History 101

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After the Roman Empire
The Modern World

Divine and World History

The Dream

The Bible Story

The Dream Interpretation of Daniel - around 500 B.C.
The Rise and Fall of the Great Empires

Head - Babylonian (now central Iraq, time of Daniel)
Chest - Medes/Persian (now Iran, time of Queen Esther)
Waist - Greek (time of Alexander the Great until Cleopatra VII)
Legs - Roman (time of Julius Caesar, Augustus Caesar, Herod, Jesus of Nazareth, the Apostles, Paul of Tarsus, Nero, Constantine)
Feet - Various kingdoms and nations (from 410 A.D. to present day)
Rock (aimed to strike feet) - coming of the Kingdom of Heaven (God's kingdom)

Bible

This phenomenal best-selling set of Bible stories is arguably the most complete and most accurate collection available. Beautifully illustrated with pictures your child will never forget. Cecil B. DeMille described the set as a wonderful translation of the Bible for children. These stories will bring the Bible alive for your child. President John F. Kennedy had this set available for John John and Carolyn. Queen Elizabeth II asked Uncle Arthur for a set for the royal family.
 

The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

From left to right, top to bottom: Great Pyramid of Giza, Hanging Gardens of Babylon, Temple of Artemis, Statue of Zeus at Olympia, Mausoleum of Maussollos, Colossus of Rhodes and the Lighthouse of Alexandria.

seven wonders of the world
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Great Wall of China
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The structure was erected over a period of almost 2,000 years, by different builders. The earliest parts were constructed between 453 and 221 B.C., when rival war lords built walls to keep each other at bay. In the 3rd century B.C. (221-206 B.C.), the first emperor to unify China, Qin Shi Huang Di, erected walls to protect China from northern invaders. His successors, the Han emperors, who ruled China for more than 400 years (206 B.C.-220 A.D.), extended the walls westward. However, much of what we now call the Great Wall was built in the 14th through 17th centuries, during the Ming dynasty.

The Roman Empire

The Roman Empire dominated much of the civilized world from 300 B.C. to 450 A.D. because of its favorable relative location. Italy, with its long coastline and good harbors, jutted into the Mediterranean Sea. It was centrally located between Greece and the Middle East to the east, the Iberian Peninsula to the west, and North Africa to the south. The Roman Empire used its naval superiority to carry its legions all around the Mediterranean Sea to add to its empire. Rome overcame its mountainous terrain by building a network of roads to link cities on the Italian peninsula. Its Mediterranean climate was no different from the climate of the regions it conquered. One reason Rome expanded was to acquire natural resources of iron and copper that it lacked.

PLATO

Julius Caesar
Title: Julius Caesar (real name: Gaius Julius)

Veni, vidi, vici is a famous Latin sentence spoken by Julius Caesar in 47 BC.

Caesar's terse remark -- translated as "I came, I saw, I conquered" -- simultaneously proclaimed the totality of his victory and served to remind the senate of Caesar's military prowess (Caesar was still in the midst of a civil war); alternatively, the remark can be viewed as an expression of Caesar's contempt for the patrician senate, traditionally representing the most powerful group in the Roman Republic.

Romans
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King Herod the Great supported the campaigns of Julius Caesar when Julius Caesar defeated his rivals to rule the Roman Empire and conquered the lands in the Middle East, he chose Herod the Great to rule Israel. The family of Herod belongs to Edom - from Esau, the twin brother of Jacob (Israel). Esau traded half of his birthright for a bowl of stewed red beans with Jacob. Thus, there is a long history of antagonism between the descendants of Jacob and of Esau throughout Old Testament history.

Edom (Hebrew: אֱדוֹם, Standard Edom Tiberian ʾĔḏôm ; "red") is a name given to Esau in the Hebrew Bible, as well as to the nation descending from him. The nation's name in Assyrian was Udumi; in Greek, Ἰδουμαία (Idoumaía); in Latin, Idumæa or Idumea.

 

Cleopatra VII

Cleopatra VII of Egypt also supported Julius Caesar and won his favor.

Sphinx, Giza, Egypt
Sphinx, Giza, Egypt

She became the Queen of the Nile and last Egyptian pharaoh. She even bore Julius Caesar's son, Caesarion ("Little Caesar" or "Little Emperor"), even though Julius Caesar was already married.

Cleopatra VII
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She was a descendant of Ptolemy (the first Ptolemy  to rule Egypt around 323 B.C. was the Greek general of   Alexander the Great from Macedonia). 

 

Ptolemy I
Ptolemy I

Alexander on horseback
alexander on horseback

Alexander the Great
Alexander the Great

The Empire of Alexander the Great
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Cleopatra VII
Cleopatra VII
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When Julius Caesar was being influenced by Cleopatra to act like a monarch, this angered the Roman elders (Senate) who valued their democratic rule and republican government (the Roman Empire allowed polytheism -- worship of different gods and goddesses -- as long as it did not interfere with the Roman authority. Rome should be above all else). This led to the assassination of Julius Caesar...

Assassination of Julius Caesar
Death of Julius Caesar
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Later on, she got involved with the Roman general and statesman Mark Antony. They eventually got married (even if Mark Antony was already married), and with the support of her husband, fought a war against Rome over disputed territories. Cleopatra was defeated, her son (Caesarion) was assassinated and Mark Antony tried to kill himself. After Mark Antony's death, she committed suicide (snakebite) in 30 B.C. instead of subjugating herself to Rome under  Augustus Caesar (heir and nephew of Julius Caesar). Egypt then became a Roman province.

Augustus Caesar
Augustus Caesar

Augustus, the first ruler of Rome after it became an empire, restored civil order, peace, and prosperity to a Rome that had suffered several decades of civil wars following the assassination of Julius Caesar. Born Gaius Octavius and adopted by Caesar, he was given the name Augustus, which means “consecrated,” by the senate after he avenged Caesar’s death and consolidated his power. He later received the title, imperator, from which was derived the word “emperor.”

Joseph and Mary
Woman on donkey

Born in a manger
Nativity

Madonna and Child
Madonna and Child
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Mary looked down on the child in her arms. This was the baby everybody wanted. He would bring joy to the world and give everyone the promise of eternal life.

bethlehem-star
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Following the Star
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Magi (Majusian)From old Persian language, a priest of Zarathustra (Zoroaster). The Bible gives us the direction, East and the legend states that the wise men were from Persia (Iran) - Balthasar, Melchior, Caspar - thus being priests of Zarathustra religion, the mages.www.farsinet.com/wisemen/magi.html

Wise Men and King Herod the Great
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King Herod the Great  received the wise men from the east (Persia, now Iran). They were looking for the newborn king of Israel.

 
 
 
 
 

www.whatsaiththescripture.com
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"And Wise Men Came Bearing Gifts" by Tom duBois is provided courtesy of Christ-Centered Art

Wise Men

When the wise men did not return to King Herod the Great to report, he ordered that all children in Bethlehem, two years and below, be killed. The family of Jesus fled to Egypt. King Herod the Great feared for a rival to the throne of Israel; he was only appointed to rule over Israel by the Roman Empire.

John Baptizes Jesus in Jordan River
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And John testified, "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God."

Peter in Deep Water
Jesus and Peter
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When Peter saw Jesus walking on the water, he stepped boldly out of the boat to meet Him. But when Peter took his eyes off Jesus and saw the wind and waves, he began to sink. Peter cried out to the Lord and Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught Peter. As they climbed into the boat together, the storm ceased. Then the disciples worshipped Jesus, "Truly you are the Son of God."

The Last Supper
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Pontius Pilate
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Pontius Pilate (died c. AD 36) Roman prefect of Judaea(AD 26-36) who presided at the trial of Jesus of Nazareth and gave the order for his crucifixion. The New Testament represents Pilate as a weak and vacillating man who found no fault with Jesus but ordered his execution to please the mob calling for his death. Known for his severity toward the Jews, he was eventually ordered back to Rome to stand trial for cruelty and oppression. A tradition of uncertain accuracy holds that he killed himself on orders from Caligula in AD 39; another legend relates that both Pilate and his wife converted to Christianity. (www.livius.org/pi-pm/pilate/pilate01.htm)

Take Care of My Mother
Cross
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Mary, the mother of Jesus, knelt by cross, her heart broken by grief. She heard Jesus whispered words asking his friend John to care for her.

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The Risen Christ

The Incredulity of Saint Thomas
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By Caravaggio

40 Days and the Last Great Sermon on the Mount
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Only these few wonderful words remain of that last great sermon on the mount: "All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world."

http://biblia.com/bible/temp-herod.htm
temple at the time of Jesus
The Temple at the Time of Jesus and His Apostles

Apostle James
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He became the overseeing pastor of the Jerusalem church

The Seven (7) Churches
7 Churches
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Rabbi Paul of Tarsus
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By El Greco

Paul of Tarsus was the most successful person to spread Christianity throughout Palestine, Asia Minor (present-day Turkey), Greece, and Rome.  He wrote letters (called epistles) detailing Christian behavior. These became part of the New Testament.Emperor Nero began the persecution of Christians in Rome. After the disastrous fire in Rome in 64 C.E. Nero had Christians, including Peter and Paul, killed.

The Crucifixion of St. Peter
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By Caravaggio

Martyrdom of St. Paul
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By Hendrik Goltzius (16th - 17th century)

Christian Martyrs' Last Prayer
Christian  martyrs last prayer
Painted by Leon Gerome in 1883

The Roman Empire's Colosseum in Rome - then, as site for entertainment and persecution. Once held up to 50,000 spectators who came to watch gory games involving gladiators, wild animals, and prisoners.

Circus Maximus, Rome
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Site of entertainment and persecution

Circus Maximus, Rome
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Jerusalem 70CE
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Jerusalem 70CE
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Romans destroyed and burned Jerusalem

Arch of Titus in Rome
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Triumphal arch commemorated the capture and sack of Jerusalem in 70CE

Arch of Titus
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Sack of Jerusalem depicted on the inside wall of the Arch of Titus in Rome, Italy

Chennai, India
St. Thomas Mount, Church Right Atop Hillock
St. Thomas Mount

St. Thomas Mount is linked to St. Thomas, the renowned `apostle` of Jesus Christ, who is thought to achieve its martyrdom here. As per the popular saying, St. Thomas was one of the pioneering Christian missionaries who came to India in order to propagate the teachings of Christianity. He is supposed to have arrived at South India in AD 52, and also spent the final years of his life in a fissure that was built on this mount. According to the local belief, Thomas was killed with the aid of an arrow in AD 72, by his enemies. Thus, the hill acquired the name St. Thomas Mount.

Jewish Diaspora 1CE
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Pompeii
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Temple of Jupiter

Map
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Roman Volcano Erupted
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Vesuvius seen from Pompeii, August 25th 79CE

John on the Island of Patmos
John
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The disciple John saw visions of the future all the way down to the end of time.

Constantine I
constantine
27 February ca. 272 to 22 May 337 AD

Constantine turned the history of the world into a new course. In 313, he issued the Edict of Milan, legalizing Christian worship, and the emperor would be a great patron of the Church and set a precedent for the position of the Christian Emperor within the Church that would be followed for centuries.(The Edict) removed penalties for professing Christianity (under which many had been martyred in previous persecutions of Christians) and returned confiscated Church property.

In Hoc Signo Vinces
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In hoc signo vinces is a Latin phrase meaning "in this sign you shall conquer."

According to legend, Constantine I adopted this as a motto after his vision of a cross on the sky just before the Battle of Milvian Bridge against Maxentius in the year 312. The historian Eusebius states that Constantine was marching with his army, when he looked up to the sun and saw a cross of light above it! At first, Constantine didn't know the meaning of the apparition, but in the following night, he had a dream in which Christ explained to him that he should use the sign against his enemies.

Byzantine Empire
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Hagia Sophia
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Justinian I
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Emperor Theodosius
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In AD 380 emperor Theodosius took the final step and made Christianity the official religion of state. Severe punishments were introduced for people who disagreed with the official version of Christianity.

Roman Empire
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By 400, the Roman Empire had extended its control over Western Europe from the Mediterranean Sea north to the Baltic Sea and from the Atlantic Ocean east to include much of what is now Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. However, the Roman Empire collapsed in the 5th century resulting in a disunited Europe in 800. By 400, Christianity had spread into Western Europe where it competed with native pagan religions. The Mongols invaded Europe in the 13th century.

Dream Image
Dream Image
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In a dream, the king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, saw a great image with a head of gold, a chest of silver, a waist of brass and legs of iron.

Time Idol
http://www.pathlights.com/Bible%20School/index.htm
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All of this history serves to illustrate for us that no good ever comes from our best efforts, our self effort in the Christian life, which is the root source of what the Bible calls "the flesh." Only the works of G-d, the works of the Holy Spirit done through us when we are obedient and submissive to G-d---have any lasting worth. All else will, in the end, be destroyed.

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Melchizedek (King of Righteousness)
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Byzantine art

In Genesis, Melchizedek is also referred to as king of Salem i.e. Jerusalem), and priest of El Elyon. El-Elyon can be translated as most high god, and is usually interpreted as a reference to the sole God of the Old Testament.

Melchizedek and Abraham
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Melchizedek was the ancient King of the area now known as Jerusalem. The Title Melchizedek is comprised of two words Melechi meaning My king and Tzedeq meaning righteous. Together this is loosely interpreted as My King Is Righteous or My Righteous King. In Hebrews 7:1 to 3 we read ‘ For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the most high, who met Abraham returning from the battle of the Kings, and blessed him; To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first by interpretation King of Righteousness, and after that also king of Salem, which is, King of peace; Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days nor end of life; but made like the Son of God; abideth as a priest for ever.

The Eucharist
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Communion

Jesus as the High Priest
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An eternal priesthood in the order of Melchizedek

Franciscans, since 13th century
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Capharnaum, Galilee
Capharnaum
The town of Jesus

Cana, Galilee
First Miracle
First Miracle

Mount Tabor
Mount Tabor (Trasfiguration)
Transfiguration

Tabgha
Church of the Primacy
Church of the Primacy of Peter

Bethlehem, Judea
Milk Grotto
Milk Grotto

Bethlehem
Shepherds' Field
Shepherds' Field

Ein Kerem, Jerusalem, Judea
St. John
Church of St. John

Ein Kerem, Jerusalem
Visitation
Church of the Visitation

Church of Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem
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Holiest site

Diagram
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Church of the Holy Sepulchre
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Edicule

Chapel
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Chapel of True Cross
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Coptic Chapel
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Ethiopian Chapel
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Church of the Holy Sepulchre
Calvary Steps
Calvary Steps

Celebrating Mass
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Franciscans

Catholicon Looking East
Catholicon Looking East

Mount of Olives, Jerusalem
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Church of Pater Noster, built 4th century, reconstructed 12th century and 20th century

Church and Convent of the Pater Noster
Church and Convent of the Pater Noster

Church of the Pater Noster
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Plaques in the cloister bear the Lord's Prayer in 62 different languages

Church of All Nations
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St. Anne Church
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Church of Dominus Flevit
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Mary Magdalene Russian Church
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Interior of Mary Magdalene Russian Church
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Abbey of the Dormition on Mount Zion
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Jaffa, Judea
St. Peter's Church
St. Peter's Church

Cairo -Musky, Egypt
Latin Church of the Assumption
Latin Church of the Assumption

Beirut, Lebanon
st. joseph
St. Joseph

Tripoli, Lebanon
Couvent de Terre Sainte
Couvent de Terre Sainte (St. Francis)

Damascus - Bab Touma, Syria
St. Paul
Eglise Latine (St. Paul)

Damascus
damascs-s.paolo
Tabbaleh (Memorial of St. Paul)

Lattakia, Syria
Sacred Heart of Jesus
Eglise Latine (Sacred Heart of Jesus)

Larnaka, Cyprus
St. Mary
S. Maria delle Grazie Catholic Church

Limassol, Cyprus
St. Catherine's Catholic Church
St. Catherine's Catholic Church

Rhodes, Greece
S. Maria delle Vittorie Parish
S. Maria delle Vittorie Parish (Our Lady of Victory)

Santiago de Compostela, Spain
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Christian legends tell that St. James the Elder, one of the twelve apostles of Christ, had traveled widely on the Iberian Peninsula, bringing Christianity to the Celtic peoples. Following his martyrdom in Jerusalem around 44 AD, his relics were supposedly taken back to Spain and enshrined. Due to Roman persecution however, the early Spanish Christians were forced to abandon the shrine and, with the depopulation of the area following the fall of the Roman Empire, the location of the shrine was forgotten. In 813 or 838 AD, so the legend goes, a hermit led by a beckoning star and celestial music discovered the location of the buried relics.

Statue of St. James the Elder
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Kerala, India since 52CE
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Thomas Didaemus (one of the 12 apostles of Jesus) is believed to have landed here and built a church

The Rewards to the Faithful Followers of Jesus

New Heaven
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New Earth
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