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considerable success. The final stronghold, ad-Diriyyah, was captured in A.D. 1818, the Wahhabi chief captured, and sent first to Egypt and then to Constantinople, where he was beheaded in December of that year.

      The Egyptian occupation of Arabia was followed by a renewal of the Wahhabi movement, which eventually succeeded, in A.D. 1842, in driving out the Egyptians, occupied as they were at the time with fighting the Turks in Syria and Anatolia. Wahhabism was then re-established in some parts, and independence in other parts, of the country; but on the whole Wahhabism has never been very popular either in Arabia or India, in which latter country it also has some followers. It may be regarded as the latest sect of Islam, but does not make much progress.

      Arabia may now be said to be under three different kinds of government—i.e., partly under the Wahhabis, partly under the Turks, and partly under independent rulers, while Aden has been held by the English ever since its first capture in A.D. 1839. In other words, the present position of Arabia may be more definitely described as follows: Hasa, Hareek, the whole of Nejd, Kaseem, the provinces adjoining Yaman on the north, and Aseer, forming a broad belt, and stretching across the centre of the peninsula from the Red Sea to the Persian Gulf, remain under Wahhabi influences. The Hijaz and some sea-ports, such as Jedda and others, are at present absolutely under the Turkish Government; while Bahrein, Oman and its capital Muscat, and Yaman are more or less independent. Between Nejd and Syria a new and promising kingdom has sprung up under Telal.

      The time perhaps may come, and perhaps not far distant, when the Turks will disappear altogether from Arabia, and Wahhabism and independent tribes will alone remain. Another Muhammad or another Abdul Wahhab may some day again appear, and bring together the tribes under one rule for a time. It is doubtful, though, if ever the Arabs will again have the power, talent, or enthusiasm to revive the glories of the Arabian Empire, which now lives in history only, and is well worth a study.

      For ready reference the following is a chronology of the dynasty of the Ornaiyides, preceded by Muhammad and the first Khalifahs:

      A.D.

       Muhammad the Apostle 622—632

       Abu Bakr 632—634

       Omar I. 634—643

       Othman 643—655

       Ali 655—660

       1. Moawia I. 660—679

       2. Yazid I. 679—683

       3. Moawia II. 683—683

       4. Marwan I. 683—684

       5. Abdul-Malik 684—705

       6. Walid I. 705—715

       7. Sulaiman 715—717

       8. Omar II. 717—720

       9. Yazid II. 720—724

       10. Hashim 724—743

       11. Walid II. 743—744

       12. Yazid III. 744—744

       13. Ibrahim 744—744

       14. Marwan II. 744—750

      The dynasty of the Omaiyides was followed by that of the Abbasides, who reigned as follows:

      A.D. 1. Abul-Abbas As-Saffah 750—754 2. Al-Mansur 754—775 3. Al-Mahdi 775—785 4. Al-Hadi 785—786 5. Harun-ar-Rashid 786—809 6. Al-Amin 809—812 7. Al-Mamun 812—833 8. Al-Mo'tasim Billah 833—842 9. Al-Wathik 842—847 10. Al-Mutwakkil 847—861 11. Al-Mustansir Billah 861—862 12. Al-Mustain Billah 862—866 13. Al-Mo'tiz Billah 866—869 14. Al-Muhtadi Billah 869—870 15. Al-Mo'tamid 870—892 16. Al-Motazid Billah 892—902 17. Al-Muktafi Billah 902—908 18. Al-Muktadir Billah 908—932 19. Al-Kahir Billah 932—934 20. Al-Radhi Billah 934—940 21. Al-Muttaki Billah 940—944 22. Al-Mustakfi Billah 944—945 23. Al-Mutia Billah 945—974 24. Al-Taya Billah 974—991 25. Al-Kadir Billah 991—1031 26. Al-Kaim Billah 1031—1075 27. Al-Muktadi Billah 1075—1094 28. Al-Mustazhir Billah 1094—1118 29. Al-Mustershid Billah 1118—1135 30. Al-Rashid Billah 1135—1136 31. Al-Muktafi 1136—1160 32. Al-Mustanjid Billah 1160—1170 33. Al-Mustazi 1170—1180 34. Al-Nasir Billah 1180—1225 35. Al-Tahir 1225—1226 36. Al-Mustansir Billah II. 1226—1240 37. Al-Mustaa'sim Billah 1240—1258

      He was killed at the taking of Baghdad by Halaku Khan, and the last of the dynasty, which continued, however, as a spiritual power in Egypt till A.D. 1517.

      The empire over which the Abbasides began to rule in A.D. 750 had gradually dwindled away until little but Baghdad and its environs were left on the fall of the dynasty in A.D. 1258. Will history repeat itself in the same way as regards Constantinople, which in some years may be the only territory left in Europe to a people who once were conquerors, and whose arms even were carried to the walls of Vienna? As Persia, Egypt, Syria, parts of Africa and Arabia, by degrees, were severed from the Abbaside Empire, so the different provinces of Turkey in Europe appear to be slowly separating themselves from the Turkish Power, until finally there will be nothing left to them in Europe but that city whose splendid position will ever make it a bone of contention to both rising and declining States.

      The following is a list of the Omaiyides who ruled in Spain a.d. 756 to 1031:

      A.D. 1. Abd-ar-Rahman I. 756–788 2. Hisham I. 788–796 3. Al-Hakim I. 796–822 4. Abd-ar-Rahman II. 822–852 5. Muhammad I. 852–886 6. Al-Mundhir 886–888 7. Abd-Allah 888–912 8. Abd-ar-Rahman III. 912–961

      He was one of the greatest of the rulers of Cordova. Under this prince, who at last assumed the title of Khalif and Commander of the Faithful, the unity of Muhammadan Spain was for the time restored.

      A.D.

       9. Al-Hakim II. 961–976

       10. Hisham II. 976–1009

      He was a Khalif only in name, while Muhammad Bin Ali Amir, surnamed Al-Mansur, was the real ruler or regent till his death in A.D. 1002. He was succeeded by his son, Abd-al-Malik, who ruled successfully till his death in A.D. 1008, and was followed by his brother, Abd-ar-Rahman, who was beheaded in A.D. 1009, Hisham II. having been previously deposed.

      A.D.

       11. Muhammad II. (Al-Mahdi-billah) 1009–1009

       12. Sulaiman 1009–1010

       Hisham II. for the second time 1010–1013

       Sulaiman for the second time 1013–1016

       (1) Ali bin Hammud, a Berber chief 1016–1018

       13. Abd-ar-Rahman IV. 1018–1019

       (2) Al Kasim bin Hammud 1019–1023

       14. Abd-ar-Rahman V. 1023–1024

       15. Muhammad III. 1024–1025

       (3) Yabya bin Ali bin Hammud 1025–1027

       16. Hisham III. 1027–1031

      A complete list of all the Muhammadan rulers in Spain will be found in

       Makkari's history of these dynasties, translated by Gayangos.

       Table of Contents

      LITERARY.

      The oral communications of the ancient Egyptians, Medes and Persians, the two classic tongues of Europe, the Sanscrit of the Hindus and the Hebrew of the Jews, have long since ceased to be living languages. For the last twelve centuries no Western language has preserved its grammar, its style, or its literature intact and intelligible to the people of the present day. But two Eastern tongues have come down from ages past to our own times, and continue to exist unchanged in books, and, to a certain extent, also unchanged in language, and these are Chinese and Arabic. In China, though the dialects differ in the various provinces of the empire, still the written language has remained the same for centuries. In Arabia the Arabic language has retained its originality without very much dialectical alteration.

      The unchangeable character

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