Bible Timeline Chart – Page 15 – Amazing Bible Timeline with World History

Posted on August 7, 2012July 15, 2016 by Margaret Hunter — 1 Comment

Carthage of Phoenicia 814 BC, Founding of

The Phoenicians founded a prosperous city in the northern coasts Africa named Carthage around 813-814 BC which is where it appears on the Bible Timeline Chart with World History. This was during the time of the Kings of a divided Israel and shortly before the first Olympiad.

Carthage,_Ancient_City_of_Phoenicia.jpg — map of Carthage’s location

Carthage was one of the wealthiest areas of the Ancient world and found prosperity in its vast trading network which had a far-reaching domain across northern Africa. Carthage of Phoenicia founded 814 BC is now the area that spans modern day Spain into the Mediterranean. Because of the Phoenician empire spreading further into the European regions, many conflicts between Phoenicia, Rome and Greece was evident during this period in history.

Founding

While in the past, several historians debated the exact time of the founding of Carthage, carbon dating done on artifacts place the time of founding at around the Ninth century BC. It was said that the empire lasted for around 650 years since the founding of Carthage. The Roman Empire was especially persistent in bringing down the Phoenician city at around 150 BC. The original city was eventually obliterated around that time but was then rebuilt not long after. It would be another century before Carthage fell into ruin. Because of this, very few artifacts and remains can be excavated which date back to the original Carthage. To date, the ruins of harbors, as well as tombs and burial grounds, can still be visible even from the air.

The Legend

The legend of the founding of Carthage begins with Elissa, daughter of the king of Tyre. She was to be given in marriage to the king’s brother, Sichaeus, who was a priest of Melqart. Elissa was to be handed over to her uncle along with the kingdom. Pygmalion, Elissa’s brother, had thought that the kingdom would go to him and plotted to assassinate his uncle and brother-in-law, Sichaeus. He was killed and came back as a ghost to warn Elissa about her brother. Elissa then took her royal wealth and followers and fled the kingdom.

Elissa and her followers, which are interpreted by most as colonists sent by the king of Tyre, stopped at the northern coast of Africa. Elissa negotiated with the locals for rest within the area and was then told that they could have the surrounding area that could only be covered by an Oxhide. It is this part of the legend that depicts the cleverness and tricky nature of the Phoenicians as Elissa had the hide cut into strips and laid in a crescent shape across the land. The area covered by the hide strips would eventually be Carthage. The coast across Sicily was now the new home of Elissa and her followers which prospered due to the mercantile skills attributed to the citizens of Tyre.

Carthage in History and Literature

Phoenicians were generally considered to be ruthlessly treacherous by the Greeks and Romans. Even in the Homeric works, Phoenicians were referred to as polypaipaloi or “having numerous tricks”. However, Cicero points out that no empire could be held for more than 6 centuries without skilled rule and leadership.

The war between Rome and Carthage during the mid 2nd century BC was called the Third Punic War and the Battle of Carthage was what led to the downfall of the city during 147 BC. This is often referred to as the salting of Carthage. Undeniably, Carthage of Phoenicia founded 814 BC is one of the most important imperial civilizations during the last millennia BC, maintaining a stable rule that lasted for 600 years.

References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:CarthageMap.png
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Punic-era_Tunisia:_chronology#Founding_of_Carthage

Posted on June 29, 2012May 10, 2016 by Margaret Hunter — 4 Comments

Israel, Division of the Kingdoms of

Problems for Israel began during the time that King David ruled the land. It all started when he committed adultery with Uriah’s wife, Bathsheba, before killing him. In 2 Samuel 12:10 God told David that the sword wasn’t going to depart from his house because of this sin. Even though the punishments by God were carried out during David’s reign; Solomon and his grandson Rehoboam had experienced some of these problems as well. All three rulers were indirectly responsible for the division that was to come upon Israel. The Division of the Kingdoms is placed on the Bible Timeline Chart at 975 BC.

Solomon’s Sin and Rehoboam’s Trouble

God warned Solomon not turn from being obedient to his commands. Solomon allowed his heart to be changed by his many different wives and concubines. As a result of his actions, God had decided to split the kingdom in half. This prophecy wasn’t going to take place in Solomon’s lifetime because of God’s promise to David. God’s judgment had fallen on Israel during the rule of his son Rehoboam. Once King Solomon had died King Rehoboam took the throne and people despised his rule.

Israel,Division_of_Kingdoms — Map of the United Kingdom of Israel, around the time of David and Saul (11th century B.C. Vassal states and defeated kingdoms in red.)

Map of the United Kingdom of Israel, around the time of David and Saul (11th century B.C. Vassal states and defeated kingdoms in red.)

The Kingdom Splits

Many of the tribes of Israel didn’t like Rehoboam’s policies because they thought they were worse than some of his father’s. Though Solomon was a highly honored ruler, he did burden the people with labor and taxes. As a result of these actions, the people wanted Rehoboam to take a different approach to rule. But he refused and decided to make things harder on the people. His actions caused ten of the tribes of Israel to break away and form their kingdom.

Jeroboam and the people responded to Rehoboam by stating that they will no longer live under his rule. All of the people of Israel departed to their houses except for the tribes of Judah and Benjamin.

Jeroboam and the Ten Tribes

The Israelites made Jeroboam their king. The Israelite kingdom consisted of the tribes of Reuben, Issachar, Zebulun, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Ephraim, Manasseh and Levi. Once Jeroboam was in power, he began to worship two golden calves. As a result of this act, God said that he handled leading Israel back into sin. As a result of this sin, many of the kings after Jeroboam didn’t rule very long or very well because they worshipped the calves, and God judged them for their disobedience.

The Strife of Two Kingdoms

Rehoboam and Jeroboam were going to go to war initially, but God had advised the king not to fight against his brothers at this particular time in history. They both still ruled Israel and Judah and built up their armies. They eventually fought battles against one another that lasted for many years.

The significance of this split can still be seen today because the current Israeli state consists of people who are not all Jews. This is because the ten tribes that were conquered by Assyria never returned from their captivity. One day God will reunite the whole nation again. Ezekiel 37:15-17 explains how this will take place.

Biblical References

2 Samuel 12:10 God told David that the sword wasn’t going to depart from his house because of his sin with Bathsheba.
1 Kings 9: 6-7 God warns Solomon about being obedient to his commands.
1 Kings 11: 11-13 God decided to split the Kingdom in half because of his disobedience with his many foreign wives.
1 Kings 12: 1-24 Rehoboam refuses to listen to the people’s demands when he becomes king and as a result of his actions he causes the kingdom to Israel to split in half. He rules the southern kingdom of Judah.
1 Kings 12: 25-33 Northern Israel is ruled by Jeroboam and he starts the Golden Calf cult that will harm the Israelites relationship with God for many years.
1 Kings 12: 20-24 Rehoboam and Jeroboam initiates an ongoing war between Israel and Judah.

References:
http://www.biblegateway.com
http://www.keyway.ca/htm2010/20100723.htm
http://bible.org/seriespage/great-divorce-kingdom-divided
http://www.apostoliclighthouse.org/Lesson5-3.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Kingdom_of_Israel_1020_map.svg

Posted on June 12, 2012March 29, 2016 by Margaret Hunter — 3 Comments

Philistines Rule In Canaan

The Philistines were an ancient people that existed in the Mesopotamian region nearly 4000 years ago. Their importance to Bible History has a note for them on the Bible Timeline Chart with World History during their rule of Israel when Saul, David and Samson lived.

Phillistines_Rule_In_Canaan_and_Israel — Map of the Philistine Pentapolis

Their land was known as Philistia, and they were supposed to have been one of the groups of Sea People that settled into the region after the Flood. Other historical records indicate that the Philistines were connected to Mycenaean and Greek culture.

Some scholars and historians have even speculated that the Philistines name was derived from the Pelasgen, which were a group of people who once inhabited southeastern Greece in ancient times. Historians are not able to accurately figure out the origins of the Philistines. If they were a part of the Sea People that invaded ancient Canaan, then they could have come from any of the groups of people that existed throughout southeastern Europe and the Middle East. The Philistines were also mentioned in the Bible during the period that the patriarch Abraham existed. The Bible states that Abraham stayed in the land of the Philistines for a long period (Genesis 21:34). Genesis 26:1 records Isaac‘s visit with King Abimelech of the Philistines during a famine. These scriptures coincide with Genesis 12:5 and 16:3 where Abraham had lived in Canaan for at least 10 years. God had formed a covenant with Abraham and as a part of this pact God said that he would give the land of Canaan as an everlasting possession to him and the Hebrew people (Genesis 17:8). The land of Canaan was (and is) an important part of the covenant and inheritance that God has established for the people of Israel. God sometimes referred to the land of Canaan as the “land of promise” or the “land that flows with milk and honey.” Even though God was going to give this particular piece of land to the Israelites, there were other people who already lived in this area of the world.

The Jebusites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hittites, Ammonites and the Moabites were some of the inhabitants of Canaan. The Philistines were also included within this group of people that inhabited Canaan. So the Israelites had to fight against them as well as the other inhabitants of Canaan to secure the land. The Philistines occupied the southwestern coastal parts of Canaan. They had established five major cities that probably started off as strongholds or fortresses. The cities of Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Ekron and Gath, were five cities that were a part of the Philistine Empire.

The Philistines never completely conquered the whole entire land of Canaan they seemed content to rule in the section that they had occupied. History records the Philistines attacking Egypt, but the Egyptians had apparently subdued and controlled them for a period as a result of this action. Since Israel seemed to be the arch enemies of the Philistines they were in constant strife with God’s chosen people. Scripture also points out that the Philistines sided with other Canaanite nations in their effort to wipe out Israel. The Philistines had defeated the Israelites and a few other cultures but they never completely controlled Canaan. Around 750 B.C., the Philistines were completely defeated by the Assyrians and after this point they never rose again to power or importance.

References:
http://www.blueletterbible.org/search/translationResults.cfm?Criteria=canaan&t=KJV
http://www.blueletterbible.org/search/translationResults.cfm?Criteria=philistines&t=KJV&sf=5
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philistines
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_Peoples
http://www.bga.nl/en/discussion/enfilpo.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Philistines_pentapolis.jpg

Posted on June 4, 2012August 12, 2015 by Margaret Hunter — Leave a comment

Aeneas Town of Latium

Aeneas was a character in the Iliad of Homer. He was a general of his people in Dardania who sided with the Trojan army against the Greeks. Aeneas wasn’t just a regular man he was also demi-god who born from the union of a Greek goddess named Aphrodite and a Dardanian prince. Why put a legend on the Bible Timeline Chart? Because the legends are mixed up with the history of the Greeks and Romans. It’s interesting to see where they fit into the true facts of world history. Dardania was a nearby kingdom that was situated next to Troy. One day the goddess Aphrodite was disguised as a Phrygian princess and she went to a prince of Dardania named Anchises. She engaged had a fling with him that lasted for about two weeks. After the session had ended, she reappeared to him nine months later with his child. Aphrodite cared for Aeneas, but she didn’t want to raise her son. So she turned his care over to a group of nymphs and then she sent him to live with his father Anchises. This is why she showed up at his palace once Aeneas was a boy. Many years later when the boy was a man he was a general in the army of Dardania.

During the Trojan War, Aeneas fought bravely on the battlefield against the Greeks. Even though he fought well he had the added advantage of divine protection. Appolo and Aphrodite went out their way to keep Aeneas from dying in this war. They protected him from death on a number of occasions. In one instance, he was about to be killed by Diomedes of Argos but Aphrodite and Apollo intervenes and carries him away to Pergamos. After receiving healing in Pergamos, he heads back to the battle. During a confrontation with Achilles, Aeneas is almost killed again but the god Poseidon rescues him from this fate.

Once the war is over, Aeneas takes a band of followers from Troy and his homeland Dardania and leads them toward Italy. He was supposed to have carried his father on his shoulders during the journey. He was also aided by his son. Aeneas carried two statues in his hand that represented the gods of Troy. They eventually traveled in ships once they reached the waters of the Mesopotamian Sea.

They wandered around the Mesopotamian Sea for six years before reaching the ancient Phoenician city of Carthage. The goddess Juno apparently caused a lot of confusion from storms she sent against them. Once they arrived at Carthage, Aeneas somehow managed to start a year long love affair with the queen Dido. The queen encouraged Aeneas and his people to live in Carthage, but Aphrodite sent Mercury to urge Aeneas to keep traveling to Italy since that was his ultimate purpose. He then secretly left queen Dido’s land with his people and headed north to Italy. Dido was heart broken and committed suicide.

Aeneas_and — ‘The goddess Venus, the mother of Aeneas, appeared him twice, first in the midst of burning Troy to bid him be on his way. Later, when the Trojans were washed ashore near Carthage after the storm at sea, Aeneas and his friend Achates set out to explore. Venus appeared once more, this time with bow and quiver disguised as a huntress, to direct them to Dido’s palace. The artist depicted in this picture the second appearance’

‘The goddess Venus, the mother of Aeneas, appeared him twice, first in the midst of burning Troy to bid him be on his way. Later, when the Trojans were washed ashore near Carthage after the storm at sea, Aeneas and his friend Achates set out to explore. Venus appeared once more, this time with bow and quiver disguised as a huntress, to direct them to Dido’s palace. The artist depicted in this picture the second appearance’

Aeneas next stop was on the island of Sicily and he eventually arrived at the kingdom of the Latins. Once there he was welcomed by Latinus but soon learned that his daughter Lavinia would marry another man from a different land. Latinus realized that Aeneas was this man and he called on the goddess Juno to help him get rid of him. A war broke out between the Latins and the Trojans. Aeneas forces prevailed. After winning this victory, he set up a city called Lavinium. Aeneas soon learned about Dido’s fate and when Lavinia found out she became extremely jealous. Aeneas eventually killed himself because he could not deal with her jealous rage. Before Aeneas died he had a son named Silvius with Lavinia. Silvius is credited with Romulus as the founding fathers of Rome.

Alba Longa was an ancient city of the people of Latium.

References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aeneas
http://www.cliffsnotes.com/study_guide/literature/aeneid.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iliad

Posted on May 23, 2012July 15, 2016 by Margaret Hunter — 2 Comments

Phoenicia Trade with Britain and Germany

The Phoenicians were a seafaring people that were known for being traders and merchants. They established cities and trade routes all over the Mesopotamian region. Their trade routes are extended from the coast of Canaan in the east to the tips of Libya and Spain in the west. Some historians and scholars claim that the Phoenicians had extended their trade beyond the coastal cities of northern Africa and Southern Spain into the Atlantic Ocean. There is also some speculation about the Phoenicians conducting trade with the British and the Germans along their shorelines. This possible trading took place at the height of their powers and is placed at 1100 BC on the Bible Timeline Chart

Phoenecia — The commercial network of Phoenicia

Once the Phoenicians set up colonies along various coastal areas they began to expand their operations and trade goods with many nations. The Phoenicians exchanged merchandise with past world powers such as Egypt, Greece, Rome and the Iberian Peninsula or Spain. They also traded with other empires and kingdoms that were located near their coastal cities. The Israelites, Babylonians and the Hittites were other groups of people that conducted business with the Phoenicians.

The Phoenicians extended their seafaring power all the way to Spain near the Straits of Gibraltar. This particular landmark represented the extent of their empire in the west. Some historical records indicate that the Phoenicians sailed beyond Spain to Britain to trade tin. During the Bronze Age, this particular metal substance was needed in the process of making copper. Strabo was an ancient historian who states in his records that the Phoenicians had a lucrative trade with Britain for tin. The trade with Britain seems to have been just limited to only tin and not any other type of materials. Phoenicians might have traded with the British.

Phoenicians primarily sailed along the coastlines to various trading points that were situated on their routes. Even though they were a seafaring people, they did not take long extended voyages into the open waters of the Atlantic Ocean. They might have sailed up to Britain for tin, but it’s highly unlikely that they would have ventured out beyond that point. Some Phoenician traders or sailors could have traveled out into the deep waters of the Atlantic Oceans, but no historical records indicate that this ever happened. Besides, their vessels weren’t designed or equipped for long range open water sailing expeditions. Land routes might have been opened up for trade by the Phoenicians. If they were present there probably wasn’t that many available for the traders and merchants to utilize.

The fact is that the Phoenicians kept their trade mostly limited to the major cities, kingdoms and empires that were established along the coastlines of the Mesopotamian Sea. Since this part of the world was the most populated and financially powerful regions of the Earth during the first 2000 years of human history. It would have only made since for the Phoenicians to contain their trade in this area. Ultimately, the Phoenicians might have conducted some minor trading operations to Britain.

References:
http://phoenicia.org/canaancornwall.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenicia#Trade
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thalassocracy
http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Phoenician_Civilization#Did_they_reach_the_North_Atlantic.3F
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1083750/posts
http://humanscience.wikia.com/wiki/Ancient_Trade
http://phoenicia.org/britmines.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:PhoenicianTrade.png

Posted on May 15, 2012May 10, 2016 by Margaret Hunter — Leave a comment

Edom, Kings of

Esau is considered the father of the people of Edom. In the Bible, Esau is mentioned as Jacob’s brother. After departing from Jacob, Esau settled into the land south of Judea. This area became known as Edom. The reference to the Kings of Edom is found on the Bible Timeline Chart about 1290 BC. When the people of Israel left Egypt they thought they could head through the land of Edom into the Promise Land which was Canaan. The Edomite rulers didn’t want the Israelites to pass through their territory and they made preperations to go to war with them if they didn’t listen to their demand. The Israelites became very discouraged. God told the Israelites not to fight against Edom. God called the people of Edom brothers to the Israelites. He then told them to go around their territory to reach the land of Canaan. When the Israelites were refused entrance into the land of Edom this decree was given by their king. The Bible doesn’t go into detial about who this king was but it does list the kings of Edom on two separate accounts. Genesis 36 lists the kings of Edom and 1 Chronicles 1:43-54 mirrors this particular passage. According to 1 Chronicles 1:43-54 the Edomites had kings long before Israel. This fact also probably played a role with the Israelites wanting a king after Samuel completed his term as the last Judge of Israel. The first king of Edom was Belen the son of Beor. The Bible doesn’t go into detail about how long the kings of Edom reigned. The next king on the list was Jobab and then there was Husham, Hadad, Samlah, Shaul and Baal-Hanan. After Baal-Hanan died another ruler by the name of Hadad became king.

Most of the kings of Edom had names and characters that seemed to reflect the ungoldy nature of the people. God said that he “hated” Esau before he was born. Apparently God saw how Esau was going to be long before he was born out of Rebecca‘s womb. The Edomites worshipped the many different gods in the region where they dwelt. Baal-Hanan was a king whose name was directly linked to the pagan deity Baal. There were also clans mentioned in 1 Chronicles 1: 43-55 and these clans represented ungodly characters as well. The clan of Alvah meant “wicked” and there was the clan of Iram whose name meant “mountain goat”.

Even though many of the Edomites had later converted to Judiasm they seemed to be still considered a wicked people according to scripture. Herod the Great was an Edomite and during his reign he played a role trying to kill Jesus as a child and with his persecution by Rome. Both Jeremiah and Ezekiel condemned Edom in prophecies. Israel ruled over Edom at various times in its history and they also placed appointed kings to power over the land when they did. Edom had constantly resisted and attacked Israel all throughout its history. The prophet Obadiah also condemns Edom for being too proud and not relying on God. In Genesis 25:23 God tells Rebekah that her sons (Jacob and Esau) will be rivals from the time they’re born. He also said that the older brother will serve the younger one. Ultimately the strife between Israel and Edom is the result of God’s judgment on the land before Esau was born. The kings of Edom were just fulfilling the judgment that God placed on Esau and his descendants.

Biblical References to Kings Of Edom

Genesis 25:23 God judges Esau and Jacob before they were born. He states that they will have descendants that will be rivals.
Genesis 36: 1-5, 6-8 Esau is called Edom. Jacob and Esau have to split apart because of their great wealth. The first list of kings form Edom is also mentioned in this chapter of the Bible.
Numbers 20:21 The Edomites refuse to allow Israel to pass through their land.

References:
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Chronicles+1%3A43-54&version=NIV http://www.enduringword.com/commentaries/0136.htm http://gracestories.wordpress.com/2011/03/13/does-god-make-some-people-bad-like-esau-or-judas/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edom http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Edom.PNG

Posted on May 3, 2012October 4, 2017 by Margaret Hunter — 7 Comments

Gideon Judge In Israel

Gideon was a former judge of Israel who ruled the people after he led a small army to defeat the Midianites. He is placed on the Biblical Timeline Chart at around 1179 – 1154 BC. Gideon’s story begins with the Israelites not obeying God. The Israelites were not perfect people, and they constantly wandered away from God, and he punished them when they departed from him. In this particular instance, he allowed the Midianites to become so strong that the Hebrews lived in fear of them.

According to the book of Judges, the Israelites were living in the caves and cliffs of their country since God had made the Midianites so strong. They and their allies would come to Israel and take the people’s crops at harvest time. They would camp out within the land, kill all the livestock and harass the people before taking their crops. To make matters worse, the Midians would ravage and destroy the land. Many people in Israel at the time found the situation to be unbearable, but according to scripture God had a plan to free them from this type of tyranny.

An angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon while he was threshing wheat. (Keep in mind that Gideon was a wealthy man in Israel, but his wealth and power didn’t mean anything under these type of circumstances.) Gideon had servants, but he still had to thresh out his own wheat. When an angel of the Lord contacted Gideon, he told him about God’s plan to use him to free his people from the tyranny of the Gideonites.

Gideon didn’t believe the angel and claimed that his clan was the least among his people and that he was the weakest member of his clan. God assured him that he was stronger than what he believed. Gideon still wasn’t convinced and wanted a sign, so he placed meat and bread on a rock, and the angel touched it with a rod. The fire then consumed the food. Gideon built an altar after this happened.

God instructed Gideon to tear down his father’s altar to Baal and to construct one in his honor. Then Gideon still wanted proof that God was with him. So he placed a wool fleece on the threshing floor. He told the Lord if there is dew only on the fleece and not the ground, and then he would believe him. God did as he requested. He then asked God to make the ground wet while leaving the fleece dry and God fulfilled this request. Once this happened Gideon was finally convinced.

Gideon gathered a bunch of men, but God ended up reducing their numbers down to 300. He then sent the 300 soldiers into battle. The Israelites snuck up on the Midianites in the darkness. In the confusion of the night, the Midianites began to slay one another. The next day many of them had fled, and they never harassed Israel again. The people wanted to make Gideon a king, but he refused. He judged Israel for 40 years, and there was peace in the land. After Gideon passed away the people of Israel turned after other Gods once again.

Gideon in the Bible

Judges 6: 1-5 the people of Israel worship other gods and God becomes angry. He decides to send the Midianites out against them.
Judges 6: 6-10 the people are frustrated and cry out to God. He sends a prophet who tells them why they’re being oppressed. He wants them to repent.
Judges 6: 11-13 an angel of the Lord appears to Gideon and tells him that he has been chosen by God to free his people.
Judges 6: 14-16 Gideon questions God’s decision for choosing him. He claims to be too weak to accomplish this feat.
Judges 6: 17-40 Gideon questions God again and makes special requests to validate his choice. Gideon finally believes the Lord.
Judges 7:2 Gideon had selected many warriors, but God wanted their numbers reduced so that they would not claim that the victory came from them.
Judges 7: 18-25 Gideon and his forces defeat the Midianites.
Judges 8: 28 Gideon ruled the Israelites for 40 years before he died.
Judges 8:33 after Gideon had died, the people of Israel started to worship foreign gods once again.

References:
http://www.jesusplusnothing.com/studies/online/judges7.htm
http://www.blueletterbible.org/search/translationResults.cfm?criteria=gideon&page=1&t=KJV
http://www.blueletterbible.org/search/translationResults.cfm?criteria=gideon&page=2&t=KJV
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gideon
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gideon-judge.jpg

Posted on April 25, 2012August 20, 2015 by Margaret Hunter — Leave a comment

China Buries Companions of the Dead 1200 BC

The Chinese people view the divine and the mortal world as two intertwined spheres. This belief has always been a strong part of the Chinese culture and it has played a role with shaping how this particular cultural group views life and death. The Chinese people also view life as a continuation of the present reality. They claim that their departed relatives are able to commune with gods and other spirits. So they pray to them and worship them for this purpose.

During ancient times, they had a practice of burying the companions of the dead. This is found on the Bible Timeline Chart around 1200 BC. In 1200 B.C. the Shang Dynasty ruled China and this time period is considered one of the best in the history of the Chinese people. The burial customs of the people had been altered during the rule of the Shang clan.

In the early part of the 20th-century archaeologists in China unearthed massive graves and the gravesites of ancient Chinese rulers. Starting with the gravesites of the ancient Shang rulers, historians were able to analyze how the emperors and people of high status were buried. Ancient Shang rulers were buried with various members of their families and some of their possessions. When they passed away they were buried with many of their servants who were put to death because they were considered a part of the dead ruler’s life.

Many of their servants, concubines, and attendants had to accept the fact that when their ruler died so would they. Thousands of slaves were also found in the huge grave sites and they too were buried as objects that belong to the emperor. Archaeologists found Bronze vessels in many graves of the Shang rulers and these pots held food such as meat, fish, scorched bread and vegetables. The pots were also placed in the grave so that they could be used by the emperors in the spiritual realm. Some Shang emperors buried their wives in their grave sites as well, but this practice began to fade with time. The spirits of the deceased were supposed to remain close to the gravesites where their bodies were placed. So the utensils were also available for the departed spirits to use when they were needed.

Most people who buried during the Shang period were placed in massive graves with their fellow countrymen. The Shang people might have believed that the emperors and those with money might have been gods, but the average person was barely recognized as worthwhile.

Chinese_Bury_Companion_of_the_Dead — Oracle bones pit at Yin

Oracle bones were detailed inscriptions of the past life of the Shang people. These bones also went into detail about how the dead were buried. Tens of thousands of these bones were discovered and archaeologists decipher them in order to find out information about the burial customs of the Shang people. Chinese people never buried their leaders with companions as if they were united with one type of person that would go on into the afterlife with them. The massive grave sites of the emperors always revealed that their burial grounds were used as a form of status and importance.

References:
http://www.oldandsold.com/articles03/china_ceramics3.shtml http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/article_index/b/burial_practices_in_china.aspx http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shang_Dynasty#Archeology_of_the_Early_Bronze_Age_in_the_Yellow_River_valley http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Oracle_bones_pit.JPG