Changes

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?   

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 was very hard to express and remember.  It is much more difficult to practice or criticize “political correctness” when there is a lack of a good term to denote this concept.

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 was 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 describe this concept.

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., would there have been a language powerful enough to express His ideas?  Probably not.  Ancient Hebrew lacked vowels, and non-Hebrew languages were relatively 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., would there have been a language powerful enough to express His ideas?  Probably not.  Ancient Hebrew lacked vowels, and non-Hebrew languages were relatively primitive.   

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.

At it beginning, 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".

At its beginning, 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 comprising 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.

Around 800 B.C., the Greeks formed their alphabet by borrowing from the Phoenician alphabet and adding vowels to it, and this sparked the progress and learning that we remember ancient Greece for.  The spread of this new alphabet provides written records pf Greek society, culture, and life which survive today.  Greece divided itself into many small self-governing communities because of Greek geography, which made travel and communication between areas difficult.  In Greece, every region is separated from its neighbors by water or mountain ranges.  Once again we see how geography shaped history: the terrain of ancient Greece led the people to create city-states.  (Earlier we saw how the geography of Egypt supported the rise and power of that civilization and prevented its boundaries from changing, even when it was conquered.)

Around 800 B.C., the Greeks formed their alphabet by borrowing from the Phoenician alphabet and adding vowels to it, and this sparked the progress and learning that we remember ancient Greece for.  The spread of this new alphabet provides written records pf Greek society, culture, and life which survive today.  Greece divided itself into many small self-governing communities because of Greek geography, which made travel and communication between areas difficult.  In Greece, every region is separated from its neighbors by water or mountain ranges.  Once again we see how geography shaped history: the terrain of ancient Greece led the people to create city-states.  (Earlier we saw how the geography of Egypt supported the rise and power of that civilization and prevented its boundaries from changing, even when it was conquered.)

Magnificent Greek literature began to appear almost as soon as the Phoenician alphabet became the standard.  Homer wrote the Iliad and the Odyssey in the 800s or 700s B.C., and they remain great works of literature to this day.  They describe adventures arising from the mythical "Trojan War" caused by the Greek gods, which included the famous gift of a "Trojan horse" to fool the enemy.  In our internet era, a "Trojan horse" is a program or download that looks helpful, but actually contains a harmful computer virus.  Greek mythology remains a powerful influence to this day, as the names for gods have inspired many common terms today, such as "Achilles heel," "Amazon", "atlas" and "titans".  Some would say that modern sports heroes, music starts, and media figures are appealing to the public in the same way as Greek mythological gods were so popular nearly 3000 years ago.

Magnificent Greek literature began to appear almost as soon as the Phoenician alphabet became the standard.  Homer wrote the Iliad and the Odyssey in the 800s or 700s B.C., and they remain great works of literature to this day.  They describe adventures arising from the mythical "Trojan War" caused by the Greek gods, which included the famous gift of a "Trojan horse" to fool the enemy.  In our internet era, a "Trojan horse" is a program or download that looks helpful, but actually contains a harmful computer virus.  Greek mythology remains a powerful influence to this day, as the names for gods have inspired many common terms today, such as "Achilles heel," "Amazon", "atlas" and "titans".  Some would say that modern sports heroes, music stars, and media figures are appealing to the public in the same way as Greek mythological gods were so popular nearly 3000 years ago.

Poetry developed.  Aesop's Fables were written in the 600s B.C., containing popular insights repeated to this day.  For example, the term "sour grapes" applies to someone who complains after he loses, based on Aesop's fable about the fox unable to reach grapes.  Aesop was smart enough to know that foxes are the only canines that like grapes.  All the Fables are now available for easy access online.<ref>http://aesopfables.com/</ref>

Poetry and fables developed.  Aesop's Fables were written in the 600s B.C., containing popular insights repeated to this day.  For example, the term "sour grapes" applies to someone who complains after he loses, based on Aesop's fable about the fox unable to reach grapes.  Aesop was smart enough to know that foxes are the only canines that like grapes.  All the Fables are now available for easy access online.<ref>http://aesopfables.com/</ref>

Perhaps the greatest of Aesop's Fables is "The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing," which conveys a message about the power of deceit:

One of Aesop's Fables is "The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing," which conveys a message about the harmful power of deceit:

{{cquote|A Wolf found great difficulty in getting at the sheep owing to the vigilance of the shepherd and his dogs.  But one day it found the skin of a sheep that had been flayed and thrown aside, so it put it on over its own pelt and strolled down among the sheep. The Lamb that belonged to the sheep, whose skin the Wolf was wearing, began to follow the Wolf in the Sheep's clothing; so, leading the Lamb a little apart, he soon made a meal off her, and for some time he succeeded in deceiving the sheep, and enjoying hearty meals.}}

{{cquote|A Wolf found great difficulty in getting at the sheep owing to the vigilance of the shepherd and his dogs.  But one day it found the skin of a sheep that had been flayed and thrown aside, so it put it on over its own pelt and strolled down among the sheep. The Lamb that belonged to the sheep, whose skin the Wolf was wearing, began to follow the Wolf in the Sheep's clothing; so, leading the Lamb a little apart, he soon made a meal off her, and for some time he succeeded in deceiving the sheep, and enjoying hearty meals.}}

As Gentiles learned insightful Aesop's Fables like the one above, Jewish and Christian warnings about the deceit of the devil were even easier to understand and accept.

As Greeks and other Gentiles learned insights from Aesop's Fables like the one above, Jewish and Christian warnings about the deceit of the devil became even easier to understand and accept.

The government of Athens in this early period was controlled by aristocrats who owned land.  They elected "archons", who were the government officials who made the law.  But in the 600s B.C., tyrants rose to power.  The tyrants were primarily rich upstarts who illegally took over the government by violent means and catered to the lower classes to maintain popularity.   

The government of Athens in this early period was controlled by aristocrats who owned land.  They elected "archons", who were the government officials who made the law.  But in the 600s B.C., tyrants rose to power.  The tyrants were primarily rich upstarts who illegally took over the government by violent means and catered to the lower classes to maintain popularity.   

Ultimately the Pisistratids lost power, and the world's first democracy was established in 500 B.C.  The powerful body became an assembly open to all (male) citizens.

Ultimately the Pisistratids lost power, and the world's first democracy was established in 500 B.C.  The powerful body became an assembly open to all (male) citizens.

The city-states were remarkable because they adopted a form of democracy that inspired our Constitution:  citizens elected representatives who would then make decisions for everyone.  But there was only a legislature in Athens, rather than the separation of powers that is unique to our Constitution.  Also, not all Greek males in Athens were citizens.  The city-state of Athens had 225,000 residents at its peak, but only 30% of the males were citizens.  Males born to families with large incomes became citizens.  Still, Athens is considered to have invented "democracy", and its residents felt an allegiance to the state because of this.

The city-states were remarkable because they adopted a form of democracy that inspired our Constitution:  citizens elected representatives who would then make decisions for everyone.  But there was only a legislature in Athens, rather than the separation of powers that is unique to our Constitution.  Also, not all Greek males in Athens were citizens.  The city-state of Athens had 225,000 residents at its peak, but only 30% of the males were citizens.  Males born to families with large incomes became citizens.  Still, Athens is considered to have invented "democracy", and its residents felt an allegiance to the state because of this. (The United States did ''not'' invent democracy, and does not have a direct democracy as Athens did; instead, the United States elects representatives who make decisions for the citizens.)

Athens also had a direct democracy:  every citizen (Athenian adult males) could propose laws and participate in their consideration and approval.  Nobles served as judges to interpret the law, but there was a right to appeal and citizens served as jurors for trials in court.

Athens had a direct democracy:  every citizen (Athenian adult males) could propose laws and participate in their consideration and approval.  Nobles served as judges to interpret the law, but there was a right to appeal and citizens served as jurors for trials in court.

Democratic Athens' main rival was the city-state of Sparta, which was not a democracy.  Instead, Sparta was a harsh military culture based on high military discipline.  Parents were forced to let their male children leave the house at age seven and receive training at a strict military camp — if the boys were lucky enough to make it to the age of seven, that is.  The Spartans had a cruel practice by which all male babies were examined by community leaders immediately after birth.  If the child appeared weak or deformed in any way, he was taken into a remote area and left to die from exposure or wild animals.  The Spartans did want any member of their military to be anything less than 100% fit.

Democratic Athens' main rival was the city-state of Sparta, which was not a democracy.  Instead, Sparta was a harsh military culture based on high military discipline.  Parents were forced to let their male children leave the house at age seven and receive training at a strict military camp — if the boys were lucky enough to make it to the age of seven, that is.  The Spartans had a cruel practice by which all male babies were examined by community leaders immediately after birth.  If the child appeared weak or deformed in any way, he was taken into a remote area and left to die from exposure or wild animals.  The Spartans did want any member of their military to be anything less than 100% fit.

Nothing unites two rivals as well as a common enemy.  In the 400s B.C. Athens and Sparta had a common enemy:  the Persian empire, located where Iran is today.

Nothing unites two rivals as well as a common enemy.  In the 400s B.C. Athens and Sparta had a common enemy:  the Persian empire, located where Iran is today.

In 530 B.C., the Persian empire formed under a powerful ruler named Cyrus, who established the Achaemenid dynasty.  He conquered the Medes and established trade routes to India and the Mediterranean.  In 525 B.C., Cyrus’s son Cambyses expanded the empire further to Egypt and parts of Arabia.  He established loyal governors in distant lands known as “satraps”, who were carefully watched by the King’s Eyes and Ears to prevent any rebellions.  The distant lands sent taxes and soldiers to the king; in return the king protected them and allowed local customs and traditions to continue (most other empires harshly suppressed local customs).  The Persian empire founded their own religion called Zoroastrainaism, which described life as a struggle between good and evil in the expectation that good would ultimately prevail.  Its sacred text was called “Avesta”.

In 530 B.C., the Persian empire formed under a powerful ruler named Cyrus, who established the Achaemenid dynasty.  He conquered the Medes and established trade routes to India and the Mediterranean.  In 525 B.C., Cyrus's son Cambyses expanded the empire further to Egypt and parts of Arabia.  He established loyal governors in distant lands known as "satraps", who were carefully watched by a special force called the "King's Eyes and Ears" to prevent any rebellions.  The distant lands sent taxes and soldiers to the king; in return the king protected them and allowed local customs and traditions to continue (most other empires harshly suppressed local customs).  The Persian empire founded their own religion called Zoroastrainaism, which described life as a struggle between good and evil in the expectation that good would ultimately prevail.  Its sacred text was called "Avesta".

The greatest Persian ruler was Darius I, who was in power for nearly 40 years (521-486 B.C.).  He expanded his empire to the coast of North Africa and Macedonia, and established a capital at Persepolis.  He introduced a currency (coins) for trade, imposed a common calendar, and built the 1,600 mile Royal Road across the Middle East.  Mail was carried by couriers on the Royal Road, and it was a Greek historian (not the U.S. Postal Service) who described the couriers like this:  “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stop these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.”

The greatest Persian ruler was Darius I, who was in power for nearly 40 years (521-486 B.C.).  He expanded his empire to the coast of North Africa and Macedonia, and established a capital at Persepolis.  He introduced a currency (coins) for trade, imposed a common calendar, and built the 1,600 mile Royal Road across the Middle East.  Mail was carried by couriers on the Royal Road, and it was a Greek historian (not the U.S. Postal Service) who described the couriers like this:  "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stop these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds."

Persian King Cyrus conquered the Ionian Greek city-states on the western shore of Asia Minor in 546 B.C., but in 499 B.C. Athens encouraged support for a revolution against the Persian empire, coming to the aid of the Ionian city-states when they revolted against their Persian masters.  Other Greek city-states also helped the Ionian city-states.  

Persian King Cyrus conquered the Ionian Greek city-states on the western shore of Asia Minor in 546 B.C., but in 499 B.C. Athens encouraged support for a revolution against the Persian empire, coming to the aid of the Ionian city-states when they revolted against their Persian masters.  Other Greek city-states also helped the Ionian city-states.