CROSSroad of History

History is the account of past events, their causes and results - it is all that has been preserved or remembered about God and mankind. That which occurred prior to recorded history, we refer to as pre-historic. Of that we know little and guess much, but regarding historical times, we know much, largely because of the efforts of those we call historians. Historians use written accounts, oral accounts, and artifacts for evidence as they attempt to learn and share the truth - the story of what really happened and what people and events were really like. Any historian is bound to an oath of honesty to discover and share history as it really occurred as best they can and not have truth changed or molded in any way to fit into his or her biases or prejudices. Bias means being influenced by a particular point of view and prejudice means "judging before" - before all the facts have been looked at and honestly recorded. World history includes all of recorded history and is the hardest to study and learn because it includes roughly 7,000 years - Some historians devote their lives to studying one person, one event - even one day in time - We will attempt to learn of 7,000 years in one school year! Obviously, we can't learn it all - our goal will be to learn as much as we can of the most important and interesting so that we will be inspired to learn more and more and apply the lessons we learn to our lives today. God told His people to share the past so that they might always remember His goodness and their need, His glory and their sin, His power and their weakness, their hate and His love. God values the study of history so much and His world so much that He came to this earth - He intersected history Himself! - he met mankind at the cross-road of history 2,000 years ago and calls every man and woman to look back to that place and meet him there! I hope you enjoy our journey this year - it begins centuries before that crossroad, but in a place that is very familiar to many an American soldier today - the cradle of civilization....

HW 1 - write a brief description of the following historians, when they lived and what they recorded. Herodotus, Thucydides, Josephus, Tacitus, Shelby Foote, Doris Kearns Goodwin. Sent answers to me via comments page here or e-mail me at rust5532@hotmail.com by midnight Tues Sept 11.

HW 2 - learn about the 7 wonders of the ancient world and write a brief description of each, including what, where, and why is was so wondrous. To me by midnight Wed Sept 12.

HW 3 - describe the following lives - when they lived, where, and why so important: Sargon, Hammurabi, Ashurbanipal, Thutmose I, Nefertiti, Hatshepsut, Abraham, Huangdi, King Minos, Agamemnon. To me by midnight Thurs Sept 13

HW 4 - describe these places,their historical importance, and where they are on the modern day map: Mesopotamia, Giza, Stonehenge, Mohenjo-Daro, Knossos, Mycenae, Thebes, Nubia, Babylon, Jerusalem. To me by midnight Fri Sept 14

Enjoy the weekend...Learn history...then remember, you're living it!! :)

HW 5 - After the Law given to Moses at Sinai, the Code of Hammurabi is the most well-known legal code. It was the code of legal conduct for the ancient empire of Babylon and consisted of hundreds of rules...Find the code, read it, and pick out the ten laws you find most interesting. To me by midnight Mon Sept 17

HW 6 - Go to website ancienthistory.about.com and punch in "major events in ancient history." You will see a list of major events in time line form. Copy this timeline and send it to me - print it out and keep it for later - you'll need it...To me by midnight Tue Sept 18

HW 7 - Research on the life of Milton Hershey and write me a paragraph or two or three or four telling me about this amazing man...It's true his accomplishments and life are a part of world history, but the main reason he is important to me is he was, of course, the creator of the Hershey Candy Bar Company... :) (Extra points will be given if you can figure out how to e-mail me one of his delicious creations!!) To me by midnight Wed Sept 19

HW 8 - Find the name of ten gods worshipped by the ancient Egyptians. Include the name, what they were the god of, and how the Egyptians honored them...To me by midnight Thurs Sept 20

HW 9 - Talk to five people (mom, dad, bro, sis, anyone is fine) and ask them to name who they consider to be the ten most significant people in history. Now list all the names you have been given in the order YOU think they should be listed. Bring this list to class on Mon the 24th and ask me, "Hey Mr. Norm, what about this list thing, yo?" (Extra points if you ask me in exactly this way) :) To me by midnight Fri Sept 21

Enjoy the weekend...Learn history...then remember, you're living it!! :)