Written in French by M. de Voltaire [François-Marie Arouet]
Translated into English, With additional Notes and Chronological Tables, by Mr. Nugent
The Second Edition, Revised, and considerably improved by the Author.
1759.
VOLTAIRE'S ESSAI SUR LES MOEURS [AN ESSAY ON UNIVERSAL HISTORY, THE MANNERS, AND SPIRIT OF NATIONS] AND ASIAN RELIGIONS
1745 / The 1745 fragments (later used in the Essai) published in the Mercure de France contain an introduction and the first two chapters on China and India which reflect Voltaire's early view of Asian religions and literature.
1756 / The first edition of the Essai sur Les moeurs [An Essay on Universal History, the Manners, and Spirit of Nations: From the Reign of Charlemaign to the Age of Lewis XIV. Written in French by M. de Voltaire. Translated into English, With additional Notes and Chronological Tables, by Mr. Nugent. The Second Edition, Revised, and considerably improved by the Author. Volume I.] contains many changes and additions to the 1745 texts on China and India reflecting Voltaire's intensive study of missionary and travel literature before his encounter with the Ezour-vedam. Apart from the China and India chapters, ch. 120 on Japan contains information about Voltaire's view of India and its sacred literature.
1761 / The second edition of the Essai sur Les moeurs reflects Voltaire's study of the Ezour-vedam and contains -- apart from a new chapter on the Brahmans, the Veda, and the Ezour-vedam -- also many interesting revisions and additions. The Indies part of the Japan chapter now forms a separate chapter (ch. 139) and contains some revisions and additions.
1765 Voltaire's La philosophie de l'histoire [The Philosophy of History, or Philosophical and Historical Dissertation, on The Origin, Manners, Customs, and Religion of the Different Nations, and People, of Antiquity; With a Clear and Concise Exposition, of the Usages, and Opinions Common Amongst Them; And, in Particular, of their Religious Rites, Ceremonies, and Superstitions: Interspersed with a Great Variety of Other Useful and Highly Interesting Matter, Well Worthy the Perusal of all True Lovers of Historical Research.] (published separately under the pseudonym of Abbe Bazin but in 1769 incorporated into the Essai sur Les moeurs) contains Voltaire's views on the early history of religion and contains a chapter on "Bram, Abram, Abraham" and one each on India and China. (Voltaire's 1767 La defense de mon oncle [A Defence of My Uncle, Translated from the French of M. de Voltaire, by M. de Voltaire, 1767] is a defense against a critic of the La philosophie de l'histoire and, besides adding some relevant information, represents the apex of Ezour-vedam influence)
1769 / The third edition of the Essai sur Les moeurs newly features the 1765 La philosophie de l'histoire as Introduction to the Essai. The Essai itself also contains numerous passages reflecting Voltaire's study of Holwell's Interesting historical events and its fragments of the Chartah Bhade.
1775 / For collective editions of his works, Voltaire revised his Essai text three more times and added some polemics (Pomeau 1963:xviii); these revisions are of little importance to our inquiry.
-- The Birth of Orientalism, by Urs App
Volume I.
Table of Contents [PDF HERE]
Introduction. Containing the plan of the work, with a brief account of what the western nations were originally, and the reasons why he began this Essay with the East
Chapter 1. Of China, its antiquity, forces and laws.
Chapter 2. Of the religion of China. That the government is not atheistical; that Christianity was not preached there in the seventh century. Of some facts established in the country.
Chapter 3. Of India.
Chapter 4. Of Persia, Arabia, and Mahomet.
Chapter 5. Of the state of Italy, and the church, before Charlemaign.
Chapter 6. Origin of the papal power.
Chapter 7. State of the Eastern church before Charlemaign.
Chapter 8. Of Charlemaign.
Chapter 9. The emperor Charlemaign.
Chapter 10. Manners and customs about the time of Charlemaign.
Chapter 11. Laws and customs at the time of Charlemaign.
Chapter 12. Or religion at the time of Charlemaign.
Chapter 13. A continuation of the customs in the time of Charlemaign. Of justice, laws, and singular usages.
Chapter 14. Lewis the Weak or the Debonnair.
Chapter 15. State of Europe after the death of Lewis the Debonnair, or the Weak.
Chapter 16. Of the Normans towards the ninth century.
Chapter 17. Of England towards the ninth century.
Chapter 18. Of Spain and the Mussulmen in the eighth and ninth centuries.
Chapter 19. Of the empire of Constantinople in the eighth and ninth centuries.
Chapter 20. Of Italy and the popes with the divorce of Lotharius king of Lorrain, and the rest of the affairs of the church in the eighth and ninth centuries.
Chapter 21. Of Photius, and the schism between the eastern and western churches.
Chapter 22. State of the western empire towards the end of the ninth century.
Chapter 23. Of feudal tenures, and the empires.
Chapter 24. Of Otho the Great in the tenth century.
Chapter 25. Of the Popedom in the tenth century, before Otho the Great make himself master of Rome.
Chapter 26. The reign of the emperor Otho, and the state of Italy continued.
Chapter 27. Of the emperors Otho II. and III. and of Rome.
Chapter 28. Of France towards the time of Hugh Capet.
Chapter 29. The state of France in the tenth and eleventh centuries.
Chapter 30. The conquest of Naples and Sicily by a few gentlemen of Normandy.
Chapter 31. Of Sicily in particular and the Legatine power in that island.
Chapter 32. The conquest of England by William duke of Normandy.
Chapter 33. State of Europe in the tenth and eleventh centuries.
Chapter 34. Of Spain and the Mahometans of that kingdom, to the beginning of the twelfth century.
Chapter 35. Of religion, and superstition in the tenth and eleventh centuries.
Chapter 36. Of the Empire, Italy, the emperor Henry IV, and Gregory VII. Of Rome and the empire in the eleventh century.
Chapter 37. Of the emperor Henry V. and of Rome, to the reign of Frederick I.
Chapter 38. Of Frederick Barbarossa.
Chapter 39. Of the emperor Henry VI. and of Rome.
Chapter 40. The state of France and England, till the reigns of St. Lewis, and of John Lackland, and Henry III. during the twelfth Century. Great change in the public administration in England and France. Murder of Thomas Becket, archbishop of Canterbury. England becomes a province to Rome, &c.
Chapter 41. Of Otho IV. and Philip Augustus in the thirteenth century. Of the battle of Bouvines, of England and France, to the death of Lewis VIII. father of St. Lewis.
Chapter 42. Of Frederick II. and his quarrels with the popes; and of the German empire.
Chapter 43. Of the East at the time of the crusades.
Chapter 44. Of the first Crusade to the taking of Jerusalem.
Chapter 45. Crusades after the taking of Jerusalem.
Chapter 46. Of St. Lewis and the last crusade.
Chapter 47. Continuation of the taking of Constantinople by the crusaders.
END OF THE FIRST VOLUME.
**********
An Essay on Universal History, the Manners, and Spirit of Nations: From the Reign of Charlemaign to the Age of Lewis XIV. [Volume II]
Written in French by M. de Voltaire
Translated into English, With additional Notes and Chronological Tables, by Mr. Nugent
The Second Edition, Revised, and considerably improved by the Author
1759
Volume II.
Table of Contents [PDF HERE]
Chapter 48. Of the East and Jenghiz-chan.
Chapter 49. Of Charles of Anjou, king of the two Sicilies; and of the Sicilian Vespers.
Chapter 50. Of the Crusade against the Albigenses.
Chapter 51. State of Europe in the thirteenth century.
Chapter 52. Of Spain, in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries.
Chapter 53. Of Philip the Fair, and Boniface VIII.
Chapter 54. Of the punishment of the knights templars, and of the suppression of this order.
Chapter 55. Of the revolution of Swisserland in the beginning of the fourteenth century.
Chapter 56. Continuation of the state of the Empire, Italy, and the Popedom, in the fourteenth century.
Chapter 57. Of Joan, queen of Naples.
Chapter 58. Of the emperor Charles IV. and the return of the holy see from Avignon to Rome.
Chapter 59. Of the great schism of the west.
Chapter 60. The Council of Constance.
Chapter 61. Of John Huss and Jerome of Prague.
Chapter 62. State of Europe towards the time of the council of Constance.
Chapter 63. Of France and England, during the reigns of Philip of Valois and Edward III.
Chapter 64. Of France during the reign of king John.
Chapter 65. Of the Black Prince, the king of Castile, Don Pedro the Cruel, and the constable du Guesclin.
Chapter 66. Of France and England, during the reign of Charles V.
Chapter 67. Of King Charles VI. and the fresh invasion of France by Henry V, king of England.
Chapter 68. Of France during the reign of Charles VII.
Chapter 69. Manners and customs, arts and sciences, towards the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries.
Chapter 70. Infranchisements, privileges of cities, states general.
Chapter 71. Of taxes and coins.
Chapter 72. Of the parliament to the reign of Charles VII.
Chapter 73. Of the council of Basil held at the time of Charles VII.
Chapter 74. Of the decline of the Greek empire.
Chapter 75. Of Tamerland.
Chapter 76. Continuation of the history of the Turks, and of the Greeks till the taking of Constantinope.
Chapter 77. Of Scanderbeg.
Chapter 78. Of the taking of Constantinople by the Turks.
Chapter 79. Of the progress of the Turks.
Chapter 80. Of Lewis XI, king of France.
Chapter 81. Of Burgundy and the Swiss at the time of Lewis XI, in the fifteenth century.
Chapter 82. Of Chivalry.
Chapter 83. Of the feudal government after Lewis XI, in the fifteenth century.
Chapter 84. Of Charles VIII, and the state of Europe when he undertook the conquest of Naples.
Chapter 85. State of Europe at the end of the 15th century.
Chapter 86. Of the conquest of Naples. Of Zizim, brother of Bajazet II. Of Pope Alexander VI, &c.
Chapter 87. Of Savonarola.
Chapter 88. Of Picus of Mirandola.
Chapter 89. Of Pope Alexander, and king Lewis XII.
Chapter 90. Wickedness of the family of Alexander VI, and of Caesar Borgia: the affairs of Lewis XII, and Ferdinand the catholic, continued: death of pope Alexander VI.
Chapter 91. The political affairs of Lewis XII continued.
Chapter 92. Of the league of Cambray, and the consequence of it. Of pope Julius II, &c.
Chapter 93. The affairs of Lewis XII continued; of Ferdinand the Catholic, and of Henry VIII, king of England.
Chapter 94. Of England and its misfortunes after invading France. Of Margaret of Anjou, wife of Henry VI, &c.
Chapter 95. Of Edward IV. of Margaret of Anjou, and the death of Henry VI.
Chapter 96. Continuation of the troubles of England under Edward IV, under the tyrant Richard III, and to the end of the reign of Henry VII.
Chapter 97. General idea of the sixteenth century.
END OF THE SECOND VOLUME.
**********
An Essay on Universal History, the Manners, and Spirit of Nations: From the Reign of Charlemaign to the Age of Lewis XIV.
Written in French by M. de Voltaire
Translated into English, With additional Notes and Chronological Tables, by Mr. Nugent
The Second Edition, Revised, and considerably improved by the Author
1959
Volume III.
Table of Contents
Chapter 98. x
END OF THE THIRD VOLUME.
**********
An Essay on Universal History, the Manners, and Spirit of Nations: From the Reign of Charlemaign to the Age of Lewis XIV. [Volume IV]
Written in French by M. de Voltaire
Translated into English, With additional Notes and Chronological Tables, by Mr. Nugent
The Second Edition, Revised, and considerably improved by the Author
1759
Volume IV.
Table of Contents [PDF HERE]
Chapter 143. Of Henry IV.
Chapter 144. Of France under Lewis XIII. till the administration of cardinal Richelieu. States general held in France. Unfortunate administration. The marshal d'Anore assassinated; his wife condemned to be burnt. Administration of the duke of Luines. Civil wars. In what manner cardinal Richelieu was admitted into the council.
Chapter 145. Of cardinal Richelieu's administration.
Chapter 146. Of the Government and Manners of Spain, from Philip II, to Philip VI.
Chapter 147. Of the Germans under Rodolph II. Matthias, and Ferdinand II. Of the misfortunes of Frederick Elector Palatine. Of the Conquests of Gustavus Adolphus. Peace of Westphalia, &c.
Chapter 148. Of England to the year 1641.
Chapter 149. Of the misfortunes and death of Charles I.
Chapter 150. Of Cromwell.
Chapter 151. Of England under Charles II.
Chapter 152. Of Italy, and principally of Rome, at the end of the sixteenth century. Of the council of Trent; the reformation of the calendar, &c.
Chapter 153. Of Sixtus Quintus.
Chapter 154. Of the successors of Sixtus Quintus.
Chapter 155. Of Italy in the seventeenth century. Of Venice; and Malta. Of Malta.
Chapter 156. Of Holland in the seventeenth century.
Chapter 157. Of Denmark, Sweden, and Poland, in the seventeenth century.
Chapter 158. Of Russia in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.
Chapter 159. Of the Ottoman empire in the seventeenth century. Siege of Candia.
Chapter 160. Of Sabbatei-Sevi, who pretended to be the Messiah.
Chapter 161. Progress of the Turks. Siege of Vienna.
Chapter 162. Of Persia, and its manners; of the last revolution; and of Thamas Kouli-Kan, or Schah-Nadir.
Chapter 163. Of the Mogul.
Chapter 164. Of China in the seventeenth century, and the beginning of the eighteenth.
Chapter 165. Of Japan in the seventeenth century.
END OF THE FOURTH VOLUME.
**********
The Philosophy of History, or Philosophical and Historical Dissertation, on The Origin, Manners, Customs, and Religion of the Different Nations, and People, of Antiquity; With a Clear and Concise Exposition, of the Usages, and Opinions Common Amongst Them; And, in Particular, of their Religious Rites, Ceremonies, and Superstitions: Interspersed with a Great Variety of Other Useful and Highly Interesting Matter, Well Worthy the Perusal of all True Lovers of Historical Research.
Translated from the Original French Manuscripts of Monsr. L'Abbe Bazin [François-Marie Arouet/M. Voltaire pseudonym. Written in 1765.] by Henry Wood Gandell
1829
Table of Contents [PDF HERE]
Chapter 1. Introductory Observations.
Chapter 2. Of the different Races or Kinds of Men.
Chapter 3. Of the Antiquity of Nations.
Chapter 4. On the Knowledge of the Soul.
Chapter 5. Of the Religion of the First Men.
Chapter 6. Of the Customs and Opinions common to almost all the Ancient Nations.
Chapter 7. Of Savages.
Chapter 8. Of America.
Chapter 9. Of Theocracy, or Church Government.
Chapter 10. Of the Chaldeans.
Chapter 11. Of the Babylonians, Subsequently Persians.
Chapter 12. Of Syria.
Chapter 13. Of the Phoenicians; and of Sanchoniathon.
Chapter 14. Of the Scythians and the Gomerites.
Chapter 15. Of Arabia.
Chapter 16. Of Bram, Abram, and Abraham.
Chapter 17. Of India.
Chapter 18. Of China.
Chapter 19. Of Egypt.
Chapter 20. Of the Language of the Egyptians, and of their Symbols.
Chapter 21. Of the Monuments of the Egyptians.
Chapter 22. Of the Rites of the Egyptians, and of Circumcision.
Chapter 23. Of the Mysteries of the Egyptians.
Chapter 24. Of the Greeks; Of Their Ancient Deluges; Of their Alphabets: and of Their Genius.
Chapter 25. Of the Greek Legislators of Minos and Orpheus and of the Immortality of the Soul.
Chapter 26. Of the Grecian Sects.
Chapter 27. Of Zaleucus, and Some Other Legislators.
Chapter 28. Of Bacchus.
Chapter 29. Of Grecian Metamorphoes, As Compiled by Ovid.
Chapter 30. Of Idolatry.
Chapter 31. Of Oracles.
Chapter 32. Of the Greek Sibyls, and of Their Influence Upon Other Nations.
Chapter 33. Of Miracles.
Chapter 34. Of Temples.
Chapter 35. Of Magick.
Chapter 36. Of Human Victims.
Chapter 37. Of the Mysteries of Ceres Eleusis, &c.
Chapter 38. Of the Jews, when they began to be known.
Chapter 39. Of the Jews in Egypt.
Chapter 40. Of Moses, as Chief of a Nation.
Chapter 41. Of the Jews, from Moses to Saul.
Chapter 42. Of the Jews, subsequent to Saul.
Chapter 43. Of the Jewish Prophets
Chapter 44. Of the Prayers of the Jews
Chapter 45. Of Flavius Josephus, the Jewish Historian.
Chapter 46. The Falsehoods of Josephus, concerning Alexander and the Jews
Chapter 47. Of Popular Errors and Prejudices, which the Sacred Writers have condescended to sanction, by their Admission or Example.
Chapter 48. Of Angels, Genii, and Devils, among the Nations of Antiquity, including the Jews.
Chapter 49. An Inquiry, as to whether the Jews have been the Teachers of Other Nations, or Have Been Taught by Them.
Chapter 50. Of the Romans, the Commencement of their Empire, Their Religion and Toleration.
Chapter 51. Queries, Concerning the Conquests of the Romans, and of their Decline and Fall.
Chapter 52. Of the First People Who Wrote History, and of the Fabulous Relations of the First Historians.
Chapter 53. Of Those Legislators Who Have Spoken in The Name of Their Gods.
**********
A Defence of My Uncle
Translated from the French of M. de Voltaire, by M. de Voltaire
1767
Table of Contents [PDF HERE]
Advertisement.
Exordium.
Chapter 1. Of Providence.
Chapter 2. An apology for the ladies of Babylon.
Chapter 3. Of the Alcoran.
Chapter 4. Of the Romans.
Chapter 5. On Sodomy.
Chapter 6. On Incest.
Chapter 7. On Bestiality, and the Goat of the Sabbath.
Chapter 8. Of Abraham and Ninon L'Enclos.
Chapter 9. Of Thebes, Bossuet, and Rollin.
Chapter 10. Of the priests, or prophets, or schoen of Egypt.
Chapter 11. Of the temple of Tyre.
Chapter 12. Of the Chinese.
Chapter 13. Of India, and of the Vedam.
Chapter 14. That the Jews hated all nations.
Chapter 15. Of Warburton.
Chapter 16. Conclusion of the preceding chapters.
Chapter 17. Upon Warburton's modesty and his Antimosaical system.
Chapter 18. Of men of different colors.
Chapter 19. Of mountains and shells.
Chapter 20. Of the tribulations incident to poor men of letters.
Chapter 21. Of the sentiments of Theologians with regard to the late abbe Bazin. Of the justice of antiquity; and of four Diatribes composed by him on the occasion.
Chapter 22. A defence of a military general attacked by Pedants.
Postscriptum. A Gardener's defence.