5508 B. C. The world was created, according to the _Septuagint_,
followed by Julius Africanus, a chronologer of the third century, upon
the first of September, five thousand five hundred and eight years,
three months and twenty-five days before the birth of Christ. Of the
7,349 years which are thus supposed to elapse since the creation, we
shall find 3,000 of ignorance and darkness; 2,000 either fabulous or
doubtful; 1,000 of ancient history, commencing with the Persian empire
and the republics of Rome and Athens; 1,000 from the fall of the Roman
empire in the west to the discovery in America; and the remaining 349
will compose the modern state of Europe and mankind.