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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1859 Excerpt:...him appear in their eyes as a being of a higher order. 7. While Alexander was engaged in Egypt, Darius had time to assemble fresh forces and prepare for a great struggle, which was to decide the fate of his empire. But before venturing upon this final step, he endeavoured, by certain concessions, to make peace with Alexander. The Macedonian's mind, however, was not set upon peace, and quitting Egypt with his army, which had been increased by fresh reinforcements, he advanced towards the Euphrates and Tigris, which he crossed, and in the plains of Gaugamela, he defeated, in B. C. 331, the hosts of the Persians which had assembled from the eastern parts of the empire, and are said to have been twenty times as numerous as the army of Alexander. The consequence of this great victory was, that the Macedonians became masters of Babylon and its fertile territory, and of the ancient capitals of Susa, Persepolis, and Ecbatana, with their vast treasures. Persepolis was recklessly destroyed by fire, but its ruins, with their sculptures and inscriptions, still attest the greatness and magnificence of the ancient residence of the kings of Persia. Darius, after his defeat, fled from Ecbatana into the mountainous country of Bactria, where he was killed by the treacherous hand of his own satrap Bessus, who now assumed the title of king of Persia; but soon afterwards, the traitor was overtaken and captured by the Macedonians, who nailed him to a cross. 8. During the years B. C. 329 and 328, Alexander, by the boldest marches through the snow-covered mountains of the Indian Cau. casus, where his soldiers almost perished with hunger and fatigue, succeeded in making himself master of the countries on the southeast of the Onspian, and about the rivers Oxus and Jaxartes (Aria, Hy...