Changes

Instructor, Andy Schlafly

<br>Instructor, Andy Schlafly

==Introduction to the Course==

<br>I. Introduction to the Course

 

“World history” is the history of mankind.  Nothing is off-limits.  Every source is available to us, from the Bible to rock music.  Everything mankind has ever written, invented, observed, and destroyed is part of “World history.”

“World history” is the history of mankind.  Nothing is off-limits.  Every source is available to us, from the Bible to rock music.  Everything mankind has ever written, invented, observed, and destroyed is part of “World history.”

Finally, let me add a few words about terminology.  “B.C” means “Before (the birth of) Christ” and “A.D.” means Anno Domini (Latin for “in the year of our Lord”) or simply “After (the birth of) Christ.”  The “1st century B.C.” means the 1st century before Christ, counting backwards, which are the years 1-100 B.C.  The “5th century B.C.” is thus 401-500 B.C.  Don’t make the mistake of thinking that the 5th century B.C. is the 500s B.C.!  Likewise, the 20th century (A.D.) was the years A.D. 1901-2000.  Because A.D. means “in the year of our Lord,” the proper terminology is to put the date after the A.D., as in A.D. 2006.  But school textbooks rarely use “B.C.” and “A.D.” correctly anymore, instead replacing them with an anti-Christian “BCE” for “Before the Common Era” and “CE” for “Common Era.”  In other words, BCE = B.C. and CE = A.D.

Finally, let me add a few words about terminology.  “B.C” means “Before (the birth of) Christ” and “A.D.” means Anno Domini (Latin for “in the year of our Lord”) or simply “After (the birth of) Christ.”  The “1st century B.C.” means the 1st century before Christ, counting backwards, which are the years 1-100 B.C.  The “5th century B.C.” is thus 401-500 B.C.  Don’t make the mistake of thinking that the 5th century B.C. is the 500s B.C.!  Likewise, the 20th century (A.D.) was the years A.D. 1901-2000.  Because A.D. means “in the year of our Lord,” the proper terminology is to put the date after the A.D., as in A.D. 2006.  But school textbooks rarely use “B.C.” and “A.D.” correctly anymore, instead replacing them with an anti-Christian “BCE” for “Before the Common Era” and “CE” for “Common Era.”  In other words, BCE = B.C. and CE = A.D.

'''II. Introduction to Ancient History'''

===Introduction to Ancient History===

Ancient history, which is everything before about A.D. 600, created or discovered all the major religions today except Islam.  Ancient history created civilization and achieved many of the greatest intellectual breakthroughs of all time.  Literature, drama, mathematics, philosophy, language, etc., were all created in ancient history.

Ancient history, which is everything before about A.D. 600, created or discovered all the major religions today except Islam.  Ancient history created civilization and achieved many of the greatest intellectual breakthroughs of all time.  Literature, drama, mathematics, philosophy, language, etc., were all created in ancient history.

The ancient world is the source of the most basic aspects of life, such as the seven-day week and marriage.  The Bible remains the best explanation for both, and many other aspects of the ancient world.  All four civilizations discussed in this lecture arose in or near what we now call the “Middle East.”

The ancient world is the source of the most basic aspects of life, such as the seven-day week and marriage.  The Bible remains the best explanation for both, and many other aspects of the ancient world.  All four civilizations discussed in this lecture arose in or near what we now call the “Middle East.”

'''III. Mesopotamia'''

==Mesopotamia==

So where did civilization begin?  In a region known as Mesopotamia, which is Greek for “land between the rivers.”  The “rivers” are the Tigris and Euphrates, located in Western Asia.  Where, exactly?  Basically, in fertile areas of Iraq northeast of the desert, known as part of the “Fertile Crescent” that extends along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea (including modern Israel, Lebanon and Syria) and the fertile valleys of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers that run southeast into the Persian Gulf.  These rivers deposited silt in the surrounding land, creating rich alluvial soil.  Today the Tigris and Euphrates rivers are not far from the location of our soldiers in Iraq.  However, our soldiers are mostly pictured in sandy areas, while the ancient people would have stayed close to the water.  Moreover, ancient floods would have changed the landscape over time.

So where did civilization begin?  In a region known as Mesopotamia, which is Greek for “land between the rivers.”  The “rivers” are the Tigris and Euphrates, located in Western Asia.  Where, exactly?  Basically, in fertile areas of Iraq northeast of the desert, known as part of the “Fertile Crescent” that extends along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea (including modern Israel, Lebanon and Syria) and the fertile valleys of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers that run southeast into the Persian Gulf.  These rivers deposited silt in the surrounding land, creating rich alluvial soil.  Today the Tigris and Euphrates rivers are not far from the location of our soldiers in Iraq.  However, our soldiers are mostly pictured in sandy areas, while the ancient people would have stayed close to the water.  Moreover, ancient floods would have changed the landscape over time.

Inventions:  We can thank Mesopotamia (probably Ur) for inventing the wheel in about 3500 B.C., which is the single greatest invention of all time.  It is used for much more than transportation.  The wheel is essential to manufacturing and even pre-digital watches.  No American civilization had the wheel until the Europeans brought it to them.

Inventions:  We can thank Mesopotamia (probably Ur) for inventing the wheel in about 3500 B.C., which is the single greatest invention of all time.  It is used for much more than transportation.  The wheel is essential to manufacturing and even pre-digital watches.  No American civilization had the wheel until the Europeans brought it to them.

'''IV. Babylon'''

==Babylon==

Babylonia was a relatively late achiever in the Mesopotamian world, occupying southern Mesopotamia where Sumer was.  Babylonia apparently did not exist before about 2300 B.C.  Babylon was its main city, located about 55 miles south of Baghdad today in Iraq.  It is now in ruins but thousands of years ago was a thriving city known for its “Hanging Gardens of Babylon,” which were one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.  Babylon was known as a city devoted to materialism and personal pleasure.  As an example of usage, the English author G.K. Chesterton once wrote, “the Babylonian halls of the big hotel.”

Babylonia was a relatively late achiever in the Mesopotamian world, occupying southern Mesopotamia where Sumer was.  Babylonia apparently did not exist before about 2300 B.C.  Babylon was its main city, located about 55 miles south of Baghdad today in Iraq.  It is now in ruins but thousands of years ago was a thriving city known for its “Hanging Gardens of Babylon,” which were one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.  Babylon was known as a city devoted to materialism and personal pleasure.  As an example of usage, the English author G.K. Chesterton once wrote, “the Babylonian halls of the big hotel.”

Much of the Bible, Old and New Testaments, is written with references to Babylon.  The main reason is that Babylon rose to enormous power and captured the Hebrews, and held them in captivity.  This is known as the Babylonian Exile or Babylonian Captivity.

Much of the Bible, Old and New Testaments, is written with references to Babylon.  The main reason is that Babylon rose to enormous power and captured the Hebrews, and held them in captivity.  This is known as the Babylonian Exile or Babylonian Captivity.

'''V. Israel'''

==Israel==

While the Kassites were in control of Babylon, the oldest formed religion still active in the world began: Judaism.  Descendents of Abraham, who lived in Ur around 2000 B.C., the Hebrews migrated away from Ur in Mesopotamia to Palestine, where they resided in about 1500 B.C.  But they migrated over to Egypt to escape a bad famine.  There they generally served as slaves for over 400 years, though they undoubtedly contributed greatly to the intellectual progress of the Egyptian culture.  As described in Exodus, Moses (who had been adopted by a royal family there) ultimately led 600,000 Hebrews out of Egypt around 1250 B.C.  Egyptian historians refer to slaves and captives called “Hapiru”, but it is debated whether these were the Hebrews.  Regardless, the Bible contains many verified references to the Egyptian pharaohs demonstrating that the Jewish ancestors were in Egypt.  The Hebrew escape from Egypt is called the “Exodus”, and is described by that book in the Old Testament.  During the passage, Moses received the Ten Commandments from God on Mount Sinai. (In Manhattan today there is a famous medical school on the upper East Side named “Mount Sinai.”)  Moses is also credited as the author of the first five books of the Bible (the “Pentateuch” or, in parchment scroll in the Jewish liturgy, the “Torah”).

While the Kassites were in control of Babylon, the oldest formed religion still active in the world began: Judaism.  Descendents of Abraham, who lived in Ur around 2000 B.C., the Hebrews migrated away from Ur in Mesopotamia to Palestine, where they resided in about 1500 B.C.  But they migrated over to Egypt to escape a bad famine.  There they generally served as slaves for over 400 years, though they undoubtedly contributed greatly to the intellectual progress of the Egyptian culture.  As described in Exodus, Moses (who had been adopted by a royal family there) ultimately led 600,000 Hebrews out of Egypt around 1250 B.C.  Egyptian historians refer to slaves and captives called “Hapiru”, but it is debated whether these were the Hebrews.  Regardless, the Bible contains many verified references to the Egyptian pharaohs demonstrating that the Jewish ancestors were in Egypt.  The Hebrew escape from Egypt is called the “Exodus”, and is described by that book in the Old Testament.  During the passage, Moses received the Ten Commandments from God on Mount Sinai. (In Manhattan today there is a famous medical school on the upper East Side named “Mount Sinai.”)  Moses is also credited as the author of the first five books of the Bible (the “Pentateuch” or, in parchment scroll in the Jewish liturgy, the “Torah”).

To what do we owe the ancient Hebrews?  The concept of monotheism: one and only one God.  The Hebrews established the covenant of loyalty between God and his chosen ones.  Part of the covenant was the promise of a future Messiah to save the people from their sins, and it is debated whether the Messiah was supposed to establish a kingdom on earth.  Later some Jewish people accepted Jesus as the Messiah, while some did not.  The moral code by which the Hebrew people promised to live was set forth in the Ten Commandments, which were carved in stone and kept in the sacred Ark of the Covenant as described repeatedly in the Bible (see, e.g., Exodus 25:9-10).  Highly specific requirements of daily life are also set forth in the Torah (the Pentateuch, or first five books of the Old Testament).  The authorities on Jewish law are known as “rabbis”, but there is no single highest human authority like a pope.  Next to the Bible, the next most authoritative Jewish work is the Talmud, which is a collection of writings by rabbis.

To what do we owe the ancient Hebrews?  The concept of monotheism: one and only one God.  The Hebrews established the covenant of loyalty between God and his chosen ones.  Part of the covenant was the promise of a future Messiah to save the people from their sins, and it is debated whether the Messiah was supposed to establish a kingdom on earth.  Later some Jewish people accepted Jesus as the Messiah, while some did not.  The moral code by which the Hebrew people promised to live was set forth in the Ten Commandments, which were carved in stone and kept in the sacred Ark of the Covenant as described repeatedly in the Bible (see, e.g., Exodus 25:9-10).  Highly specific requirements of daily life are also set forth in the Torah (the Pentateuch, or first five books of the Old Testament).  The authorities on Jewish law are known as “rabbis”, but there is no single highest human authority like a pope.  Next to the Bible, the next most authoritative Jewish work is the Talmud, which is a collection of writings by rabbis.

'''VI. Egypt'''

==Egypt==

Ancient Egypt was a tremendous civilization located in the fertile Nile Valley.  Ancient Egypt existed from about 3000 B.C. up until Alexander the Great conquered it in 332 B.C.  The Nile is the greatest river in the world, and is unique in flowing south-to-north, emptying into the Mediterranean Sea.  It floods with great regularity each year (unlike the Tigris and Euphrates rivers), providing plentiful water for farming.  Situated in a desert, Egypt developed irrigation techniques that led it to be called an “hydraulic empire.”

Ancient Egypt was a tremendous civilization located in the fertile Nile Valley.  Ancient Egypt existed from about 3000 B.C. up until Alexander the Great conquered it in 332 B.C.  The Nile is the greatest river in the world, and is unique in flowing south-to-north, emptying into the Mediterranean Sea.  It floods with great regularity each year (unlike the Tigris and Euphrates rivers), providing plentiful water for farming.  Situated in a desert, Egypt developed irrigation techniques that led it to be called an “hydraulic empire.”