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Genesis Chapter 10 places the roots of modern mankind in Noah and his three sons: Shem, Ham and Japheth.  The term "Semitic" means "pertaining to the descendants of Shem," and includes Assyrians, Chaldeans, Aramaeans, Sabaeans, and Hebrews (now known as Jews).  Semitic languages include Hebrew, Aramaic and Arabic.  Semitic religions include Judaism, Christianity and Islam.  One of Noah's descendants was Abram, who later changed his name to Abraham to reflect his covenant with God.

Genesis Chapter 10 places the roots of modern mankind in Noah and his three sons: Shem, Ham and Japheth.  The term "Semitic" means "pertaining to the descendants of Shem," and includes Assyrians, Chaldeans, Aramaeans, Sabaeans, and Hebrews (now known as Jews).  Semitic languages include Hebrew, Aramaic and Arabic.  Semitic religions include Judaism, Christianity and Islam.  One of Noah's descendants was Abram, who later changed his name to Abraham to reflect his covenant with God.

Both the Bible and many independent sources describe a Great Flood (or "Deluge"), which historians date at about 3300 or 3000 B.C.  Very little of any history, including writings and civilization, has survived from before that time.  The biblical account of the Flood is at Genesis 5-8, describing an ark having reasonable dimensions similar to modern ocean steamships.  A non-biblical Sumerian (from Sumer in Mesopotamia) account of the Flood was found in the last hundred years, and that account was apparently written about 1600 B.C.  Even better, a cuneiform tablet from Babylon was found dating from 3000 B.C., which also described a massive flood in great detail.  There are many other ancient accounts of a massive flood found in most other cultures around the world.  Fossils and limestone (the result of ocean sediment) are found today on mountaintops and land worldwide at all altitudes.  Independent accounts of a great flood can be found in ancient works of China, India, Britain (Druid) and American Indians, all having striking similar details.<ref>See, e.g., http://www.searchgodsword.org/enc/isb/view.cgi?number=T2631</ref>  Recently two scientists at Columbia University published a widely praised book, entitled "Noah's Flood," which proved that the Flood did occur.  This book concludes that the biblical Flood "is surely a true story of the permanent destruction of a land and its people ...."<ref>Ryan & Pitman, "Noah's Flood," (Simon & Schuster, NY: 1998), p. 251.</ref>  Yet no public school textbook ever mentions a massive flood.

Both the Bible and many independent sources describe a Great Flood (or "Deluge"), which historians date at about 3300 or 3000 B.C.  Very little of any history, including writings and civilization, has survived from before that time.  The biblical account of the Flood is at Genesis 5-8, describing an ark having reasonable dimensions similar to modern ocean steamships.  A non-biblical Sumerian (from Sumer in Mesopotamia) account of the Flood was found in the last hundred years, and that account was apparently written about 1600 B.C.  Even better, a cuneiform tablet from Babylon was found dating from 3000 B.C., which also described a massive flood in great detail.  There are many other ancient accounts of a massive flood found in most other cultures around the world.  Fossils and limestone (the result of ocean sediment) are found today on mountaintops and land worldwide at all altitudes.  Independent accounts of a great flood can be found in ancient works of China, India, Britain (Druid) and American Indians, all having striking similar details.<ref>See, e.g., http://www.searchgodsword.org/enc/isb/view.cgi?number=T2631</ref>  Recently two scientists at Columbia University published a widely praised book, entitled "Noah's Flood," which proved that the Flood did occur.  This book concludes that the biblical Flood "is surely a true story of the permanent destruction of a land and its people ...."<ref>Ryan & Pitman, "Noah's Flood" (Simon & Schuster, NY: 1998), p. 251.</ref>  Yet no public school textbook ever mentions a massive flood.

Civilization prospered in Sumeria, and wars soon broke out.  The northwest (Akkad) was constantly fighting the southeast (Sumer), and eventually an Akkadian warrior named Sargon conquered Mesopotamia.  Sargon was the first person in recorded history to create an empire or multi-ethnic state, from 2334 to 2279 B.C.  His empire included the region of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, and also part of what is Turkey today.  The capital of his empire was Agade in Akkad.  But like many military rulers, his empire collapsed when he died.  He did not have a civil (non-military) form of government to pay his soldiers and sustain his empire.  Instead, he could only survive as long his soldiers continued to capture and loot.  Once the empire stopped expanding upon his death, it collapsed.  At the time, the city of Ur in Sumer was the leading city.

Civilization prospered in Sumeria, and wars soon broke out.  The northwest (Akkad) was constantly fighting the southeast (Sumer), and eventually an Akkadian warrior named Sargon conquered Mesopotamia.  Sargon was the first person in recorded history to create an empire or multi-ethnic state, from 2334 to 2279 B.C.  His empire included the region of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, and also part of what is Turkey today.  The capital of his empire was Agade in Akkad.  But like many military rulers, his empire collapsed when he died.  He did not have a civil (non-military) form of government to pay his soldiers and sustain his empire.  Instead, he could only survive as long his soldiers continued to capture and loot.  Once the empire stopped expanding upon his death, it collapsed.  At the time, the city of Ur in Sumer was the leading city.

'''Debate:  Which matters more in making a society successful: its laws or its language?'''

'''Debate:  Which matters more in making a society successful: its laws or its language?'''

Chaos resulted when Hammurabi died, a common result after the passing away of a powerful ruler.  The Hittites (HIT-eyets) were Indo-Europeans who migrated into Anatolia (now Turkey).  The Hittites were famous for bringing iron smelting to many other groups, and using the superior iron weapons and tools.  They attacked and weakened the Babylonian empire, ultimately defeating it in 1600 B.C.  The Kassites, led by king Agumkakrine, then took advantage of situation and grabbed power.  But they continued to honor the Code of Hammurabi during their 400 year rule of the territory.

Chaos resulted when Hammurabi died, a common result after the passing away of a powerful ruler.  The Hittites (HIT-eyets) were Indo-Europeans who migrated into Anatolia (now Turkey).  The Hittites were famous for bringing iron smelting to many other groups, and using the superior iron weapons and tools.  They attacked and weakened the Babylonian empire, ultimately defeating it in 1600 B.C.  The Kassites, led by King Agumkakrine, then took advantage of situation and grabbed power.  But they continued to honor the Code of Hammurabi during their 400 year rule of the territory.

In 1124 B.C. the first Nebuchadnezzar rose to power over the Babylonian empire.  He moved its capital to Babylon, then the world's largest city.  Its spanned 10,000 hectares, which is slightly larger than San Francisco today.

In 1124 B.C. the first Nebuchadnezzar rose to power over the Babylonian empire.  He moved its capital to Babylon, then the world's largest city.  Its spanned 10,000 hectares, which is slightly larger than San Francisco today.

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After leaving Egypt, the Hebrews settled back in the hills of Palestine or Canaan along eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, approximately where Israel is today.  They quickly developed a productive society despite the barrenness of the land.  They implemented a system of private property, which much sharing within the family structure.  Before long, they became targets for their less sophisticated and pagan neighbors.  Worst among these were the Philistines, who had iron weapons and good organization.  The Hebrews, in contrast, were loosely affiliated and unprepared to defend against outside invasions.  The Bible recounts many of these struggles with the Philistines, which God used to punish the Hebrews for disobedience and bring them back to him.   

After leaving Egypt, the Hebrews settled back in the hills of Palestine or Canaan along eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, approximately where Israel is today.  They quickly developed a productive society despite the barrenness of the land.  They implemented a system of private property, which much sharing within the family structure.  Before long, they became targets for their primitive, pagan neighbors.  Worst among these were the Philistines, who had iron weapons and good organization.  The Hebrews, in contrast, were loosely affiliated and unprepared to defend against outside invasions.  The Bible recounts many of these struggles with the Philistines, which God used to punish the Hebrews for disobedience and bring them back to Him.   

Inevitably a Hebrew warrior, Saul, took power around 1000 B.C. and defeated the Philistines and Canaanites.  The priest Samuel anointed Saul king, but many Hebrews declined to obey him.  David, a shrewd fighter who had trained as a mercenary with the Philistines, became famous as a teenager for defeating the Philistine giant Goliath as described in the Bible.  David then built an empire for Israel that extended from Damascus, then a thriving city in the Fertile Crescent, all the way south past what is now the Gaza Strip.  For its capital he built a hill city called Jerusalem, and encapsulated it within a wall.  II Samuel 9-20 describes this period.

Inevitably a Hebrew warrior, Saul, took power around 1000 B.C. and defeated the Philistines and Canaanites.  The priest Samuel anointed Saul as King, but many Hebrews declined to obey him.  David, a shrewd fighter who had trained as a mercenary with the Philistines, became famous as a teenager for defeating the Philistine giant Goliath as described in the Bible.  David then built an empire for Israel that extended from Damascus, then a thriving city in the Fertile Crescent, all the way south past what is now the Gaza Strip.  For its capital he built a hill city called Jerusalem, and encapsulated it within a wall.  II Samuel 9-20 describes this period.

David's son was Solomon, who ruled for forty years (965-925 B.C.) and constructed the great temple of Jerusalem.  He was known for his wisdom and justice.  He created two states: Israel in the north, with a capital at Samaria, and Judah in the south, with a capital at Jerusalem.  But Solomon also taxed the Hebrews heavily and, after he died, the empire fell into decline.  The Kingdom of Israel split after the death of Solomon.  I Kings 12.

David's son was Solomon, who ruled for forty years (965-925 B.C.) and constructed the great temple of Jerusalem.  He was known for his wisdom and justice.  He created two states: Israel in the north, with a capital at Samaria, and Judah in the south, with a capital at Jerusalem.  But Solomon also taxed the Hebrews heavily and, after he died, the empire fell into decline.  The Kingdom of Israel split after the death of Solomon.  I Kings 12.