Although at a time too early to be dated the precious metals, gold and silver, were used as media of exchange, it is to be noticed that they were so used in the way of barter, and not as money in our sense of the term, which implies a definite weight bearing a stamp. The metal was weighed out, just as other articles would be weighed that were not sold by measure. We have no suggestion of the standard of weight. It is natural to suppose that the Plurnicians would be the first to appreciate the convenience of coin, money to be told out by number; but arcli•olo gists do not give them credit for the invention. The earliest known coins are Lydian, struck by the Mernmad kings, the earliest of whom. Gyges (Gugu or Gog), usurped the throne about 700 B. C. The Lydians were rivals of the Plicenicians in ingenuity, in fine workmanship, and even in commerce, especially on internal trade, as con trasted with maritime and coastal. Professor Sayce credits their merchants with being the first to devise inns upon regular lines of commerce. We need not hesitate, then, to credit them with the invention of money when the evidence of the earliest coins certainly is in their favor. Pliny ascribes the invention to Scrvius Tullius. As that monarch is largely the creature of fable, this means only that the earliest Roman coinage (cop per) was traditionally assigned to him As to Lydia, see Sayce's article in Encyc. lint., s. v.
(4) Arabian Commerce. In the book of Job, whose author, in the opinion of the most learned commentators, resided in Arabia, and was con temporary with the sons of Abraham, much light is thrown upon the commerce, manufactures, and science of the age and country in which he lived. There is mention of gold, iron, brass, lead, crystal, jewels, the art of weaving, merchants, gold brought from Ophir, which implies commerce With a remote country, and topazes from Ethiopia ; ship-building, so far improved that some ships were distinguished for the velocity of their mo tion; writing in a book, and engraving letters or writing on plates of lead and on stone with iron pens, and also seal-engraving; fishing with hooks, and nets, and spears; musical instruments, the harp and organ; astronomy, and names given to particular stars. These notices tend to prove that, although the patriarchal system of making pastur age the chief object of attention was still main tained by many of the greatest inhabitants where the author of the book of Job resided, the sciences were actively cultivated, the useful and ornamental arts in an advanced state, and commerce prose cuted with diligence and success.
The inhabitants of Arabia appear to have availed themselves, at a very early period, of their advantageous situation between the two fertile and opulent countries of India and Egypt, and to have obtained the exclusive monopoly of a very profitable carrying trade between those countries.
The merchants of one of these caravans bought Joseph from his brothers for twenty pieces of silver, that is about 2/. r rs. 8d. sterling or thirteen dollars, and carried him into Egypt. The south ern Arabs were eminent traders, and enjoyed a large proportion, and often the monopoly, of the trade between India and the western world.
(5) Egyptian Manufactures. At the period when Joseph's brethren visited Egypt, inns were established for the accommodation of travelers in that country and in the northern parts of Arabia. The more civilized southern parts of the penin sula would no doubt be furnished with caravan saries still more commodious.
During the residence of the Israelites in Egypt manufactures of almost every description were carried to great perfection. Flax, fine linen, gar ments of cotton, rings and jewels of gold and silver, works in all kinds of materials, chariots for pleasure, and chariots for war, are all mentioned by Moses. They had extensive manufactories of bricks.
(6) Foreign Colonies. The expulsion of the Canaanites from a great part of their territories by the Israelites under Joshua, led to the gradual establishment of colonies in Cyprus, Rhodes, and several islands in the yEgean Sea; they pene trated into the Euxine or Black Sea, and, spread ing along the shores of Sicily, Sardinia, Gaul, Spain, and Africa. established numerous trading places. which gradually rose into more or less im portance. At this period mention is first made of Tyre as a strong or fortified city, whilst Sidon is dignified with the title of Great.
(7) Reigns of David and Solomon. During the reign of David. king of Israel, that powerful monarch disposed of a part of the wealth obtained by his conquests in purchasing cedar-timber from Hiram, king of Tyre, with whom he kept up a friendly correspondence while he lived. He also hired Tyrian masons and carpenters for carrying on his works. Solomon. the son of David, culti vated the arts of peace, and indulged his taste for magnificence and luxury to a great extent. He employed the wealth collected by his father in works of architecture, and in strengthening and improving his kingdom. He built the famous Temple and fortifications of Jerusalem, and many cities, among which was the celebrated Tadmor or Palmyra. From the king of Tyre he obtained cedar and fir, or cypress-timbers, and large stones cut and prepared for building, which the Tyrians conveyed by water to the most convenient land ing-place in Solomon's dominions.