Changes

[[World History Lecture One|1]]-[[World History Lecture Two|2]]-[[World History Lecture Three|3]]-[[World History Lecture Four|4]]-[[World History Lecture Five|5]]-[[World History Lecture Six|6]]-[[World History Lecture Seven|7]]-[[World History Lecture Eight|8]]-[[World History Lecture Nine|9]]-[[World History Lecture Ten|10]]-[[World History Lecture Eleven|11]]-[[World History Lecture Twelve|12]]-[[World History Lecture Thirteen|13]]-[[World History Lecture Fourteen|14]]

[[World History Lecture One|1]]-[[World History Lecture Two|2]]-[[World History Lecture Three|3]]-[[World History Lecture Four|4]]-[[World History Lecture Five|5]]-[[World History Lecture Six|6]]-[[World History Lecture Seven|7]]-[[World History Lecture Eight|8]]-[[World History Lecture Nine|9]]-[[World History Lecture Ten|10]]-[[World History Lecture Eleven|11]]-[[World History Lecture Twelve|12]]-[[World History Lecture Thirteen|13]]-[[World History Lecture Fourteen|14]]

Last week we addressed the major early ancient cultures: Mesopotamia and Egypt.  This week it becomes even more interesting as we begin to address the "classical" period of World history: 1000 B.C. to A.D. 500.   

Last week we addressed the major early ancient cultures: Mesopotamia and Egypt.  This week it becomes even more interesting as we begin to address the "classical" period of World history: 1000 B.C. to A.D. 500.   

Linguistics, which means the study of language, is a fascinating aspect of World history.  A language is essential to the progress and survival of a society; the better the language, the most successful the society is likely to become.  Peoples who only had primitive languages were easily conquered by groups that had more powerful languages.  Language expresses and communicates ideas, and facilitates trade that brings wealth to a civilization.  Observe for yourself how difficult it is, if not impossible, to think about and remember an idea without a term to express it.  What term would one use, for example, to describe someone who promotes a belief system that encourages terrorism, yet does not engage in terrorism himself?  The lack of a good term for that person makes it difficult to criticism him.  Similarly, a person who is constantly spewing profanity is unlikely to be thinking anything better.  People are a product of the language they use, and a society is dependent on the intelligence of its language.

Linguistics, which means the study of language, is a fascinating aspect of World history.  A language is essential to the progress and survival of a society; the better the language, the most successful the society is likely to become.  Peoples who only had primitive languages were easily conquered by groups that had more powerful languages.  Language expresses and communicates ideas, and facilitates trade that brings wealth to a civilization.  Observe for yourself how difficult it is, if not impossible, to think about and remember an idea without a term to express it.  What term would one use, for example, to describe someone who promotes a belief system that encourages terrorism, yet does not engage in terrorism himself?  The lack of a good term for that person makes it difficult to criticism him.  Similarly, a person who is constantly spewing profanity is unlikely to be thinking anything better.  People are a product of the language they use, and a society is dependent on the intelligence of its language.

For example, the term “homeschooling” did not exist until about about 1980 (check your own dictionary and it should state when a word was first used).  Once the term was created, the homeschooling movement was able to grow far faster than when the term did not exist.  Without the term, how could one tell others how good something is?   

For example, the term "homeschooling" did not exist until about about 1980 (check your own dictionary and it should state when a word was first used).  Once the term was created, the homeschooling movement was able to grow far faster than when the term did not exist.  Without the term, how could one tell others how good it is?   

The term “politically correct” is another example of how language influences thinking.  Without the existence of the term, which did not arise until 1983, the concept it represents is very hard to express and remember.  It is much more difficult to criticize “political correctness” when there is a lack of a good term to use.

The term "politically correct" is another example of how language influences thinking.  Without the existence of the term, which did not arise until 1983, the concept it represents is very hard to express and remember.  It is much more difficult to criticize “political correctness” when there is a lack of a good term to use.

All languages develop based on common and basic aspects of life, such as language needed to describe food, animals, daily activities and commerce or trade (like the word “coin”).  But much more is needed in language in order to express ideas about what is not seen, such as religious concepts.  Christianity could not develop and spread without a language capable of communicating its concepts.  Had Christ come into this world in 2000 or 1000 B.C., was there have been a language powerful enough to express His ideas?  Maybe not.  Ancient Hebrew lacked vowels, and the non-Hebrew languages were primitive.   

All languages develop based on common and basic aspects of life, such as language needed to describe food, animals, daily activities and commerce or trade (like the word "coin").  But much more is needed in language in order to express ideas about what is not seen, such as religious concepts.  Christianity could not develop and spread without a language capable of communicating its concepts.  Had Christ come into this world in 2000 or 1000 B.C., was there have been a language powerful enough to express His ideas?  Maybe not.  Ancient Hebrew lacked vowels, and the non-Hebrew languages were primitive.   

Another example is the last utterance on the cross by Jesus, typically translated as “it is finished.”<ref>John 19:30 (King James Version).</ref>  But in the last century it was discovered that the actual Greek term was by John had this meaning in commerce in the 1st century: “paid in full.” So now some translate these final words by Christ “it is accomplished.” But even that may not fully capture the concept of redemption of the sin that existed.  Check your Bible to see how it translates John 19:30.

 

Another example is the last utterance on the cross by Jesus, typically translated as "it is finished."<ref>John 19:30 (King James Version).</ref>  But in the last century it was discovered that the actual Greek term was by John had this meaning in commerce in the 1st century: "paid in full." So now some translate these final words by Christ "it is accomplished." But even that may not fully capture the concept of redemption of the sin that existed.  Check your Bible to see how it translates John 19:30.

   

   

<>Recall that the language of Mesopotamia was cuneiform, based on wedge-like characters.  But in the 1000s B.C., and perhaps earlier, a marvelous new form of language developed among the traders on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, where Lebanon is today.  The Phoenicians lived there and established towns such as Byblos, a religious center after which the Bible is named because the town exported papyrus.  The Phoenicians had ports and sea-traders would pick up exports such as fine linen, cedar, pine wood, dyed cloth, wine, glass, salt, dried fish, and embroideries.  The Phoenicians traded with the Hebrews, who used the cedars of Lebanon to build Solomon’s temple.  Colonies of the Phoenicians included Tyre, Sidon and, along the coast of Northern Africa, Carthage.  Carthage later became powerful enough to compete with Rome.  The Assyrian empire, which was the world’s first real empire, invaded the Phoenicians in the 500s B.C., causing them to collapse.

Recall that the language of Mesopotamia was cuneiform, based on wedge-like characters.  Can you imagine it conveying the concept of "Holy Spirit" or "sin" or "redemption" or "faith"?  It was an inadequate language, far too primitive for the needs of Christianity.

 

But in the 1000s B.C., and perhaps earlier, a marvelous new form of language developed among the traders on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, where Lebanon is today.  The Phoenicians lived there and established towns such as Byblos, a religious center after which the Bible is named because the town exported papyrus.  The Phoenicians had ports and sea-traders would pick up exports such as fine linen, cedar, pine wood, dyed cloth, wine, glass, salt, dried fish, and embroideries.  The Phoenicians traded with the Hebrews, who used the cedars of Lebanon to build Solomon's temple.  Colonies of the Phoenicians included Tyre, Sidon and, along the coast of Northern Africa, Carthage.  Carthage later became powerful enough to compete with Rome.  The Assyrian empire, which was the world's first real empire, invaded the Phoenicians in the 500s B.C., causing them to collapse.

The new language developed by the Phoenicians to facilitate their trading was based on a new alphabet of 22 letters.  All Western alphabets, such as English and French and Italian and Greek and Latin, are based on this Phoenician alphabet.  This was one of the greatest advances in the history of mankind, perhaps as great as the invention of the wheel, because now language could begin to describe powerful concepts and abstract ideas.   This laid the foundation for the accomplishments of Ancient Greece, which in turn laid the foundation for the teaching and spread of Christianity.

The new language developed by the Phoenicians to facilitate their trading was based on a new alphabet of 22 letters.  All Western alphabets, such as English and French and Italian and Greek and Latin, were developed using this Phoenician alphabet.  This Phoenician alphabet was one of the greatest advances in the history of mankind, perhaps greater than the invention of the wheel, because now language could begin to describe powerful concepts and abstract ideas. This laid the foundation for the accomplishments of Ancient Greece, which in turn laid the foundation for the teaching and spread of Christianity.

'''Mystery:  What was the level of literacy in ancient civilizations?  Was it higher or lower than literacy today?'''

'''Mystery:  What was the level of literacy in ancient civilizations?  What percentage of people could read and write?  Was literacy higher or lower than literacy today?'''

== Ancient Greece ==

== Ancient Greece ==

=== Introduction ===

=== Introduction ===

Greece was the most significant ancient civilization, and perhaps the greatest of all time.  Intellectually, politically and militarily, ancient Greece had it all.  Their achievements are even more remarkable without the benefit of Christianity, which came hundreds of years later.  In many ways Greek culture laid the groundwork for Christianity to spread centuries later.  

Greece was the most significant ancient civilization, and perhaps the greatest of all time.  Intellectually, politically and militarily, ancient Greece had it all.  For example, it was ancient Greece that invented democracy, discovered mathematics and philosophy, and developed places of learning.  The achievements of ancient Greece are even more remarkable when we consider how they did it without the benefit of Christianity, which came hundreds of years later.  In many ways Greek culture laid the groundwork for Christianity to spread centuries later.  

There were two basic reasons for the Greek success: language and political structure.  The Greeks developed a complete alphabet that facilitated the expression of powerful ideas.  The Greeks also developed a democracy-based political structure that ensured self-government and freedom for its citizens, thereby enabling productive work to flourish.

There were two basic reasons for the Greek success: language and political structure.  The Greeks developed a complete alphabet that facilitated the expression of powerful ideas.  The Greeks also developed a democracy-based political structure that ensured self-government and freedom for its citizens, thereby enabling productive work to flourish.

In terms of timing, from 3000 to 1000 B.C. Greece was not as successful or influential as the other ancient cultures.  The Dorians, who were tribes speaking the Doric dialect of Greek, settled Greece between 1100 and 1000 B.C.  They had a military ruling class that oppressed the local people, and they retained this rule by an aristocracy in Sparta and Crete even after the Greeks established democracy in Athens.  The simplest form of Greek architecture, consisting of a straight column without any artistic trim at the top, was created by the Dorians and is known as the Doric order.

At first, from 3000 to 1000 B.C. Greece was not as successful or influential as the other ancient cultures.  At the end of that period the Dorians, who were tribes speaking the Doric dialect of Greek, settled Greece between 1100 and 1000 B.C.  They had a military ruling class that oppressed the local people, and they retained this rule by an aristocracy in Sparta and Crete even after the Greeks established democracy in Athens.  The simplest form of Greek architecture, consisting of a straight column without any artistic trim at the top, was created by the Dorians and is known as the "Doric order."

The beginning of the ancient or classical Greece was around 750 B.C., and its peak was 500-336 B.C. when Greece consisted of many small city-states, each comprised a city and surrounding countryside.

The beginning of the ancient or classical Greece was around 750 B.C., and its peak was 500-336 B.C. when Greece consisted of many small city-states, each comprising a city and surrounding countryside.

Why is ancient or classical Greece dated from about 750 B.C.?  After all, the Greeks probably migrated southward into the Greek peninsula as early as about 1600 B.C.  But from 1600 to 1100 B.C. was a period known as Mycenaean Greece, when progress was slow.  Then from 1100 to 800 B.C. were the dark ages, from which little survived.  The momentous event that heralded ancient or classical Greece was the first Olympic Games in 776 B.C.  This played a unifying role for the culture, being held every four years for nearly 1000 years.

Why is ancient or classical Greece dated from about 750 B.C.?  After all, the Greeks probably migrated southward into the Greek peninsula as early as about 1600 B.C.  But from 1600 to 1100 B.C. was a period known as Mycenaean Greece, when progress was slow.  Then from 1100 to 800 B.C. were the dark ages, from which little survived.  The momentous event that heralded ancient or classical Greece was the first Olympic Games in 776 B.C.  This played a unifying role for the culture, being held every four years for nearly 1000 years.