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An introduction to the study of Grecian and Roman geography
An introduction to the study of Grecian and Roman geography Author:George Long Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER III. THE SCYTHIAN TRIBES. Under this general appellation the Greek writers comprehend the inhabitants of the northern coasts of the Black Sea and t... more »he country beyond it. The roving tribes about the Caspian may also be considered as included in the denomination, Scythians. This term had no definite meaning : It was as vague as the modern name of Mongols or Tartars, which we apply to the Nomadic tribes of Asia. The changes of abode, even of a whole tribe, were so usual among the Scythians, who were not agriculturists, that a description of these people, adapted to one period, would not be applicable to another. We shall therefore speak of the country called Scythia and of its inhabitants, as they were known to Herodotus. Miletus, the richest trading town of Ionia, had established colonies in all the most favourable positions on the coast of the Euxine. An extensive commerce with die natives existed in the fifth century before our era, and at a later period it was much increased. It is probable that Herodotus himself visited this country, though he does not say that he ever was on the northern shores of the Euxinus; he tells us that he spared no pains to obtain information. The accuracy of his geographical description, is sufficient proof of his diligence, and justifies us in giving a high degree of credit to the rest of his narrative. The residence of the genuine Scythians was principally comprised between the Istrus, Danube, and the Tanais, Don: according to tradition this people came from an eastern country which a more powerful nation, the MassagetE, had compelled them to leave. A Nomadic tribe, from the region of the Caspian lake, overturned the Empire of the Medes, about seventy years before the time of Cyrus. Asia Minor was possessed by these fierce barbarians ...« less