alfo called Anatolia, have the Empire of Iran on the eaft, and are bounded on the other fides by the Black Sea, the Archipelago, and the Mediterranean; this is the country fo justly famed for producing many of the great poets and fine writers of the ancient world, so that, whatever may be faid of the Perfian and Arabian compofitions by those who are unable to read them, it cannot be denied even by them, that Afia has given birth to men of the brightest parts, and the most exalted genius. The Thracian Bofphorus, fo frequently mentioned in the fictions of the old poets, feparates this part of Afia from the city of CONSTANTINOPLE, which was made the feat of the Turkish Sultans in that memorable period, when learning revived in Italy, and the art of printing, which was then invented, served to promote and to fix it; when our apartments were first adorned with the vafes of China and the filks of India; when a new world was discovered and fubdued; when the light of reafon and liberty was fpread over part of Christendom, and delivered it from the worst of oppreffion, the tyranny of fuperftition and impofture.

A

SHORT HISTORY

OF

PERSIA.

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CHAP. I.

The Pifhdadian Family.

CHRIST,

890.

CAIUMARAS*, whom fome have fup- Before pofed to be the King of Elam mentioned in the Scripture, founded the Perfian Empire, and fixed the feat of it in the province of Azarbigian. He was oppofed in his noble enterprises by the inhabitants of the mountains and forests, who, like the wild Tartars and Arabs, dwelled in tents or caverns, and led a rambling life among rocks and in deferts. The rude appearance of thefe Savages, compared with the more polifhed manners of thofe, who first began to be civilized, gave rife to the fiction of Demons and Giants among the Perfians, who call them Dives † and reprefent them as declared enemies to Man.