E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Golden Age.
The best age; as the golden age of innocence, the golden age of literature. Chronologers divide the time between Creation and the birth of Christ into ages; Hesiod describes five, and Lord Byron adds a sixth, “The Age of Bronze.” (See AGE, AUGUSTAN.)
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i. The Golden Age of Ancient Nations:
(1) NEW ASSYRIAN EMPIRE. From the reign of Esar-haddon or Assur Adon (Assyria’s prince), third son of Sennacherib, to the end of Sarac’s reign (B.C. 691–606).
(2) CHALDÆO - BABYLONIAN EMPIRE. From the reign of Nabopolassar or Nebopul-Assur (Nebo the great Assyrian) to that of Belshazzar or Bel-shah-Assur (Bel king-of Assyria) (B.C. 606–538).
(3) CHINA. The Tâng dynasty (626–684), and especially the reign of Taetsong (618–626).
(4) EGYPT. The reigns of Sethos I. and Ram’eses II. (B.C. 1336–1224).
(5) MEDIA. The reign of Cyax’ares or Kai-ax-Arës (the-king son-of “Mars”) (B.C. 634–594).
(6) PERSIA. The reigns of Khosru I., and II. (531–628).
ii. The Golden Age of Modern Nations.
(1) ENGLAND. The reign of Elizabeth (1558–1603).
(2) FRANCE. Part of the reigns of Louis XIV. and XV. (1640–1740).
(3) GERMANY. The reign of Charles V. (1519–1558).
(4) PORTUGAL. From John I. to the close of Sebastian’s reign (1383–1578). In 1580 the crown was seized by Felipe II. of Spain.
(5) PRUSSIA. The reign of Frederick the Great (1740–1786).
(6) RUSSIA. The reign of Czar Peter the Great (1672–1725).
(7) SPAIN. The reign of Ferdinand and Isabella, when the crowns of Castile and Aragon were united (1474–1516).
(8) SWEDEN. From Gustavus Vasa to the close of the reign of Gustavus Adolphus (1523–1632).
