Bible Timeline Chart – Page 13 – Amazing Bible Timeline with World History

Posted on February 11, 2013August 20, 2015 by Margaret Hunter — Leave a comment

Cleopatra Biography

Cleopatra is one of the most famous Egyptian Pharaoh’s in history. She is considered to be the last ruler of ancient Egypt. She was born in Alexandria, Egypt in 69 B.C. (which is where she appears on the Bible Timeline Chart with World History.) She was the daughter of Ptolemy XII Auletes. The Ptolemy Dynasty was founded in Egypt by one of Alexander the Greats generals over three centuries earlier. Before she ruled Egypt as a sole monarch she was a co-regent with her father and two brothers. As a matter of fact Cleopatra had to marry her brothers in order to maintain her status as queen. Cleopatra used the aid of the Roman rulers to gain complete control of Egypt and she did this by having an affair with Julius Caesar and then with Mark Antony.

Cleopatra Gains Power
During his reign, Ptolemy XII went to Rome with Cleopatra in order to get assistance with keeping his empire intact. When he left a female usurper tried to take the throne but was quickly disposed of by Ptolemy XII once he returned with Roman help. After this event, Cleopatra became a co-ruler of Egypt with her father Ptolemy XII. She was 14 at the time. Eventually, Ptolemy XII had died and his 10 year old son Ptolemy XIII was married to Cleopatra. She didn’t want to share power with him. She quickly eliminated his image and name from official documents and usurped his authority. She tried to consolidate power all throughout the kingdom but she started to make enemies.

Cleopatra_Last_Ruler_of_Ancient_Egypt — Cleopatra

Cleopatra Loses her Throne
Cleopatra was power hungry and she ended up clashing with the Roman troops (Gabiniani) who were left behind to assist Ptolemy XII when he was alive. The Gabiniani killed the sons of the Roman governor of Syria, Marcus Calpurnius Biblulus when they arrived in Egypt for aid against their enemies. Cleopatra turned the guilty Gabiniani assassins over to the Bibulus and once she did the remaining Gabiniani became her sworn enemies. The Gabiniani and some of her court members rebelled against her rule and finally forced to the queen leave the throne in 48 B.C. This is when Ptolemy XIII became the sole ruler. Cleopatra tried to start a rebellion but it failed and she had to leave Egypt with her sister Arsinoe.

Cleopatra Seduces Caesar
An important event had taken place when Cleopatra was ousted from the throne. Julius Caesar and his son in law General Pompey (Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus) were fighting for control of Rome. Pompey had escaped to Egypt during this conflict because he was on the run from Caesar. Once he arrived in Egypt he was assassinated by one of his officers and Ptolemy XIII watched this event as it unfolded. He then took Pompey’s head and presented it to Caesar once he arrived in Alexandria. When Caesar realized what had happened he was outraged and decided to seize Alexandria for himself. He then set himself up as the arbiter between the claims of Ptolemy and Cleopatra.

Cleopatra decided to use this situation to her advantage and used her feminine charms to seduce Caesar. About nine months later she bore him a son named Ptolemy Caesar. Julius Caesar was going to annex or take Egypt for Rome, but he decided to champion the cause of Cleopatra. He then defeated Ptolemy’s army and restored Cleopatra to the throne. Ptolemy XIII drowned in the Nile during this battle and Ptolemy XIV was the new co-ruler with Cleopatra.

The Last Days of Cleopatra’s Reign
Ptolemy XIV had died from poisoning in 44 B.C. and Cleopatra now ruled throne with her son. She even wanted to make Caesarion an heir to Rome but Caesar refused her offer. Caesar had been assassinated shortly before Ptolemy XIV was poisoned. Cleopatra managed to rule Egypt up until 30 B.C. the year of her death. Cleopatra had to constantly maintain her alliances with Rome in order to keep her power especially after Caesar had passed away. Before she had died the Egyptian kingdom was defeated at Alexandria by Octavian and the Romans killed off Caesarion. The rest of her Cleopatra’s children with Mark Antony were taken back to Rome and Egypt was officially a Roman territory.

References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleopatra
http://penelope.uchicago.edu/~grout/encyclopaedia_romana/miscellanea/cleopatra/egypt.html
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Queen_Cleopatra.jpg

Posted on February 8, 2013August 20, 2015 by Margaret Hunter — Leave a comment

Cicero Birth Life and Death 106 BC to 43 BC

Cicero is considered one of the greatest orators, politicians and philosophers in all of the history of the world. He was born in 106 B.C. and is known for his famous speeches which helped to shape the era of the late Roman Republic and the emerging empire. He appears on the Bible Timeline Chart with World History from 106 to 43 BC.

The Early Life of Cicero

Marcus Tullius Cicero was also a consul and lawyer. He was born to a wealthy family in Arpinum which was located outside of the southeast part of Rome. He father was a chickpea producer and this trade is what amassed the Cicero’s fortunes. His father also liked to study a lot since he was not able to participate in Roman politics because of his heritage.

Cicero_Orator_Politician_Philospher — Bust of Cicero, Musei Capitolini, Rome, Half of 1st century AD

Bust of Cicero, Musei Capitolini, Rome, Half of 1st century AD

Cicero emulated his father’s love of learning and it helped him to become an outstanding student. He translated Greek philosophies into Latin for the Romans at an early age. He was such a good pupil that the aristocratic society all over Rome began to hear about him. He had a brief military experience during the Social War in 90 B.C. but he did not care for being a soldier. By 83 B.C., he began his career as a lawyer which was an important event in the early part of his life.

His First Public Appearance as an Orator and Politician

His first case was to defend a man who committed patricide against his father. When he took this case it put him into the position to be killed by Lucius Sulla who was dictator of Rome at the time. Sextus Roscius was accused of the crime, but Cicero accused Chrysogonus a military man who was a favorite of Sulla. Cicero managed to get Sextus Roscius acquitted, but he did so by challenging Sulla’s power. After winning the case, he immediately left to tour Greece, Asia Minor, and Rhodes to avoid Sulla.

While he was in Greece he developed his oratory style and skills and he started to gain fame for his work. He eventually returned to Rome around 75 B.C. but he chose to settle in Sicily instead of Rome. He became a public official who took on cases in the area. Eventually, his reputation began to grow as a great speaker and attorney. His skills as an orator became legendary during this period in his life. His skills as an orator assisted him greatly through various parts of the Roman government until finally he became consul around 63 B.C.

Cicero becomes Consul

Once he became consul he had to put down a conspiracy formed by Lucius Sergius Catilina who wanted to assassinate him and to destroy the Republic. He forced this senator, his family and his followers from Rome with four great speeches. He eventually had Catilina and his followers condemned without a trial. He lived in fear of being sent into exile or tried for this act against Roman citizens.

His fears eventually came to pass and he was exiled in 58 B.C. He had traveled to Greece during this dark time of his life. Julius Caesar and Pompey were two leading officials in Rome around 50 B.C. and Cicero knew both of them. Each of these men was pushing Rome into a civil war because Caesar wanted an empire, but Pompey desired to continue the Republic. Cicero sided with Pompey, but he had many political encounters with Caesar. He turned down a previous offer by Caesar to become a part of a triumvirate (alliance) since he thought it would undermine the Republic. After his exile, he unsuccessfully attacked some policies of Caesar and had to retreat out of the public eye when he realized that he had failed in this area.

Eventually, Caesar invaded Italy and tried to court Cicero to his side but Cicero had already fled Rome to Illyria where Pompey and his group were based. He went back to Rome and was pardoned by Caesar who was assassinated sometime after his return. Once Caesar was killed, Cicero became a popular political figure but Mark Antony became the next emperor. He did not agree with Mark Antony’s policies and was eventually sentenced to death by him. His past works were rediscovered and influenced the Renaissance and he had influenced Enlightenment thinkers such as John Locke, Montesquieu and David Hume. He also lived during the last days of the Roman Republic.

References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cicero
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/117565/Marcus-Tullius-Cicero
http://www.mmdtkw.org/VCicero.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Cicero_-_Musei_Capitolini.JPG

Posted on January 19, 2013August 8, 2016 by Margaret Hunter — 4 Comments

Herod the Great An Edomite Rules Palestine

Herod the Great was born in the land of Idumea or Edom around 74 B.C. which is about when he appears on the Bible Timeline Chart. He was the son of Antipater of Idumaean, who was a high-ranking official for Hyrcanus II. Herod was an Edomite that had adopted the customs of the Jews. In the past, the Edomites were ancient enemies of the Jewish people but they no longer were relevant as a people during this era. Many of the Edomites were absorbed into other cultures of the time. The Jews had conquered these people around 140 B.C. and forced many of them to accept their religion or to leave the region. Though many Jewish people didn’t care for foreigners worshipping God and adopting their customs Herod was made governor of Judea when he was 25 years old.

Hyrcanus II was king of Judea during this era in Jewish history, and his throne was usurped by his nephew, Antigonus. Herod lost his power as governor, and he fled to Rome to appeal for help. The Roman Senate supported his cause and ended up making him the new Jewish king. Herod went back to Judah in 39 B.C. and married Antigonus’ niece so that he could have some legitimacy to the throne and the Jewish people. He had to end up banishing his wife Doris and their son to pull this off. In 36 B.C., Herod defeated Antigonus and was finally able to claim the throne.

Herod began many great works during his reign. He expanded Solomon’s Temple and built the Masada fortress that would later become the stage for one of the most defining moments in the history of the Jews. He also established cities and created industries in asphalt, quarry, and shipbuilding. Herod didn’t necessarily share the wealth with the people though he hired many temple, priests.

Herod eliminated all potential rivals to his power, and he personally knew the Roman commanders Mark Antony, Cleopatra, and Augustus. He had four wives, and he killed a few of his sons because he believed that they were trying to assassinate him. Herod supported the Olympic Games, and he helped to avert food shortages in times of famine. Though Herod the Great did some noble things during his reign, he was also remembered for his great cruelty.

Herod didn’t want anyone taking his power. He managed to live through an assassination attempt, but he eventually performed a horrible act that ended up killing thousands of children. Herod the Great was visited by traveling wise men from the East who claimed that an ancient prophecy was being fulfilled in his territory. The wise men said that they saw a star over Judah that was going to lead them to the birth of a special baby who would become the King of the Jews. This news greatly disturbed King Herod, and he decided to kill all of the Jewish children who were 2 years old and younger. The wise men were right about the birth of a new king named Jesus being born, but Herod didn’t realize that Jesus wasn’t put on this Earth to rule Jerusalem. After this event had taken place, many Jewish people hated the king. Jesus was able to avoid being put death as a child because his father Joseph hid him in the land of Egypt. This story is told in the book of Matthew Chapter 2.

Historians also claim that Herod suffered from depression and fits of rage in his latter years. Some sources state that he wanted people to be killed and buried with him when he died. He also fell out of favor with the Jewish people by the time he died in 4 B.C. His sons Herod Archelaus and Herod Antipas ruled from the throne after his death.

References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herod_the_Great#New_Testament_references
http://christianity.about.com/od/newtestamentpeople/a/JZ-Herod-The-Great.htm
http://www.livius.org/he-hg/herodians/herod_the_great01.html
http://www.livius.org/he-hg/herodians/herod_the_great02.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idumea
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:HerodtheGreat2.jpg

Posted on January 18, 2013October 4, 2017 by Margaret Hunter — Leave a comment

Caesar and Cleopatra

Cleopatra was a member of the Greek Ptolemy Dynasty and she eventually became pharaoh of Egypt in 51 B.C. She appears on the Bible Timeline Chart with World History. Her father Ptolemy XII Auletes allowed her to rule with him when he was alive and after his death he had her marry her brothers Ptolemy XIII and Ptolemy VIX. This was the customary practice among Ptolemy rulers to keep the royal lineage pure and free from outsiders. Cleopatra was 18 when her father died and she was forced to marry her brother Ptolemy XIII who was only 10 years old. Eventually, Cleopatra had gotten rid of both of her brothers so she could become the sole ruler of Egypt.

Julius Caesar was born in 100 B.C. and he ruled Rome from 49 B.C. to 44 B.C. Caesar lived a full life and he was a general, soldier, politician, judge, a wealthy man and he also experienced poverty. He lived in exile and he controlled all of Rome. During Caesar’s rule Rome was caught up in a civil war. Another powerful general named Pompey wanted to be master of Rome. Around 47 B.C., he met Cleopatra when she decided to become his mistress.

Cleopatra_and_caesar — ‘Portrait of Russian dancer Lubowska, full-length portrait, standing, left profile, in Cleopatra costume, 1915 Note: “Mme Lubowska” or “Madam Désirée Lubovska” was not actually Russian; stage name of U.S.A. born Winniefred Foote (1893-1974).’

‘Portrait of Russian dancer Lubowska, full-length portrait, standing, left profile, in Cleopatra costume, 1915 Note: “Mme Lubowska” or “Madam Désirée Lubovska” was not actually Russian; stage name of U.S.A. born Winniefred Foote (1893-1974).’

During the conflict between Pompey and Caesar, Pompey’s forces were defeated and he had fled to Alexandria, Egypt to seek sanctuary. While he was there he was executed by a Ptolemy ruler who took over the throne after Cleopatra had to flee Egypt. The reason she had to leave Egypt was because she betrayed a powerful military faction within the empire and she also tried to start a rebellion against her brother Ptolemy. Cleopatra had to go into hiding while she was in Egypt before she went to Rome.

Meanwhile, Ptolemy had Pompey executed by one of his soldiers. He then thought to use this situation as a means to gain favor with Caesar, but it didn’t work. Caesar was angry and decided to take Egypt for himself and he made himself the judge over who was going to rule Egypt.

Around 47 B.C. Cleopatra had managed to get past Caesar’s security while he was in Egypt. She seduced him and started an affair with him. She then bore him a son named Caesarion. Caesar naturally chose to side with her about who would be the sole ruler of Egypt. Cleopatra, Ptolemy VIX, and Caeser all went back to Rome in 46 B.C. Once they were there, Cleopatra continued her affair with Caesar despite the fact that he was married. This was a scandalous situation and the people didn’t like it. Caesar even had statues created in Cleopatra’s honor. Caesar was eventually assassinated in 44 B.C. and Cleopatra was considered to be a suspect in the assassination. She eventually went back to Egypt with her brother Ptolemy VIX who was also mysteriously murdered. After this incident, she became the sole ruler of Egypt with her infant son Caesarion. She lived until 30 B.C. where she died from an unknown cause. This female ruler has left a lasting legacy that survives in the modern world.

References:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Cleopatra#mediaviewer/File:CleopatraLubowska.jpg
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:C%C3%A9sar_remet_Cl%C3%A9op%C3%A2tre_sur_le_tr%C3%B4ne_d%27%C3%89gypte_-_Pierre_de_Cortone.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julius_Caesar

Posted on January 16, 2013April 5, 2016 by Margaret Hunter — Leave a comment

Pompey Conquers Jerusalem

Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus was a military commander and political leader who served Rome up until the time he was assassinated in 48 B.C. He is known in history as Pompey, and he was the son of Pompeius Strabo, who was a wealthy political leader from the area of Picenum.

Pompey was being educated for a military and political career, and when he was seventeen years old, he was called upon to fight against the Italians in a conflict known as the Social War. Pompey proved to be a victorious commander. Shortly before his father had died in 89 B.C., he served under him in various military conflicts and politics. Some sources claim that Pompey greatly admired Alexander the Great and tried to emulate his appearance and lifestyle.

Pompey_Conquers_Jerusalem — Pompey enters the Jerusalem Temple

Pompey soon rose through the ranks to become a general of three legions. He was sent by the Roman leader Sulla on various missions to expand the empire and to keep control of the lands that were already taken. He fought in campaigns in Sicily, Africa, Hispania, and he even suppressed the slave revolt that was started by Spartacus.

Pompey defeated pirates, battled in Asia and took on the Seleucids in Syria. While he was carrying out his duties in the Middle East, he encountered the Jewish people who were living under the rule of the Hasmonean Dynasty.

The Hasmonean rulers were fighting each other for the control of Judah. Hyrcanus II and Aristobulus II were not only opposing rulers of Judah they also represented two opposing religious factions the Pharisees and the Sadducees. When Pompey had defeated the Seleucids in Syria, both Jewish parties thought that they could use his forces to defeat each other in battle. So they both sent bribes to Pompey to see if he would join their side.

Pompey eventually chose to align with Hyrcanus II because he was an older man who would prove to be a more reliable ally to Rome than the younger Aristobulus II. Once Aristobolus II realized that he hid out in a fortress. But he eventually allowed Pompey to take Jerusalem. The problem is that many of the people who had entered into the fortress refused to allow Pompey to enter into the area, and Pompey decided to take the city by force.

During the siege, Pompey destroyed the city of Jerusalem and he badly damaged the Temple. Pompey then sent Aristobolus II back to Rome as a prisoner and allowed Hyrcanus II to govern the land. The Jewish people had to accept the terms of Rome, and they became a province of the Roman Empire in 64 BC, which is where this appears on the Bible Timeline Chart. When Pompey conquered Jerusalem, he supposedly had entered into the temple to evaluate the Jews unusual religious worship. Most people in the ancient world believed in many different gods but when Pompey entered into the sacred parts of the temple he didn’t see any statues or pictures of their deity. All he saw was a scroll with writing, and he was supposedly puzzled by this scene. Like most people in ancient times, Pompey just couldn’t understand how these people could worship one God that they couldn’t even see. He then ordered the city and the Temple to be restored. Pompey’s actions in Jerusalem set the scene for the coming birth of Jesus Christ. The prophecies of Daniel were also being fulfilled. In the book of Daniel, he stated that a fourth empire made of iron would emerge on the scene. Pompey had unknowingly played a critical part in bringing about the emergence of this fourth world empire that was spoken about in Daniel’s prophecies when he conquered Judah and the other kingdoms of the ancient world.

References:
http://image.aish.com/JosephusAccount.html
http://orion.it.luc.edu/~avande1/jerusalem/topics/history.htm
http://www.livius.org/ja-jn/jewish_wars/jwar01.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pompey
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyrcanus_II
http://www.preteristarchive.com/Books/1870_fall-jerusalem_roman-conquest.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Pomp%C3%A9e_dans_le_Temple_de_J%C3%A9rusalem.jpg

Posted on January 1, 2013October 4, 2017 by Margaret Hunter — Leave a comment

Dynasty of TSIN founded by Shi Huang Ti

Shi Huang Ti is also known as Shi Huangdi or Qin Shi Huang and is considered the founder the Tsin or Qin dynasty. Shi Huang Ti birth name was Zhao Zheng or Chao Cheng. He changed his name after he became an emperor to Shi Huang Ti. The name means “first sovereign emperor of China.” The Tsin or Qin dynasty was established around 246 B.C. that is where it appears on the Bible Timeline Chart with world history. Shi Huang Ti became the first ruler of China.

TSIN_Dynasty — First emperor of China Qin Shi Huang

Historians and scholars regard the Tsin as the first Imperial Dynasty in Chinese history. Shi Huang Ti was the son of Chuang Hsiang. His mother who was a concubine of a rich merchant. The merchant’s name was Lu Pu-wei, and he used his financial skills to get Chuang Hsiang placed on the throne of Ch’in. Apparently Chuang Hsiang had a relationship with Lu Pu-wei’s concubine. Lu Pu-wei used this situation to gain access to the throne of Ch’in.

After Chuang Hsiang time had passed Shi Huang Ti took his place as ruler. Once he took over the kingdom everything was set up for him to take over the rest of China. He established the Qin Dynasty, which is known as the first Imperial Dynasty in Chinese history. When Shi Huang Ti was 13, he became emperor and one of the first things that he did while he ruled China was to eliminate all of his rivals to his throne. Once the competition had been eliminated, he strengthened his political and military power. The state of Ch’in was located in the central region of China. This position allowed Emperor Shi Huang Ti to develop a strong bureaucracy and an effective administration backed by a strong army.

Huang Ti then used his armies to enforce a totalitarian empire. Lu Pu-Wei controlled the emperor when he first took office, but he was eventually expelled from the state when the emperor came of age. He then began to send his armies out on missions of conquest and dominance. Shi Huang Ti also made it impossible for new states to arise by setting up an extensive administration that controlled every province within his kingdom. He also had a vast network of spies, informants and loyal subjects who were capable of revealing most plots that were created his empire.

However, even with such an extensive network of secret agents and informants Emperor Shi Huang Ti came very close to being assassinated at least three times during his rule. Wealthy people who lived in Chi’in were forced to live in the capital, and the emperor divided the country into 36 military districts. He did away with territorial and feudal systems that were in the land. Through his efforts, it was almost impossible for any person to challenge his power for many years. He also standardized the language, writing, and economic systems within his empire. Huang Ti’s efforts helped to organize China into a powerful empire that would rival those in the West.

Emperor Shi Huang Ti probably could have been a world conqueror if he had the desire to expand his armies outside of Asia. Like so many other powerful Asian rulers throughout history, Shi Huang Ti focused on conquering kingdoms and territories that were located near his empire. The emperor finally died in 210 B.C. while he was on an inspection tour of his country. He had established the Qin or Tsin Dynasty into one of the most important in all of the nation’s history. Shi Huang Ti will forever be remembered by the Chinese people for this contribution.

References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qin_Shi_Huang http://www.hyperhistory.com/online_n2/people_n2/ppersons2_n2/shihuangti.html http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/imperialism/notes/shihhuang.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qin_Dynasty http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Qinshihuang.jpg

Posted on December 28, 2012October 4, 2017 by Margaret Hunter — 1 Comment

Maurya Dynasty of India

The Maurya Empire was founded in 322 B.C. by Chandragupta Maurya, who was an Indian conqueror and Prince that is when this empire appears on the Bible Timeline Chart with world history. This particular Indian Empire is considered one of the greatest in all of the history of India and many contemporary people within India’s society are still fascinated by this once great state.

Chandragupta Maurya was supposed to have been a Nanda prince, but historians are unclear about the early years of his life. The Kingdom of Nanda was the most powerful state in India before the Maurya Empire emerged. When Alexander the Great was conquering the world and made his way into India, Chandragupta saw him when he was a young teenage boy. Chandragupta probably heard of Alexander’s great conquests and probably was encouraged to follow in his footsteps. By the time Chandragupta was 20 years old he had managed to bring most of India under his dominion. He eliminated the Nanda Dynasty and took their lands that then became the foundation of his powerful state.

Chandragupta might not have been a Nanda prince, but he was certainly some type of leader with power because he had the power and resources of a vast army to carry out his goals for conquest. By the year 310 B.C., he had driven out the Greeks from his land and secured India for the empire. Though he was a mighty conqueror, he never had a desire to push his forces outside of India to overtake the world. Chandragupta unified the many Indian kingdoms to form the Maurya Empire.

Maurya_Empire_of_Indea — A map of the Maurya Dynasty, showing major cities, early Buddhist sites, Ashokan Edicts, etc.

A map of the Maurya Dynasty, showing major cities, early Buddhist sites, Ashokan Edicts, etc.

Once this state was established, Chandragupta transformed it into one of the most efficient and economically prosperous lands in the ancient world. The arts and literature flourished in the lands of India during the time of the Maurya Empire and modern civic structures were erected in the major cities. There was an administration district, libraries, local temples, theaters and public parks. Chandragupta also reinforced the caste system that was already a part of Indian society, and he made Jainism an important religion within the empire’s society.

Chandragupta died in 208 B.C. after he gave up the empire to his son Emperor Bindusara. Much isn’t known about Bindusara’s rule except that he conducted trade with the Greeks Seleucid rulers. Bindusara reign came to an end in 232 B.C., and his son Ashoka took the throne. Ashoka was a great conqueror who managed to subdue the remaining independent Indian states that were not already a part of the Maurya Empire. People called him Ashoka the Great. He is also known for his religious activity of Buddhism. He sent missionaries into foreign regions of Asia, and he established Buddhist policies and temples for worship.

The Maurya Empire started to go into decline around 190 B.C. when the different provinces of the empire started to go to war with one another. Outside invaders such as the Greeks decided to exploit this situation and though the Greeks never successfully conquered India the problems they created caused the empire to weaken. By 185 B.C., the Maurya Empire had come to an end. The rulers of this empire didn’t believe in a policy of outward expansion, and this is why they never tried to conquer the world. If the Maurya Empire had attempted this feat, they might have been able to become serious rivals to the Greeks, Romans and Muslims as world conquerors.

References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chandragupta_Maurya
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/maur/hd_maur.htm
http://www.livius.org/man-md/mauryas/mauryas.html

Posted on December 18, 2012October 4, 2017 by Margaret Hunter — Leave a comment

Syria Seleucus I

One of Alexander the Great‘s generals was named Seleucus, and he was a satrap or governor of Babylon when King Alexander died. When Alexander the great died in 323 B.C. his generals, closest friends and family members divided up his empire that he managed to create within a ten year period. King Alexander’s generals were given the title of diadochi by future historians, and they took most of the empire for themselves. After King Alexander had passed away, Seleucus claimed Syria and Iran for himself. Once he became king, he started the Seleucid Dynasty that ruled Asia Minor, areas of the Middle East and inside of Asia. He appears on the Bible Timeline Chart with World History in the third century BC.

Seleucus’ father was named Antiochus, and he served as a general in the military forces of King Philip II of Macedonia. King Philip II was Alexander the Great’s father and Seleucus was a friend of King Alexander. So Seleucus was probably educated in the same manner as Alexander the Great. When King Alexander was alive General Seleucus fought against the Persians and Indians under his leadership. Most of Seleucus’ childhood was spent learning how to fight and how to govern. He was more than likely educated in King Philip’s palace since the king made it a point to take the children of leading Macedonian citizen’s hostage so that they would remain loyal to him.

Before Seleucus took over as king, he was driven out of Babylon by Antigonous, who was another general of King Alexander. He fled to Egypt to aid another diadochi member named Ptolemy in defeating Antigonus. Ptolemy helped him to defeat Antigonus. After he had defeated Antigonous in 312 B.C., he was able to make himself king of Babylon and usher in the Seleucid Era.

Antigonous made one more unsuccessful attempt to stop him, but he failed. Seleucus then extended his empire into India. Antigonous remained a problem for Seleucus and by 303 BC he was finally defeated by Seleucus and a coalition that fought with him. When the Antigonous’ lands were being divided up Seleucis became the king of this territory. Ptolemy laid claim to Syria for himself because he supported the coalition but didn’t send any troops to help oust Antigonous. Seleucus didn’t go to war with him right away, and half-heartedly dismissed his claim. Eventually, Seleucus did go to war with Ptolemy and Seleucus still retained Syria though Ptolemy still laid claim to his territory. Eventually, Ptolemy’s son Ceraunus had Seleucus assassinated in 281 B.C. Before he died, Seleucus had managed to retake most of Alexander’s empire after he conquered Lysimachus, who was another one of Alexander’s generals. He was about to seize the throne of Macedonia, but he died before he achieved this goal. After his death, the empire that he formed would manage to remain intact until the Romans.

Before Seleucus died, he married a Persian woman named Apama in a mass wedding given by Alexander the Great for his generals. King Alexander performed this ceremony as a means to show good will between Greece and their conquered subjects. After his death, the other diadochi’s got rid of their wives but Seleucus kept Apama. He also married another woman named Stratonice who was very young compared to Seleucus. King Seleucus had a step son named Antiochus who fell in love with Stratonice, so he gave her to him so that he wouldn’t do anything foolish to obtain her love. He had a daughter named Phila with Stronice and two other daughters named Apama and Laodice with his wife, Apama. Antiochus and Achaeus were his sons. He was succeeded by Antiochus I Soter.

References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seleucus_I_Nicator
http://www.livius.org/se-sg/seleucids/seleucus_i_nicator.html
http://www.historyofmacedonia.org/AncientMacedonia/SeleucusI.html
http://www.infoplease.com/encyclopedia/people/seleucus-i.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Seleuco_I_Nicatore.JPG

Posted on December 6, 2012October 4, 2017 by Margaret Hunter — Leave a comment

Twelve Tables, Law of the

The law is important to any society because it establishes rules and protocols for governing how a particular kingdom, empire or state should operate. Around 509 B.C., the Roman Republic also needed effective laws to govern its people because it was no longer being governed by a sole ruler.

Twelve_Tablets,Rome_Law_of — Law is important to any society

Tarquin the Proud was the last king to have power in Rome. After he had been banished from Rome around 510 B.C., the leading members of Roman society realized that they could no longer allow kings to rule. After his banishment, the Senate set out to establish a more modern form of government that would be more effective than a monarchy, and they came up with the Republic.

The establishment of the republic led eventually to the Law of Twelve Tables established in 449 BC which is where it appears on the Bible Timeline Chart with World history. Once they established the Republic they realized that they needed more effective laws for keeping order and protection in Roman society. A well respected member of Roman society named Hermodorus had encouraged the Senate to send a group of learned Roman men to Greece to study their legal system.

The Senate ultimately agreed, and they sent a board of 10 men or decemvirate to Athens. Once the men arrived in Athens, they were greeted by the Athenian rulers and given permission to study the Solonian Constitution, which helped to create the legal system for the Greeks. This happened around 451 B.C. After the men had gained knowledge about the Greek legal system, they returned home and adjusted the laws to fit Roman society.

Once they formulated the laws they inscribed them on ten brass tablets. When the laws were created, they were written in a simple and remedial manner. The reason they were written in this way was because illiteracy was a major problem in Rome. Only the educated patrician class was able to read. There were few poor plebeians and slaves who were literate. After the initial ten tablets had been constructed they were put on display for all of the Roman citizens to view. They became such a huge success that Rome sent the same men back to Athens and this time they came back with more information to create two more tablets.

With the addition of the new information, Rome was able to create twelve tablets that revealed the law. The laws that were contained on the tablets were designed to limit the patricians from gaining too much power. They imposed strict and rigid penalties and fines for crimes such as embezzlement, theft or burglary. People could be executed when they were found guilty of murder, and they regulated the private rights for all citizens. They touched off on the agrarian laws that were already in use when the twelve tablets were being composed.

The patricians (wealthy) and the plebeians (poor) classes were constantly opposing each other over legal issues and matters before the twelve tablets were formed. The patrician class typically made the laws and used it to their advantage. The plebeians realized that they didn’t have any type of power to stop them so they decided to rebel by not working the patrician’s lands. This of course would have bankrupted many of the patricians who depended on them for labor. The twelve tables helped to improve the society of ancient Rome and through them Greece had influenced Roman civilization and way of life.

References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve_Tables http://www.csun.edu/~hcfll004/12tables.html http://www.constitution.org/sps/sps01_1.htm

Posted on November 27, 2012October 12, 2018 by Margaret Hunter — 40 Comments

Ezra, Bible Prophet

Ezra was an ancient Jewish priest and scribe who was one of the primary leaders of Israel when they returned from exile to rebuild Jerusalem and Solomon's Temple. His story begins around 480 BC, which is where he appears on the Amazing Bible Timeline with World History study companion.

Ezra was a knowledgeable leader of Jewish law, and he was also a descendant of the high priest Aaron, who was the brother of Moses. God had blessed Ezra and was with him, so the king of Persia (King Artaxerxes) gave Ezra whatever he needed to make the journey and to rebuild the temple. Ezra was a devout servant of the Lord who made it a point to study and do all that the Lord has commanded him.

When Ezra traveled back to Jerusalem, he was accompanied by many Jewish people. They came from many different professions and backgrounds. Starting in Ezra 1 the Bible lists various different clans and Jewish tribal members that made the journey back to Jerusalem. The Jewish traveled back to Jerusalem at different times. Later in Ezra 8 a list of families that traveled back to Jerusalem was written down so that people could see who they were.

When the first wave of Jewish people went back to Jerusalem in Ezra 1, it happened during the reign of Cyrus the Great. Many years later when King Artaxerxes ruled Persia, he also decreed that more Jewish people should go back to their homeland. He gave a decree that supported the Jewish people and their efforts in Jerusalem. King Artaxerxes told nearby countries to provide the Jewish people with supplies for the temple, and he also made the provinces give them food and water when they needed it as well. The king's decree also allowed the Jewish people to take back the treasures that were taken from the Lord's Temple by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. The Jewish priests and temple servants did not have to pay taxes because the decree freed them from this responsibility. Ezra and the rest of the Jewish people finally made it back to Jerusalem and when he arrived he was shocked to discover that his people had intermingled with the pagan nations that surrounded Jerusalem.

Ezra prayed for forgiveness for his people, and he then set out to make some reforms. He formed a great assembly comprised of 120 prophets and sages. He influenced this council to oversee and enforce the Biblical laws that God had given to his people in the days of Moses. He no longer permitted any people to marry foreign women and led them to repent of their sins. He then organized leaders for the newly established community. Though Ezra was associated with prophets, he wasn't considered a prophet in the truest since of the word. God didn't send Ezra out with specific messages or revelations to give to the people he used him to remind the people about keeping God's word. Ezra made it a point to keep God's word relevant to the people and to make sure that they were careful to obey all that was written. Ezra probably knew Nehemiah though the Bible doesn't specifically state this as fact. Both men went back to Jerusalem during the reign of Artaxerxes.

Ezra was born in 480 B.C. and he died in 440 B.C.

Biblical References: The book of Ezra in the Bible tells about the Jewish peoples return back to Jerusalem after they were exiled. The story of Ezra's life is revealed in chapter seven of the same book.

References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ezra
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05535a.htm