The Ruins, Or, Meditation on the Revolutions of Empires ; And, The Law of Nature

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Black Classic Press, 1991 - 219 pages
Written in 1793 by Count Volney, this book was considered somewhat controversial. Volney had little problem establishing from firsthand observations and study that early Nile Valley Africans had in fact provided a basis for the civilization of his time. This book remains a profound and helpful reference for those who are trying to gain undistorted access to the African past.

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Contents

The Journey
1
The Reverie 5
4
The Apparition 9
4
The Exposition
13
Condition of Man in the Universe
20
The Primitive State of Man
22
Principles of Society
23
Sources of the Evils of Societies
25
Universal Basis of all Right and all Law
68
Consternation and Conspiracy of Tyrants
71
General Assembly of the Nations
73
The Search of Truth
77
Problem of Religious Contradictions
86
Origin and Filiation of Religious Ideas
110
Worship of the Ele ments and of the Physical Powers of Nature
114
Second System Worship of the Stars or Sabeism
117

Origin of Governments and Laws
26
General Causes of the Prosperity of Ancient States
28
General Causes of the Revolutions and Ruin of Ancient States
32
Lessons of Times Past repeated on the Present
41
Will the Human Race Improve
53
The Great Obstacle to Improvement
59
The New Age
63
A Free and Legislative People
67
Third System Worship of Symbols or Idolatry
121
Fourth System Worship of two Principles a Dualism
131
Christianity or the Allegorical Worship of the
153
All Religions have the same Object
162
XXIV
172
Volneys Answer to Dr Priestly
211
The Zodiacal Signs and Constellations
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