Bible Timeline Chart – Page 8 – Amazing Bible Timeline with World History

Posted on March 30, 2016April 1, 2016 by Kat Cendana — 3 Comments

Absalom

Absalom was the third son of David and Maacah, the daughter of King Talmai of Geshur (2 Samuel 3:3). He can be found on the Bible Timeline Chart around 1029 BC. Absalom had a sister named Tamar whose rape by their brother Amnon played a crucial role in Absalom’s rebellion.

Early Life

Absalom was one of the sons born to David in Hebron and described as a handsome man who had no rival in Israel when it comes to physical beauty (2 Samuel 14:25). Over the course of time, Absalom had three sons and one daughter also named Tamar. He was known to be a charming man who insinuated his way into the hearts of the people of Israel to gain power (2 Samuel 15:1-6).

The Rape of Absalom’s Sister Tamar and His Escape to Geshur (2 Samuel 13)

The Bible does not gloss over the mistakes and weaknesses of many of its central characters, especially the House of David. It is ironic that the meaning of Absalom’s name was “Father of Peace” when his violent deeds resulted in a struggle for the kingdom with his father David that ultimately led to Absalom’s death. The narrative started in 2 Samuel 13 when Amnon schemed with his cousin Jonadab to bring Tamar, his half-sister, and Absalom’s sister, into his quarters by pretending to be sick and have her cook for him because he lusted after her.

King David unwittingly agreed when Amnon made the request and sent his daughter to Amnon’s quarters to prepare the food. She was then raped and cast out by her half-brother. The news reached her brother Absalom and her father, David. While they both were angry with Amnon, the incident was hushed up. Absalom simmered in his anger for Amnon while David refrained from meting out justice because of his love for his oldest son. Absalom had Amnon murdered afterward. Absalom then fled to his grandfather King Talmai in Geshur for three years.

Absalom — “David fleeing from Jerusalem”

Reinstatement and Rebellion (2 Samuel 14 and 17)

David longed to see his son Absalom in spite of his crime. Absalom returned to Jerusalem after a successful scheme by Joab involving a woman from Tekoa. She told the story of her two sons who killed each other. After his reinstatement, Absalom conspired to overthrow David and declared himself king over Israel in Hebron. David had to leave Jerusalem after most of the people sided with Absalom. Meanwhile, David sent his adviser Hushai back to serve and spy on his son. To add insult to injury, Absalom also slept with his father’s wives as advised by Ahithophel, David’s former counselor.

Ahithophel also promised Absalom to kill David himself so a civil war could be averted, but Hushai fooled Absalom and counseled against a direct assassination. Hushai suggested that they gather an army and go to an open war with David and his men. The news of the attack reached David, and they were able to escape. He assembled his men to prepare for a battle against his son but instructed his commanders and the soldiers not to harm Absalom.

Death (2 Samuel 18)

During the battle, Absalom got his hair caught in the branches of a tree. He was killed by Joab and was deeply mourned by David when news of his son’s death reached him. Absalom was buried in Ephraim’s Forest where Joab’s men threw his body into a deep pit and put piles of rock over it (2 Samuel 18:17).

References:
Picture By William Brassey Hole – http://www.orientalism-in-art.org/David-fleeing-from-Jerusalem-is-cursed-by-Shimei.html, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=20344164

Posted on March 29, 2016April 25, 2016 by Kat Cendana — Leave a comment

Israel, Wars with

The Consequences of Disobedience

Israel was greatly protected by God, but through disobedience, they experience many wars and hardships. This event is recorded on the Bible Timeline Chart between 1004 BC and 904 BC. It all started with exogamy or marriage outside of the ethnic group. This was generally frowned upon and even expressly forbidden in Israel in the ancient times (Deuteronomy 7:3-4). The patriarchs such as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob practiced endogamy, marriage within the group. They even went as far as marrying their own close relatives.

The law against intermarriage with other ethnic groups that surround Israel was laid out to prevent them from worshiping other gods and ensure Israel’s fidelity to Yahweh. Israel was not chosen because of any special attributes it might have, but simply because of God’s love (Deuteronomy 7:7-11). This covenant was made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, so the people must keep it or there will be consequences as shown in the Books of Judges and Kings.

Israel_War — “Solomon sinned by acquiring many foreign wives. Solomon’s descent into idolatry, Willem de Poorter, Rijksmuseum.”

“Solomon sinned by acquiring many foreign wives. Solomon’s descent into idolatry, Willem de Poorter, Rijksmuseum.”

The command to unconditionally obey the Lord was also passed by David to his son in 1 Kings 2:1-4, but Solomon was led astray because of his marriage to foreign women. It was said that he married 700 wives of royal birth (which included an Egyptian princess) and had 300 concubines. They led him to worship and build shrines to other gods in the Canaanite pantheon such as Chemosh, Ashtoreth (Astarte), and Molech (Moloch). The consequences of this particular disobedience were reaped by Solomon’s descendants firsthand.

God warned Solomon to turn away from worshiping other gods but the warning fell on deaf ears. As a result, God promised to tear the kingdom away from Solomon’s son and give a portion of it instead to one of Solomon’s own servants. God still honored his covenant with David by leaving a piece of the kingdom to Solomon’s son where his dynasty reigned over the years.

Jeroboam, King of Israel and Rehoboam, King of Judah (1 Kings 11:26 to 1 Kings 14)

Similar to Kings before him, Jeroboam was appointed ruler over Israel through a prophecy. Jeroboam worked for Solomon as a foreman on one of his building projects. However, a meeting with the prophet Ahijah would change his life forever. After tearing his new cloak, the prophet gave Jeroboam 10 pieces of the scraps which symbolized the ten tribes of Israel, thus fulfilling God’s warning to Solomon before he died. Solomon tried to kill Jeroboam after this prophecy and Jeroboam fled to Egypt afterward.

Solomon died years later and his son Rehoboam now held the throne. As the person who threatened his life was now dead, Jeroboam was compelled to come back to Israel and fulfill the prophecy. Meanwhile, Rehoboam was not doing very well as king either. Solomon’s extensive building projects required heavy labor from the people he employed and at Rehoboam’s ascension as king, they petitioned the newly-crowned ruler to lighten their load.

Instead of following his father’s advisers who told him to grant the request of his people, Rehoboam followed the counsel of his friends and rejected the pleas of his own people. This sowed the seeds of discord in his own house resulting in a rebellion, fulfilling God’s warning and Ahijah’s prophecy. The 10 tribes which broke away from the House of David then elected to make Jeroboam as their king.

Descent into Civil War

Rehoboam mobilized an army of 180,000 men from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin (1 Kings 12:21) but was thwarted when the prophet Shemaiah told them not to fight their own brothers. Rehoboam’s counterpart in the northern kingdom was also busy making himself gold calves to prevent the people from worshiping in Jerusalem.

Jeroboam had made Shechem the capital of the northern kingdom of Israel and had the gold calves installed in Dan at the northern end of Israel and South in Bethel. In his insecurity, he committed a list of sins that may have surpassed or equaled Solomon in his worship of other gods.

Ahijah prophesied Jeroboam’s downfall in 1 Kings 14:1-19 while Rehoboam and the people of Judah were also busy making themselves Asherah poles and sacred pillars. The Egyptian pharaoh Sheshonq I (the Biblical Shishak) raided Jerusalem during Rehoboam’s reign. There were also constant wars between the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah during both kings’ time. Jeroboam outlived two kings of Judah and the few remaining years of his reign overlapped the reign of K ing Asa of Judah (1 Kings 15:1 and v 9). Wars between the two kingdoms continued until the reign of Baasha of Israel and Asa of Judah.

References:
Picture By Willem de Poorter – http://www.rijksmuseum.nl/collectie/SK-A-757, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=34249416

Posted on March 15, 2016March 15, 2016 by Kat Cendana — Leave a comment

Saul wars against the Ammonites, Moabites, Syria, Idumea, and Philistines

Israel’s journey from Egypt to the Promised Land in Canaan was long and full of battles against her neighbors. These conflicts are listed on the Bible Timeline Chart around 1079 BC. All throughout the books of Exodus, Numbers, Joshua, and Judges, Israel was surrounded by hostile peoples. Which included the Amalekites, Edomites, Amorites, Canaanites, Arameans, Moabites, Ammonites, Midianites, and Philistines. Israel’s long-standing archenemies in the region, however, were her immediate neighbors: the Ammonites, Moabites, and Philistines.

According to the Old Testament, the Ammonites and Moabites were descended from Lot through his two daughters (Genesis 19:30-38). The Ammonites settled east of the Jordan River while the Moabites settled east of the Dead Sea. The Philistines were the Israelites’ adversaries during the years of the Judges and well into King David’s reign. The origin of the Philistines is still up for debate, but it was hypothesized that they were one of the Aegean peoples who settled on the Mediterranean coast around the same time as the arrival of the Israelites in the area.

Saul_at_War — “According to the Old Testament, the Ammonites and Moabites were descended from Lot through his two daughters (Genesis 19:30-38).”

Against the Ammonites

Saul went to war against the Ammonites, Moabites, and Philistines during the early years of his reign and was victorious against them. His first victory was against the Ammonite King Nahash. This was before Saul was even crowned the King of Israel (1 Samuel 11). The Israelites who lived in Jabesh-Gilead near the territory of the Ammonites sent a peace treaty to King Nahash, which he agreed to honor but laid out a condition that the right eye of each citizen will be gouged out in exchange. Saul rescued the people of Jabesh-Gilead after he mobilized thousands of men from Israel and Judah and launched a surprise attack against the Ammonites. The people of Israel held a ceremony in Gilgal that proclaimed him king after his victory against the Ammonites.

Against the Philistines

His next battle was against the Philistines, who lived on the west coast of the Mediterranean (1 Samuel 13). Due to the number of Philistine warriors and advanced weaponry that they used during the battle (1 Samuel 13:5, 1 Samuel 13:19), Saul, his son Jonathan, and their men were routed and dispersed. The Israelites were victorious against the Philistines later on with the help of Jonathan’s daring plan (1 Samuel 14:1-15) and the Philistine warriors’ confusion that resulted in them killing each other instead (1 Samuel 14:20).

Further Victories

Israel’s army led by King Saul was victorious later on against their hostile neighbors as summarized in 1 Samuel 14:47. He won battles against Moab, Ammon, the kingdom of Zobah (Aram-Zobah, in Syria, Edom (Idumea), and Philistia during this period.

References:
http://www.bible-history.com/maps/Map-Kingdom-of-Saul-enlarged.pdf http://www.britannica.com/topic/Philistine-people
http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/1703-aram-zobah
Picture By Artemisia Gentileschi – The Athenaeum: Home – info – pic, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6905206

Posted on March 7, 2016March 7, 2016 by Kat Cendana — 31 Comments

Abraham Lived During The Life Of Shem

He was no doubt familiar with antediluvian events and would have given to his generation a very direct account of the same.

Abraham was one of Shem’s most distinguished descendants. (The line of descent from Shem down to Abraham is listed in Genesis 11:10-26.) This is listed on the Bible Timeline Chart around 2004 BC. His ancestors were ordered as follows.

Ancestor	Age Upon Fatherhood	Age Upon Death
Shem	100	600
Arphaxad	35	438
Shelah	30	433
Eber	34	464
Peleg	30	239
Reu	32	239
Serug	30	230
Nahor	29	148
Terah	70	205
Abraham	100	175

Abraham and Shem — “The genealogy of Shem to Abraham according to the Bible”

“The genealogy of Shem to Abraham according to the Bible”

Abraham (then named Abram) was born in Ur of the Chaldeans in Mesopotamia when his father Terah was 70 years old. There were several generations linking Shem with Abraham. However, Shem was still alive when Abraham was born. As mentioned in Genesis 11:11, Shem lived 500 years more after the birth of Arphaxad. This overlapping of years between the two may have allowed Abraham to learn about the antediluvian events directly from one of the people who survived the flood such as Shem. This included the Genesis creation narrative, the story of Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, as well as other notable ancestors who came before Shem. Although the construction of the Tower of Babel was mentioned before the appearance of Abraham in Genesis 11, it is not clear whether Abraham lived before, during, or after this event.

References:
Picture By Drnhawkins – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6877274

Posted on March 1, 2016March 2, 2016 by Kat Cendana — 8 Comments

Circumcision, God’s Covenant With Abraham, The Law Of

God‘s covenant with Abraham with regards to the law of circumcision was a command given to Abraham by God instructing him to be circumcised. This event is listed on the Bible Timeline Chart around 1879 BC. God told Abraham that he and his descendants after him had to circumcise the flesh of their foreskins. This covenant between God and Abraham applied to all males of his generation and future generations. All had to be circumcised on the eighth day after birth. The circumcision was seen as a covenant between the participant and God. This was significant because it was a reminder of the covenant embedded into their flesh.

“The Vision of the Lord Directing Abraham to Count the Stars “

People who weren’t circumcised were viewed as sinfully stubborn people. God viewed males who refused to be circumcised as people who have walked contrary to God and are unfaithful to him. The refusal of circumcision was also seen as a confession of inequity, not only of said person but also of his forefathers. Even though God was very critical of the uncircumcised, in the covenant he also stated that if a person is circumcised and does not keep with the righteous requirements of the law while an uncircumcised person does, the latter shall be more favorably viewed upon.

This covenant was only limited to Jews and did not extend to Christians. For Christians, it was optional, but God did emphasize that following his commandments were more important.

References:
http://lavistachurchofchrist.org/LVanswers/2005/07-16.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brit_milah
https://www.gci.org/law/circumcision
Picture By Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld – Der Literarische Satanist, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5469755

Posted on February 23, 2016February 24, 2016 by Kat Cendana — Leave a comment

Joseph’s sons born in Egypt by Asenath, daughter of Potipherah, Priest of On – (1704 BC)

Manasseh and Ephraim were Joseph’s sons born in Egypt during the height of his power as Egypt’s administrator. This is listed on the Bible Timeline Chart around 1704 BC. Apart from their father’s high position in the Egyptian court, they were also descended from priests. This was through their mother Asenath and their grandfather Potiphera (not to be confused with the captain of the guard Potiphar in Genesis 39). Thereby cementing their position in the Egyptian society, as well as later in the establishment of Israel as a nation-state.

Their father’s story began in the 37^th chapter of Genesis after Jacob settled his family in the land of Canaan. The deep-seated envy of Joseph’s brothers resulted in him being sold to Ishmaelite traders and later on as a slave in Egypt. This story culminated in the succeeding chapters after he rose as Egypt’s ruler (second only to Pharaoh) by interpreting the king’s dreams about the years of abundance followed by years of famine. This life-changing moment also established Joseph as a member of Egypt’s elite. The Pharaoh personally gave him a new Egyptian name “Zaphenath-Paneah and gave him Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On (Sun City or Heliopolis, the modern-day suburb of Ain Shams), to be his wife.” (Genesis 41:45 NIV).

Jacob_with_Ephraim_and_Manasseh — Jacob with Ephraim and Manasseh

Joseph’s sons Manasseh and Ephraim were born before the years of famine. Joseph named his eldest Manasseh (‘to forget’ in Hebrew) because “God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household,” while his younger son was named Ephraim (‘to be fruitful’) “because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.” (Genesis 41:50-52 NIV) There are no records as to whether Joseph had more children by Asenath apart from Manasseh and Ephraim. The boys were later on blessed by Jacob in his deathbed.

References:
On (Heliopolis: Ancient City of Egypt)
Ain Shams
Manasseh: Meaning of Name and Background
Ephraim: Meaning of Name and Background
Picture By Owen Jones – http://www.gallery.oldbookart.com/main.php?g2_itemId=30588, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=18474305

Posted on February 3, 2016August 25, 2016 by Amy — Leave a comment

Mound Builders in Illinois (1000 B.C.)

Mound Builders were ancient civilizations that inhabited North America and built earthen mounds for religious, burial, ceremonial, and residential purposes during a 5,000-year period. They are listed on the Bible Timeline Poster starting around 1000 BC. The mound builders are divided into three groups: the Adena culture, the Hopewell culture, and the Mississippian culture. The Adena and Hopewell cultures were prominent during the Woodland period, which lasted from 1000 BC to 700 AD.

The Hopewell culture originated from southern Illinois and spread into Ohio and across the Midwest region. Their influence, however, extended from the Rocky Mountains to the Appalachians. The Hopewell people were renowned for their geometric earthworks. They built large dome-shaped or conical burial mounds with elaborate earthen walls. Some mounds even reaching 65 ft. They also built mounds that were effigies of animals. The areas of their geometric enclosures ranged from 2.5 to 120 acres or 1 to 50 hectares. Their earthworks were generally of ritual architecture.

The Hopewell people were skilled in crafts and arts. They made ceramic pots, wove mats, and even carved figures from metals, bones, and woods. They were also skilled in making spear points and knives. They had animal skins for clothing and wore jewelry from copper and shells. From the Illinois Valley, the Hopewell culture had spread by way of trading using well-developed trade routes. Major Hopewell settlements can be found in Ohio, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, New York, and Ontario.

Mound Builders — “The popular “Great Serpent Mound” situated in southern Ohio was constructed by the Adena culture.”

“The popular “Great Serpent Mound” situated in southern Ohio was constructed by the Adena culture.”

Before the emergence of the Hopewell culture, there was the Adena culture. The Adena is sometimes thought of as a precursor to the traditions of the Hopewell culture. The first group of mound builders, the Adena built small burial mounds of about 20-300 feet in diameter in Ohio, West Virginia, and the nearby states. The popular “Great Serpent Mound” situated in southern Ohio was constructed by the Adena culture. Following Hopewell was the Mississippian culture. It is the third group of mound builders, extending from the Mississippi Valley to Alabama, Georgia, and then Florida. The culture built large flat-topped mounds on which temples and meeting houses/residences were built.

Not much is known on why the three mound building cultures ended. Experts believe that invading tribes and warfare greatly contributed to it. What remains of these cultures are the earthworks they have built, which are scattered in several areas of North America.

References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mound_Builders
http://science.jrank.org/pages/4476/Mounds-Earthen-Hopewell-culture-c-2300-B-C-c-D-400.html
http://teachers.cpcsc.k12.in.us/jstanley/websites/Moundbuilders.htm
Photo By Ephraim George Squier and Edwin Hamilton Davis – Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley at [1], Public Domain, $3

Posted on August 1, 2015September 9, 2016 by Amy — Leave a comment

Arcadius, 395 AD

During the reign of Arcadius, there were numerous developments that took place which helped elevate the political and economic situation in Eastern Rome. However, the events that took place in the life of Arcadius was associated with significant challenges. Initially, he had little power because Rufinus assumed supremacy over Arcadius. As a result, the early years of Arcadius involved many difficulties from the power struggle between him and Rufinus and eventually Eutropius. His reign is listed on the Bible Timeline Chart with World History during 395 AD.

Background

Flavius Arcadius was the son of Aelia Flavia Flacilla and the great General Theodosius. His father was initially in charge of putting an end to the Visigoths‘ invasions which made the lives of the Balkans difficult. In fact, it was a grueling period for the Romans since the Visigoths and Ostrogoths gained considerable power as they defeated the Roman army. The death of Emperor Valens also added to the increasing problems of the empire. Theodosius’ first task appeared nearly insurmountable because of the challenges headed his way.

Theodosius was determined to give his son some legitimacy as a ruler in case he died while undertaking his campaigns. It was in 383 AD when the young Arcadius was given the title Augustus at a tender age of 5 or 6. Which was the year after, Honorius, the second son of Theodosius, was born. Honorius was only given the office of consul posterior, unlike Arcadius who had a higher political position.

“The emperor also sought the help of Constantinople’s religious and political leaders, which was one of his strategies in strengthening the power of the empire.”

Early Career

Arcadius received less independence during his early years in politics. During the late 380 AD, Theodosius assigned Tatian as the de facto emperor, and Arcadius had little power at this time. Titian soon became more powerful in the city of Constantinople, and this allowed him to gain more supremacy than the future emperors of Rome. In 392, Rufinus replaced Tatian and this new minister held greater authority. Meanwhile, Arcadius continued to be placed under the guardianship of high-ranked officials even until the death of Theodosius.

Arcadius 395 AD and Onwards

Before Arcadius formally began his rule in the eastern Roman Empire, he received an education from Themistius, who was a notable philosopher, speaker, and statesman. There were assumptions that this educator influenced Arcadius greatly in terms of the young ruler’s yearning to become an independent force. He also enacted laws that were anti-paganism and anti-heresy, thus granting him a reputation as a pious and devout Christian emperor. The emperor also sought the help of Constantinople’s religious and political leaders, which was one of his strategies in strengthening the power of the empire.

With Rufinus still possessing greater political power in the empire, Arcadius had less control of eastern Rome. In fact, Rufinus made Arcadius order the return of eastern armies; recognizing the pending dangers with regard to his power since he was a westerner currently ruling the east. There was also the tension existing between east and west as Stilicho, who was controlling Honorius’ reign in the west, took control of the eastern and western Roman armies. Stilicho also insisted in his guardianship and influence over Arcadius.

Arcadius’ early exposure in politics was a challenge, and it continued even when later in his career. Nevertheless, he exerted great efforts in banishing paganism and heresy during his rule, as well as creating stronger ties with the religious leaders and local government in Constantinople. This earned him a positive reputation.

References:
http://www.roman-emperors.org/arcadius.htm
http://www.roman-empire.net/constant/arcadius.html
http://biblehub.com/library/roberston/sketches_of_church_history_from_ad_33_to_the_reformation/chapter_xix_arcadius_and_honorius.htm

Posted on June 29, 2015October 20, 2016 by Amy — Leave a comment

Tuniit/Dorset Culture

The Tuniit/Dorset Culture is referred to as the culture of the Paleo-Eskimo. They lasted from 500 BC (where they are listed on the Bible Timeline Chart with World History) to 1500 BC. The culture got its name from Cape Dorset, which was located in Nunavut, Canada. It was in this place where there was initial evidence of the culture’s existence and origin. According to historians, there were four phases in this culture and the different stages were due to the variations in the technologies introduced by the people. There were also artifacts discovered to prove the existence of the Dorset culture such as soapstone lamps, burns, and triangular end-blades.

Details about the Culture

Studies made in 1925 established the fact that the Dorset were noted as an independent culture. Based on archeological research, the Dorset were extinct by the year 1500 BC because they were unable to adapt well to the Medieval Warm Period. The Dorset were displaced by the Thule, who were originally from Alaska. In Inuit legends, the Tuniit were driven away from their homes. They were believed to be very tall and strong individuals, yet they were beaten away easily.

Tuniit_Dorset_Culture — “With the decline in the amount of sea-ice during the Medieval Warm Period the Dorset’s way of life rapidly changed. They could not cope with the changes and decided to live in the High Arctic.”

“With the decline in the amount of sea-ice during the Medieval Warm Period the Dorset’s way of life rapidly changed. They could not cope with the changes and decided to live in the High Arctic.”

The four periods in the Dorset culture include the Early, Middle, Late and the Terminal. During the time that the Thule reached the Canadian Arctic, the terminal phase of the culture already began. The Thule once lived in Alaska and headed towards the east to Canada. The Terminal phase is also believed to be linked to the start of the Medieval Warm Period in 800 AD as the Arctic soon became warmer. Due to the harsh change in climate, the sea ice separated from the High Arctic.

Life of the Dorset

The Dorset lived in a bitterly cold environment, and they hunted sea mammals for food. With the decline of sea-ice during the Medieval Warm Period, the Dorset’s way of life rapidly changed. They could not cope with the changes and decided to live in the High Arctic instead. They adapted to their new environment and developed tools that helped them get by with their daily routines and activities.

An impressive fact about the Dorset was their immense understanding of the environment. Since they were not like the Thule Inuit, who obtained their food through whaling. The Dorset only hunted sea mammals from holes formed through the ice. They also did not use sophisticated bow and arrow, and this prevented them from hunting larger animals that lived on land. They only used harpoons that allowed them to hunt for seals. However, there were instances when they killed narwhals and walrus for food.

To keep themselves warm, they wore thick clothing. These people also made use of soapstone in making lamps that were filled with sufficient amount of seal oil to generate heat in their homes. As for engraving or carving purposes, they used burins that come with sharp edges that resembled a chisel. Their skills include creating masks and miniature carvings. They were also known for their shamanistic tradition.

References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorset_culture
http://anthropology.uwaterloo.ca/ArcticArchStuff/dorset.html
http://www.historymuseum.ca/cmc/exhibitions/archeo/paleoesq/ped01eng.shtml

Posted on June 23, 2015September 19, 2015 by Amy — Leave a comment

Paganism in Rome, End of

The end of paganism in Rome began during the latter years of Constantine the Great‘s rule. It is listed on the Bible Timeline Chart with World History around 508 AD. When Constantine had just begun his reign, he allowed pagan practices although they were not allowed to construct temples. Pagans continued to experience less freedom in performing their religious practices as years went by. They eventually witnessed the destruction of their temples, as ordered by the emperor.

Laws Against Paganism

During the reign of Constantius II, various edicts and laws were enacted to punish those who were involved in pagan practices. In fact, it started the suffering of pagans as they were executed by Christian authorities in Rome. By 350 AD, more and more laws were established including the persecution of individuals who worshiped “idols” and attended pagan activities. Pagan temples were also pillaged, and the Altar of Victory that was once at the Senate was removed. Some Christians were also involved in the destruction, vandalism and desecrating of pagan monuments, tombs and temples.

Meanwhile, paganism remained popular in Rome, despite the severity of the laws that were focused on individuals practicing their pagan traditions. There were also governors who remained passive about the imperial rules that targeted the pagans. Nevertheless these laws (which started during the reign of Constantius) slowly succeeded in ending paganism in the Roman Empire.

Pagan Persecutions

In 381, Theodosius ordered the widespread persecution of pagans in Rome. He put an end on pagan rituals and traditions, destroyed a vast number of temples and considered magistrates as criminals each time they failed to put anti-pagan laws into practice in their areas. Later during the rule of Theodosius there were more laws that banned paganism. For instance, Pagan holidays were no longer observed, temple visits were not allowed, and witchcraft was banned, to name a few. Soon, Pagan priests were killed, and there was a desecration of holy sites and symbols.

End_of_Paganism_in_Rome — “Pagans continued to experience less freedom in performing their religious practices as years went by. They eventually witnessed the destruction of their temples, as ordered by the emperor. “

“Pagans continued to experience less freedom in performing their religious practices as years went by. They eventually witnessed the destruction of their temples, as ordered by the emperor. “

Death sentence and confiscation of property were the consequences faced by people who continued to practice paganism. These harsh edicts were also viewed as a means of declaring war against traditional religious practices, and Christianity was seen as the primary religion in the empire.

Despite all of these sufferings, they remained true to their faiths. Some pagans defied the authority and the edicts that were passed, although this would mean risking their lives and their loved ones’. Yet, the anti-paganism laws became unbearable to the people, and many pagans were killed and tortured.

Back in 300 AD, only a small percentage of people in Rome were made up of Christians. In fact, Christianity was considered as the empire’s minority religion where only 10 percent of the citizens practiced this religion. However, several decades later, it became Rome’s official religion, and most of the people converted from other faiths and adopted Christian practices. This became more evident during the persecution of pagans, which ended this traditional religion in the Roman Empire.

References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decline_of_Greco-Roman_polytheism
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persecution_of_pagans_in_the_late_Roman_Empire
http://penelope.uchicago.edu/~grout/encyclopaedia_romana/greece/paganism/paganism.html