The Aryans of India. The Aryans — Aryan languages — The Aryan people.

Primitive Religion of the Hindoos. The Aryans on the Indus — The Vedas — The gods — Indra — Agni — The cult — Worship of ancestors.

Brahmanic Society. The Hindoos on the Ganges — Castes — The Impure — The Brahmans — The new religion of Brahma — Transmigration of souls — Character of this religion — The rites — Purity — Penances — The monks.

Buddhism. Buddha — Nirvana — Charity — Fraternity — Tolerance — Later history of Buddhism — Changes in Buddhism — Buddha transformed into a god — Mechanical prayer — Amelioration of manners.

[CHAPTER VI]

The Persians. The religion of Zoroaster — Iran — The Iranians — Zoroaster — The Zend-Avesta — Ormuzd and Ahriman — Angels and demons — Creatures of Ormuzd and Ahriman — The cult — Morality — Funerals — Destiny of the soul — Character of Mazdeism.

The Persian Empire. The Medes — The Persians — Cyrus — The inscription of Behistun — The Persian empire — The satrapies — Revenues of the empire — The Great King — Services rendered by the Persians — Susa and Persepolis — Persian architecture.

[CHAPTER VII]

The Phœnicians. The Phœnician people — The land — The cities — Phœnician ruins — Organization of the Phœnician — Tyre — Carthage — Carthaginian army — The Carthaginians — The Phœnician religion.

Phœnician Commerce. Occupations of the Phœnicians — Caravans — Marine commerce — Commodities — Secret kept by the Phœnicians — Colonies — Influence of the Phœnicians — The alphabet.