Subject
Chronology, Historical Books
Best books
Joel Munsell
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology Embracing the Anniversaries of Memorable Persons and Events in Every Period and State of the World, from the Creation to the Present Time
"The Every Day Book of History and Chronology" by Joel Munsell is a historical compendium written in the mid-19th century. This work chronicles significant anniversaries of notable events and individuals across various cultures and time periods from creation to the present time, systematically organizing them by date. It serves as a reference guide that users can consult for daily insights into history. The opening portion of the book sets the foundation for what readers can expect—a comprehensive collection of historical events indexed by the day of the year. The preface discusses Munsell's meticulous efforts to gather and verify events and dates, explaining the challenges posed by discrepancies in historical records and calendar systems. Following the preface, the text begins to list significant occurrences for January 1, detailing events ranging from ancient Roman customs to pivotal moments in early American history, thereby showcasing a varied tapestry of developments that have occurred on this specific date throughout the ages.
R. (Robert) Wallace
A dissertation on the true age of the world : $b in which is determined the chronology of the period from creation to the Christian era
"A dissertation on the true age of the world : in which is determined the…" by Professor Wallace is a theological and chronological treatise written in the mid-19th century. It argues that the Septuagint’s longer genealogical numbers, rather than the Masoretic Hebrew’s shorter figures, preserve the authentic Biblical chronology from Creation to Christ, thereby lengthening the world’s age by about fifteen centuries. Using Scripture, patristic testimony, early chronographers, and selective astronomical and geological reflections, it divides sacred history into six ages and seeks to fix key epochs such as the Flood, the Exodus, and the Advent. Readers should expect a rigorous defense of the Septuagint, critiques of Usher and other modern chronologers, and discussion of prophecy, cyclical time, and the millennium. The opening of the treatise sets out the problem: large discrepancies between the Hebrew, Septuagint, and Samaritan texts in the antediluvian and postdiluvian genealogies, a long-debated issue now made urgent by geology, astronomy, and renewed interest in prophecy. The preface outlines two parts—first, a critical reconstruction of Biblical chronology (leaning on Cuninghame and engaging Josephus, Eusebius, and others); second, an inquiry into primeval prophecy, idolatry’s origins, and the “seven ages,” with hints of astronomical cycles (including a proposed grand planetary cycle) deferred to a future volume. The introduction notes the widespread expectation of a savior at the time of Christ and claims Scripture allows the epoch to be fixed, then sketches the authority and utility of the Septuagint over against the present Hebrew text. Early chapters present tables contrasting the three textual traditions, argue that the Hebrew and Samaritan numbers show deliberate centenary adjustments while the Septuagint’s figures are internally coherent, defend the authenticity of the “second Cainan” (citing Luke), and begin correcting received views on Terah and Abraham—altogether preparing the case for the longer, Septuagint-based timeline.
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