Biblical Timeline Poster – Page 8 – Amazing Bible Timeline with World History

Posted on April 4, 2014October 4, 2017 by Amy — Leave a comment

Domitian 81 AD

Domitian was the youngest of Emperor Vespasian’s sons. He is listed on the Biblical Timeline Poster with World History between 50 A.D. and 100 A.D. Though his father had arranged for him to become a future ruler of Rome he first had to wait until the end of his brother’s rule.

Emperor Titus was his brother and he ruled the land for only two years before passing away. He spent his early days being educated after his father became emperor. Domitian was isolated in his youth because his mother had died when he was a child and Vespasian was constantly fighting wars. His older brother Titus was a soldier as well. He really did not form close bonds with his family members.

After Nero was assassinated in 69 A.D. his father Vespasian managed to take over Rome and become emperor. Once in power Emperor Vespasian made Titus and Domitian his co-rulers and created legislation that set them up as future rulers of Rome. The Flavian Dynasty started with Vespasian and ended with Domitian.

Domitian the Unimportant Statesmen

Domitian was overshadowed by his brother during the time that their father ruled Rome. Titus was an accomplished general who had managed to put down an important rebellion in Judea. People might not have liked Titus that much but they did recognize his feats of greatness. Being an accomplished military man is very important for any person who wanted to take on public service in ancient Rome. Domitian ended up being placed in charge of religious ceremonies. Eventually his father Emperor Vespasian had died and his brother Titus had taken over as ruler. During Titus reign he also performed religious duties and consulships. Some historians suggested that Domitian didn’t care about his brother and even plotted to kill him. He didn’t really see his family that much and might not have formed a close bond to them. Emperor Titus supposedly found out about this plot but didn’t kill or banish his brother even though the reports were more than likely true. Emperor Titus finally passed away in 81 A.D. and Domitian had become emperor.

Domitian’s Rule over Rome

Domitian moved the power of the government to the palace and he banished the power of the senate. He then began to micromanage almost every aspect of Roman life. He also viewed himself as a cultural and moral guide for the people. He wanted to bring Rome to its former glory or to create a new era of greatness for the empire. He managed the treasury and filled it with lots of treasures that he received from taxes. He also built many public buildings and entertained the people with gladiator events. Some people referred to Domitian as a cruel person who was insane. He supposedly had persecuted Christians and Jews which was probably true. The events pertaining to the persecutions were probably overly exaggerated. People should keep in mind that Domitian was a religious man who spent a great deal of time overseeing the religious ceremonies of the empire. Since the early Romans didn’t care for the Jews and Christians he would have listened to the people when they called upon the emperor to deal with these unusual religious groups.

The Last Days of Domitian’s Reign

Domitian also wanted to keep the aristocracy powerless just like he did the senators so he made enemies. He had killed senators, executed deviants and did away with anyone who challenged his power. Eventually, a few of his enemies decided to assassinate him and in 96 A.D. they were successful. His death marked the end of the Flavian Dynasty and a new ruler named Nerva became emperor in his place. The senate tried to remove Domitian name from the imperial records.

References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domitian
http://www.nndb.com/people/963/000087702/
http://www.roman-emperors.org/domitian.htm
http://www.parthia.com/rome_domitian.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Domiziano_da_collezione_albani,_fine_del_I_sec._dc._02.JPG

Posted on April 4, 2014June 13, 2018 by Amy — Leave a comment

Nero 54 AD

Emperor Nero is considered one of the worst Roman rulers in the history of its republic and empire. Many of his contemporaries made him out to be a madman and that he was not well liked as a ruler. Some sources claimed that Nero was liked by the people, but his public appeal had waned after he supposedly set Rome on fire during his reign. He was known to persecute the early Christian believers who lived in Rome setting them on fire to light up the grounds near his palace during the night.

Nero’s Childhood in Rome

Emperor Nero was born in 37 A.D., and he came to power in 54 A.D. Where is he listed on the Bible Timeline Poster. Nero was born to Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus who was the relative of five Julio-Claudian Emperors. Agrippa the Younger was his mother. She eventually married Emperor Claudius, who adopted Nero as his son.

Shortly before this took place, Nero’s father died in 40 A.D., and he left him an inheritance. Emperor Caligula was the ruling emperor during the time of Gnaeus death. After he had seized Nero’s wealth, he forced him to live with his aunt, Domitia Lepidia. Nero was never expected to become emperor because his uncle Emperor Caligula could produce his own heir, but Caligula was not taking any chances. Agrippa did not have any power to stop him from altering Nero’s life because she had been exiled. Emperor Caligula was eventually assassinated, and Claudius became the next emperor.

Claudius pronounced Nero an adult at the age of 14 and gave him various responsibilities such as being proconsul and he made appearances around Rome with Claudius. He was also featured on Roman coins. When Claudius had passed away in 54 A.D., he became emperor.

Nero Rules Rome

Nero’s mother acted as regent because Nero was not fully an adult when he came to power. She ruled the kingdom until Nero moved her away a few years later into a residence far from the palace. Nero used sensible reforms when he was emperor, and he also kept politicians from engaging in corruption with the treasury. He participated in legal matters, and he prohibited condemned criminals and gladiators from dying in the games.

Nero was involved in deviant sexual practices and kept scandals going inside of the government. A famous historical incident occurred during his reign in which a huge fire was started, and a great deal of the city had burned down. Nero needed a scapegoat, and he blamed the Christians. He then began to persecute Christian people for this act even though they were not behind the incident. Nero went as far as to light up captured and condemned Christians as human torches for his parties and social events. This further damaged his reputation as a leader.

Nero left out of Rome on an extensive vacation to Greece, and while he was there, a famine and other problems had occurred. When he returned home, the people were ready for him to leave office. On June 9, AD 68, the notorious and deeply unpopular Nero fled to the port of Ostia to escape the members of the Praetorian Guard who were hunting him down. Ship captains refused to shelter him, and he was forced to flee to the outskirts of Rome to seek refuge. Nero asked his aide to assist in his suicide after he saw that he was already cornered by the Praetorian Guard. He died from the wound he sustained during the assisted suicide.

References:
http://www.roman-emperors.org/nero.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nero
http://www.thenagain.info/webchron/mediterranean/nero.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Nero_1.JPG

Posted on March 2, 2013October 4, 2017 by Margaret Hunter — Leave a comment

Diaspora of the Jews

After the third Jewish revolt occurred in 135 A.D. the Jewish people were scattered throughout the world by Emperor Hadrian. Since the time Rome had controlled Judea starting in 40 B.C., the Jews had been revolting and trying to gain their freedom. Rome had to suffer and put up with the Jews for almost 150 years before they finally decided to wipe them out and take their homeland from them. This is known as the Diaspora of the Jews and appears on the Biblical Timeline Poster in 135 AD.

A History of Jewish Exile

Diaspora_of_the_Jews — Roman Triumphal arch panel copy from Beth Hatefutsoth, showing spoils of Jerusalem temple.

Roman Triumphal arch panel copy from Beth Hatefutsoth, showing spoils of Jerusalem temple.

Jewish people were constantly deported from their homeland starting first with the Babylonians, then the Persians, the Greeks and finally the Romans. They enjoyed a brief period of autonomous rule that lasted during the Hasmonean Dynasty. This ended in 40 B.C. when King Herod used the Roman Empire to gain control of Judea. Since that point, the Jews had been fighting hard against Roman domination.

Revolts and Rebellions

The next 150 years of Jewish history was marked by rebellion and revolts against Rome. The Jews were tired of the Romans and their lack of respect for Jewish life. They formed militant resistance groups that came and went over the years. The Zealots were probably the most famous resistance group during this era. Many of the people might not have liked the things that the Zealots had done, but most of them were allied to their cause. Eventually, the Zealots rebellion culminated in the first Jewish-Roman war where Jerusalem was taken and the Temple of Solomon was destroyed by the Romans once and for all. Many Jewish people were sold into slavery or resettled into other cities. These events happened in 70 A.D. About 45 years later in 115 A.D. a second Jewish revolt happened and shortly after this event (in 132 A.D.) the Jews revolted a third time under the rule of Hadrian. This was the final straw and after they were defeated Hadrian deported the Jews, sold them into slavery and renamed Jerusalem to Aelia Capitolina and the kingdom of Judea was now called Palestine, Syria. This event would mark a significant changing point in the history of the Jewish people.

The Jews in Other Territories

Many of the Jews were scattered across the empire and they never were able to regain their homeland. So they developed their own communities in the cultures where they lived. Jews were now living in various parts of Africa, Rome, Greece, Asia Minor, Syria, Egypt and some had gone to India and even as far as China. In time, Jews migrated to Russia, Germany, Canada, Mexico, Brazil and the United States.

They concentrated on keeping their way of life and did not assimilate into the dominant cultures that surrounded them. They became powerful members of their society and many Jewish people were involved in banking and commerce. The Jews learned how to gain leadership positions and they pretty much kept to themselves in order to avoid as much conflict as possible. They were hard workers and a respectable people who did their best not to be a burden on the societies where they lived.

The events of World War II forced the Jews to once again back into their homeland. In 1949, the British took Palestine and gave it back to the Jewish people and all the Jews in the world now had a place to call home once again.

References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_diaspora http://fcit.coedu.usf.edu/holocaust/people/displace.htm http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/religion/portrait/diaspora.html http://www.israelmybeloved.com/channel/history_prophecy/section/diaspora_ii/index.html http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/History/Diaspora.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jews http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Arch_of_Titus_Menorah.png

Posted on February 25, 2013May 8, 2019 by Margaret Hunter — Leave a comment

Video Review of the Amazing Bible Timeline with World History

The author of Teach To Change Lives, Glenn Brooke, made and posted a video of The Amazing Bible Timeline on YouTube. We think it’s great since he includes pros and cons.

We especially like when he uses his foot to give you an idea of the size. Glenn also posted a review of the timeline on his excellent blog about Teaching to Change Lives.

In his written review Glenn mentions the PDF file we provide. We send that as a surprise bonus a few days after you order. We have another surprise bonus we send out a few days after that too. We like to delight you by providing more than you expect.

Posted on February 25, 2013July 16, 2018 by Margaret Hunter — Leave a comment

Bible Timeline As a Gift

The darling Ashley (we don’t know her but we think she’s adorable) is not showing our Bible World History Timeline but we still like her video.

This is a great gift for Father’s Day and birthdays as well as Christmas – and for dads, husbands and good friends not just grandfathers.

The advantages of the Bible Timeline Chart over a book:

You can see it all in one view – without opening page after page
It’s compact – you don’t need a 20 foot wall to see it all
It has world history too – Find out what’s happening all over the world (China, Europe, The Americas) during any Biblical time period on up to 2000 AD
You can frame it and hang it on a wall – makes a great conversation piece.

Order the Amazing Bible World History Timeline Today- and get Interactive Maps of the Holy Land FREE! (limited time offer)

Tell me more about the Amazing Bible World History Timeline

Posted on February 14, 2013July 20, 2016 by Margaret Hunter — Leave a comment

Buddhism in Ancient China, History of

The kingdoms of China were located to the north of India. Buddhism, which began during the sixth century BC, reached these lands during the rule of the Han Dynasty. The Silk Road was the primary overland trade route that connected many regions within central Asia, the Middle East, and southern Europe. The Buddhist monks in India began to slowly make their way across the Silk Road into China. Chinese monks also visited the land of India via the Silk Road. Many Chinese and Indian monks also lived side by side. Quite a few Chinese monks had learned about Buddhism through these holy men. Scholars and historians like to emphasise that the Mahayan form of Buddhism is the type that took root in China. The Theravada branch formed in eastern and southeastern Asia and Sri Lanka. Buddhism finally started to appear in China around 65 B.C. which is where this event appears on the Biblical Timeline Poster with World History.

Buddhism and Daoism Compete in Early China

Once Buddhism spread to China it had to compete with a religious belief called Daoism (Taoism) which motivated its followers to live according to “The Way” or the truth. Buddhism and Daoism beliefs were separate. Buddhism emphasized suffering while Daoism stressed order and morality. Eventually, both systems began to mix with one another. Most of the commoners did not accept Buddhism right away and it wasn’t until the Age or Era of Disunity that the locals started to embrace this belief system. The Age of Disunity was a time period of civil war that occurred after the collapse of the Han Dynasty. There was a lot of suffering for many local peasants and they finally made a connection between the concept of suffering that is found in Buddhism and the turmoil they were experiencing during the civil wars. This resulted in Buddhism playing a more prominent role in their lives.

China,Buddhism_Spreads — Ancient Depiction of Buddha

Buddhism is Widely Accepted by the Chinese

Buddhism eventually became the state religion of China and different leaders both domestic and foreign used Buddhism as a means to unify the people. They also used it to control the people as well. Buddhist temples and monasteries began to spring up all over China after Buddhism was first introduced. This took place over time too as people began to learn more about this newfound religion. The changes that Buddhism brought upon China were not immediate or apparent. In time the Chinese people embraced Buddhism and this religion began to flourish. Chinese Buddhism eventually became so widespread that it has influenced million of peoples all over the world.

References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_Buddhism
http://chineseculture.about.com/od/religioninchina/a/Buddhism.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Longmen-lu-she-na-1.jpg

Posted on January 22, 2013October 4, 2017 by Margaret Hunter — 2 Comments

Syria Becomes a Roman Province

Syria became a province of Rome in 64 BC, which is where this appears on the Biblical Timeline Poster with World History. Prior to this, The Seleucid Empire was formed around 320 B.C. and the Seleucid rulers set up their empire’s capitol in Antioch, Syria. After the Empire was forged, it began a constant series of wars against its enemies.

Syria_a_Roman_Province_64_BC — Map of the Roman Empire during 116, the province Syria highlighted.

Map of the Roman Empire during 116, the province Syria highlighted.

The Seleucids fought against the Ptolemy Dynasty and the various rebels that rose up against their power. They battled against Asian forces in the east and waged war in the southernmost parts of their territories. The Seleucid’s were winning and losing battles and territories, and they had managed to stay in power for nearly three centuries until the arrival of the Romans.

Before Rome finally took over Syria in 64 B.C. they had already defeated the province under the rule of Antiochus III. Once they defeated Antiochus III they made the region a tributary state. They also established the Treaty of Apamea. The treaty specified Roman terms for Seleucid rulers in Syria. Some of the conditions of this treaty included surrendering 20 royal hostages to Rome for a certain period, the payment of tribute to Rome and that Syria couldn’t recruit mercenaries from Roman territories. This treaty was created in 188 B.C., and it lasted for over 70 years until the arrival of Pompey.

The Roman Republic was on the verge of becoming a powerful empire around 70 B.C. They had conquered and defeated many territories in Africa and various parts of Europe. The Romans won a series of battles and were virtually undefeated under the leadership of Pompey. Pompey made his way into Syria to annex the province or to make it a permanent part of the empire. The reason for this decision was that Rome no longer wanted to continue to keep fighting with this territory that wanted to be free from their rule. In the past, Syria was ruled from a position of independence and the reason for this was because Rome wasn’t strong enough to directly control the territories that they defeated. They had to rely on their allies to help keep outside areas compliant with their terms.

When Pompey entered Syria Antiochus XIII Asiaticus was the king. Pompey had him killed by a Syrian chieftain. The death of Antiochus XIII ended the Seleucid Dynasty. Once Syria had become a part of the Roman Empire, they were used as a buffer state to safeguard the western empire from Parthia and other anti-Roman forces in the east. Syria was also used for its wealth since it was situated in a strategic location. Many kingdoms and empires transported their goods to and through Syria.

The local inhabitants of Syria were nomadic tribes and they hadn’t had their own independence since the Assyrians conquered the territories in 700 B.C. When the Syria became a province of Rome the nomadic people were so used to living under foreign rulers that they too just complied with their new rulers.

They continued in their traditional ways of life, but they also intermingled with the Greeks who settled in the region as well. When Syria became a Roman province, they slowly adopted some of the customs of the Roman Empire. Ultimately, Rome ruled Syria up until the time that the Empire collapsed.

References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Syria)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antiochus_XIII_Asiaticus
http://www.unrv.com/provinces/syria.php
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Apamea
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Syria_SPQR.png

Posted on December 21, 2012October 4, 2017 by Margaret Hunter — Leave a comment

Antiochus III of the Seleucid Empire of Syria

King Antiochus II Soter was assassinated by his Laodice I and after his death she placed their son King Seleucus II on the throne. He ruled from 246 B.C. to 225 B.C. but he eventually lost his life in a horse riding accident. Before he died he had two sons and their names were Seleucus III and Antiochus III. Seleucus III took over the throne after his father died, but he was assassinated a few years later. This is when Antiochus III came to power and also when he appears on the Biblical Timeline Poster with World History.

King Antiochus III came to power when the Seleucid Empire was going into decline. Bactria and Parthia had broken away many years earlier under Antioch II Soter. The previous two rulers didn’t have any success with trying to restore order either and, as a result, the kingdom was becoming more unstable. Two more empires broke away from the empire; Media and Persis. The Seleucid Dynasty was losing control of their lands and their empire was in danger of crumbling.

When King Antiochus III took over the empire he was young and in need of guidance. His counselors directed him to wage war against the Egyptian ruler Ptolemy in Syria instead of dealing with the rebels. As a result of this advice he was not only defeated in battle by Ptolemy he started to lose the respect of the people. After his defeat in Syria, he redirected his efforts to the rebels and managed to get Medes and Persis back under control. He then resumed the war against Egypt once again. His cousin Achaeus had managed to control the rebellions in Asia Minor and when he put them down he declared himself king. King Antiochus III decided to allow him to keep this position until he was finished dealing with Syria.

King Antiochus III was defeated once again and this time he had to retreat into Asia Minor. Once he was there he killed Achaeus. He retook Asia Minor and began to travel back to the north and east to regain lost territories in these regions. He then made his away across the empire until he reached India.

Antiochus_III_of_the_Seleucid_Empire_of_Syria — Antiochus III The Great

After reclaiming lost lands in this region, he became known as King Antiochus the Great. His conquests were grand, but he still didn’t compare with King Alexander. He then returned to the western half of his empire to take on the Egyptians in Syria once again. He fought a series of battles and eventually won the territory.

While King Antiochus III was trying to reestablish his empire the Romans realized what was happening under his rule. King Antiochus was now pushing his forces into Greece and encroaching on the outer borders of the Roman Empire. The Romans didn’t want this so the Romans went to war with him and defeated him at the battle of Thermopylae. After this incident, Rome took control of Asia Minor. General Hannibal from Carthage was hiding out in the court of King Antiochus III and he tried to rout the Romans with his help. This too proved to be unsuccessful. King Antiochus III then headed east to try and recapture some more lands for his fledging empire, but he died during this campaign in 187 B.C. He had eight children by his wife Laodice of Pontus and Seleucus IV Philopator.

After the reign of King Antiochus III, the Seleucid Dynasty was near its end. The empire had fragmented and the Romans were now controlling his lands. The future Seleucid rulers after him could not hold the empire together and it finally came to an end in 63 B.C.

References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antiochus_III_the_Great
http://www.livius.org/am-ao/antiochus/antiochus_iii.html
http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/1588-antiochus-iii-the-great

Posted on December 10, 2012November 21, 2022 by Margaret Hunter — 2 Comments

Pericles of Greece

Pericles was a famous Greek leader and military commander. He was an exceptional Greek statesmen who instituted democracy in the Greek world. Though he would ultimately become a highly regarded member of Athenian society, his early years would not have been an indication of his future greatness.

Pericles was born to an important Athenian family known as the Alcmeonids, and they were members of the Acamantis tribe. His family was very wealthy, and Pericles was able to spend the early days of life pursuing his love of learning and expanding his knowledge. Once Pericles became a strong and able bodied young man he served in the military. He became a distinguished soldier during the Peloponnesian war, and he also fought in other conflicts against Persia. His service in the war was so outstanding that some of the leading members of Athens society called it the “Age of Pericles.”

Pericles returned from his military service and was soon elected to become the leader of the Athenian people. This event occurred in 460 B.C. (which is where he appears on the Biblical Timeline Poster with World History) after he had gotten rid of some of his political rivalries. Once he was in power, he began to erect many statues and developed the landscape of Athens with many civil buildings and parks. He developed the democratic process. He first worked in the law courts of Athens before he gained power as the ruler of Athens.

Once he was in power, he began to pass laws and perform services that greatly benefitted the Greeks and their society. He helped the poor in their plight by offering them free services and allowing them to attend the theater without charge. He opposed the Spartans during his time in office, and he was the first Greek to propose payment for politicians. Soldiers were also paid salaries for their services. He also established rules for leadership where Athenian parentage played an important role.

Pericles developed art and music during his time in power, and Athens became a cultural center due to his efforts. He enacted many reforms and policies that brought about peace to the land of Athens for many years despite the fact that troubles constantly plagued the city. Outside colonies were established by the Athenians under his rule, and they would be used to help support missions in foreign lands. He also aided Egypt during their conflicts with the Persians in the 4th century B.C. Pericles performed other great civil works and even managed to get all of the warring Greek city-states to agree to a period of peace with the exception being Sparta.

Pericles had two sons who later died when an outbreak of disease occurred in Athens. He also had lost his position as a leader and was deposed by some leading members of Athens society. In time he was reelected to lead once again but he died six months after he was reelected the second time in 429 B.C. Pericles was considered the first true Athenian because of all of the transformations that he made to Athenian society during his time in power. His efforts helped to forge Athens into one of the most powerful city-states in the ancient world, and he helped to change forever the system of democracy.

References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pericles
http://www.ancientgreece.com/s/People/Pericles/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Pericles_Pio-Clementino_Inv269_n2.jpg

Posted on November 18, 2012September 15, 2015 by Margaret Hunter — Leave a comment

Magadha, The Kingdom of

The kingdom of Magadha was founded around 500 B.C. (which is where it appears on the Biblical Timeline Poster ) by an aggressive ruler named Bimsiara Magadha. The kingdom started off as a small territory that was a part of a federation of kingdoms known as the Maha Janapadas. King Bimsiara used a variety of tactics to expand the small kingdom of Magadha into the most dominant realm in the region. His tactics included warfare, politics, and arranged marriages. King Bimsiara’s influence was extremely strong while he was alive but once he died around 495 B.C., the kingdom began to fall apart. Before this particular Indian kingdom fell apart, it had played a major role in the development of Buddhism and Jainism.

Prince Siddhartha Gautama was also known historically as the Buddha or “the Enlightened One” of the current age. This former Indian monarch established the religion of Buddhism. While he was forming the core doctrine of this belief system, he traveled to the kingdom of Magadha. But this was during the 6th century B.C. When he visited this land he was influenced by some of the teachings and beliefs that were flourishing in this region. One of the major tenants of Buddhism is that liberation can be achieved through the knowledge of self and people already practiced this particular discipline as a part of their culture. Magadha religious practices also influenced Buddha’s teachings on rebirth and karma. Jainism was also influenced by Magadha religious practices. Both of these religious beliefs systems are described as a “holy” or “blessed” place because of how the people and the area influenced their religious founders in the past.

Once King Bimsiara built the Kingdom of Magadha he had to defend it against the advancing armies of the Persian Empire who harassed them for years. The Persians entered into the region of India around 500 B.C. which was the same period that Magadha was being formed. King Bimsiara knew that if he didn’t hold the Persians back that his kingdom would be in ruins. During his rule, he managed to keep the Persians from gaining control of his lands.

The kingdom of Magadha was divided into Republican communities, and many of the villages had their own local forms of government which included assemblies made up of the executive, judicial and military functions. Urban centers developed around 550 B.C., and this corresponds to the period that Buddhism and Jainism were starting to take root in the land. The kingdom was also situated by the Ganges River in India, and this allowed it to control and develop trade beyond its borders.

The Kingdom of Magadha was in existence before it became a prominent territory under the leadership of Bimsiara. The territory was formally established around 700 B.C. with sixteen other kingdoms but it didn’t hold an important position in India until Bimsiara gained control. King Bimsiara had many children, and his oldest child was named Ajatasatru. Prince Ajatasatru was an outstanding young man who was as strong and smart as he was handsome. One day King Bimsiara decided to give his children some gifts, but he didn’t give his oldest son anything on that day. The reason he didn’t give Ajatasatru a gift is because he was going to give him the kingdom of Magadha. Unfortunately, the young prince was offended by his father’s perceived negligence, and he had King Bimsiara imprisoned. Once the king was jailed Prince Ajatasatru took over the throne. He was cursed by his family, but he still continued to rule. The king died either by suicide or murder, and history is not clear as to which one of these two ill-fated forms of death claimed his life. King Ajatastru continued an aggressive campaign of conquest during his time in power. Eventually, he passed away and other rulers such as Udayabhadra, Munda, and Pandhuka.

Alexander the Great eventually made his way near Magadha around 321 B.C. but he did not fight against this empire because his soldiers mutinied and refused to go to war. So the Greek King left and returned home. Shortly after Alexander the Great visited the kingdom, it went into decline. The Maurya Empire eventually rose to power within the region and took over as the dominant state.

References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magadha
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ajatashatru
http://www.kidspast.com/world-history/0120-kingdom-of-magadha.php
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/356381/Magadha
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Buddha_in_Sarnath_Museum_(Dhammajak_Mutra).jpg