3000. Nineveh, colonized from Babylonia, ruled by subject princes of that country.
2800. Probable date of the foundation of the Chinese empire.
2500. Rise of the kingdom of Elam. Asshurbanipal (Sardanapalus), King of Nineveh, records an invasion of Chaldæa, or Babylonia, by the Elamites, B.C. 2300. The records of clay recently unearthed show that Cyrus was originally king of Elam. [See "CONQUESTS OF CYRUS THE GREAT," i, 250.]
2458. Zoroaster (Zarathushtra) founds the religion known by his name. Ancient tradition has it that he was a Median king who conquered Babylon about B.C. 2458. M. Haug assigns the date as not later than B.C. 2300. Be the time when he lived what it may, it is certain that, as the Persian national religion, it dates little further back than B.C. 559 and up to A.D. 641. The four elements—fire, air, earth, and water, especially the first—were recognized as the only proper objects of human reverence.
2300. A chart of the heavens in China.
2250. Commencement of the reign of Hammurabi, King of Babylonia: the earliest compilation of a code of laws was made in this reign. [See "COMPILATION OF THE EARLIEST CODE," i, 14.]
2200-1700. Dominion of the Hyksos, or Shepherd kings, in Egypt. It is not improbable that Abraham made his well-known journey to Egypt during the early reign of these kings. Joseph's visit occurred near the close of their power.
2200. Hereditary monarchy founded in China.
1700-1250. The new empire of Egypt attains the period of its greatest splendor and power. Meneptah, about 1320 (1322), has been generally accepted as the Pharaoh of the Exodus.
1500. Independence of Assyria as the rising of a kingdom apart from Babylonia; the rise of Nineveh.