Ridpath's Universal history - an account of the origin, primitive condition and ethnic development of the great races of mankind, and of the principal events in the evolution and progress of the (14784083522)

Identifier: ridpathsuniversa05ridp (find matches)
Title: Ridpath's Universal history : an account of the origin, primitive condition and ethnic development of the great races of mankind, and of the principal events in the evolution and progress of the civilized life among men and nations, from recent and authentic sources with a preliminary inquiry on the time, place and manner of the beginning
Year: 1897 (1890s)
Authors: Ridpath, John Clark, 1840-1900
Subjects: World history
Publisher: Cincinnati : Jones
Contributing Library: University of Pittsburgh Library System
Digitizing Sponsor: Lyrasis Members and Sloan Foundation



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^-they were gradually overcome and driven THE CAN A ANITES.—ANCIENT TRIBES. 533 from their territories, it would appearthat the conquest was effected as muchby the refinement and civilization of theHittites opposing itself to the ferocity ofthe Israelitish warriors as by any failureof courage or want of resources to with-stand the invasion. The Amorites, though powerful andwarlike, were less advanced—their coun-try less cultivated — than was the casewith the Hittites. The former were oneof the most widely diftused peoples of came to be used in tlie Avritings of theHebrews interchangcabh witli Canaan-ite. There were at times as manv asfive petty kingdoms occupied by theAmorites under their own princes. The true distinction between theAmorites and the rest of the people ofCanaan is hinted at in the Meaning ofmeaning of the word. Amo- names; pastorr.i ^ _ life predomi- rite signifies a liighlandcr, nates. as Canaanite means loivlander. It can hardly be doubted that this discrimina-
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ANCIENT JOPPA, FROM THE SEA.—Drauii by H. A. U.up. all Canaan. They were also one of the most ancient. It would appear that the central seat of the race was wide distribu-tion of the Am- in the mountains of Judah,oritos west of the Jordan. Butthe Amorites were also found in Gibeon ;and beyond the Jordan they spreadthemselves by conquest over Gilead andBashan. At one period their sway ex-tended even to Mount Hermon. In thisregion there were two Amorite capitals,namely, Heshbon and Ashtaroth, beingthe central cities of the two countries ofSihon and Og. Such was the distribu-tion of the race that the name Amorite tion was given to the early populationsto distinguish the tribes of the hills fromthe people of the plains. Nearly all ofthe Amorites dwelt in the hill country,and their manner of life and means ofsubsistence were in large measure deter-mined by their environment. Theywere the least agricultural of the Canaan-itish nations. Their dependence wasfor the most part upon their floc