. The Spaniards made a second attempt in 1539, headed by Ferdinand de Soto. Q. What large river did De Soto discover? A. The Mississippi, in 1541. Q. What became of De Soto? A. He was taken sick and died; and his body was sunk beneath the waters of the river he had discovered. Q. What discoveries were made in 1524? A. Francis I., king of France, sent Verrazani, who explored the coast from the latitude of Wilmington, North Carolina, as far as Newfoundland. Q. Which is the oldest city in America? A. Mexico, built by the Spaniards in 1521. Q. When and by whom was the first colony planted on the continent of America? A. In 1510, on the Isthmus of Darien, by the Spaniards. Q. Who first discovered the Pacific? A. Vasco Nunez de Balboa, governor of the colony at Darien. Q. By whom was the Pacific Ocean first entered? A. Magellan, a native of Portugal, then in the service of Spain, through the straits which bear his name. Q. Where are the straits of Magellan? -(See map of South America.) Q. Which was the first voyage made round the world? A. A voyage made by a vessel of Magellan's squadron. Q. What English navigator next sailed round the world? A. Sir Francis Drake. Q. What effect had this enterprise on the English nation? A. It impressed them with a just sense of their own abilities and courage, as equal to any undertaking. Q. When and where was the first permanent settlement made within the present limits of the United States? A. In 1565, at St. Augustine, Florida, by the Spariards under Melendez. Q. Had any previous attempt been made to settle Florida? A. Yes through the exertions of Coligni, a colony was established on the river St. Johns for French Protestants: it was destroyed by the Spaniards. |