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563
Founder of Buddism is Born
Siddahartha Gautama was born into a noble family that lived in Nepal. A prophecy said that if the boy stayed at home, he would become a great leader. To make sure this prophecy would become true, his father isolated him in his palace. One day, when Siddhartha was 29 years old, he went out of the palace and noticed how much sufferring there was in the world. He then decided to spend his life trying to find religious truth and an end to suffering. From then on, he was know as the Buddha. -
Sep 14, 650
Hinuism Evolves Over Centuries.
Hinduism is a collection of religious beliefs from over a long period of time. Faithful follows of Hinduism recite verses from the Vedas. Between 750 BC and 550 BC, Hindu teachers tried to interpret and find the hidden meaning of the Vedic Hymns. Hindus belief in Reincarnation and Karma. Hindus are polytheists. -
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Sep 14, 1100
Phoenicians
Around 1100 BC, the most powerful traders along the Mediterranean were the Phoenicians. Phoenicia is now the area now as Lebanon. The Phoenicians never united into one country. They had a number of weathy city-states around the Mediterranean instead.
They developed a writing system that was phonetic. The Phoenicians also produced a purple dye from the murex, a type of snail. The phoencians were amazing shipbuilders and seafares. -
Sep 13, 1190
End of the Hittite Empire
Despite the Hittites suggess in battle the Hittie Empire suddenly fell around 1190 BC. -
Sep 14, 1200
Mysterious End of the Minoan Civilization
Around 1200 BC the Minoan Civilization ended. The cause if its ending is unclear. In about 1700 BC a natural disasater, probably and earthquake destroyed many Minoan towns and cities. Then, in 1470 BC there were a series of earthquakes in Crete. Following the earthquakes, there was a volcanic eruption on the neighboring island of Thera. After the disasters of 1470 BC, the Minoans never fully recoverd. -
Hittites Form an Empire
Around 1650 BC, the Hittites city-states come together and formed an empire. The captial was Hattusas. The Hittites dominated Southwest Asia for 450 years. They had excellent technology of war. They were the first in Southwest Asia to use iron to make weapons for war. The Hittites used iron in their chariots. The Hittites borrowed ideas about art, politics, and law from the Mesopotamians. -
Moses and the Exodus
Around 1650 BC, the descendants of Abraham moved to Egypt because of a drought. At first, the Hebrews were treated with honor and respect. But later they were forced into slavery by the Egyptians. Between 1300 and 1200, the Hebrews fled from Egypt. Jews call this even "The Exodus." The man who lead the Hebrews out of Egypt was called Moses. At the time of his birth, the Egyptian Pharaoh felt threatened by the number of Hebrews in Egypt. So he ordered all the Hebrew baby boys to be killed. -
The Origins of Judaism
About 1800 BC, God told Abraham and his family to move his people to Canaan. The Hebrews then settled in Canaan, which lay between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea. -
Hittites Migrate to Anatolia
Around 2000 B.C, a group of Indo-European speaks called the Hittites migrated to Anatolia. Anatolia is a giant peninsula that is now part of mordern day Turkey. Anatolia is a high, rocky plateau that is rich in agriculture and timber. -
Minoan Civilization
The Minoans, a powerful seafaring people dominated trade in the eastern Mediterranean from 2000 BC to 1400 BC. They lived on large island on the edge of the Aegean Sea. Their capital city was called Knossos.
They traded pottery, swords, and vessesl of precious metals. The Minoans produced some of the finest pottery and art of that time. They also exported their art and culture. The Minoan culture had a huge influence on Greece. -
Founder of Jainism is Born
Mahavira, the founder of Jainism was born. He believed that everything in the universe has soul and shouldn't be harmed. Jain monks wouldn't hurt any creatures, they would even wear masks over their faces to prevent accidentally breathing in an insect. Traditionally, they preach tolerance of all religions. There are about 5 million Jains in the world today. -
Solonom Builds the Kingdom
Around 962 BC, David died and his son Solomon became King. Solomon was the most powerful of Hebrew Kings. Solomon built a great temple to bring glory to God. The temple's inner walls were made of gold. -
The Kingdom Divides
Solomon's building projects required high taxes. The expense and labor cause the people much discontent. After Solomon's death, the Jews in the Northern part of the Kingdom revolted. Around 922 BC, the kingdom had divided into two. Israel in the North and Judah in the South. -
The Babylonian Captivity
In 738 BC, both Israel and Jundah began paying tribute to Assyria . This tribute was not enough or the Assyrians and so they took over Israel in 722 BC. After 150 years, Judah was also destroyed.
