Mystery of History: Volume 2
She took her role as Queen Mother very seriously and worked hard on behalf of the poor and continued to raise the importance of the arts in culture.
After Eleanor of Aquatine's husband, King Henry II, exiled her to spend 15 years in Salisbury Castle, what did she do? Lesson 59
Genghis Khan left his empire to his four sons, but they weren't very powerful. His grandson, Kublai Khan, took over and expanded the empire from the Yellow Sea in Eastern Asia to the borders of Europe in the West.
After Genghis Khan died, who took over? Lesson 70
A monk named Bernard of Clairvaux convinced the king of France and the Holy Roman Emperor to allow him to lead their subjects in battle to keep the Holy Land. They were stopped by the Muslims and many died.
Describe the Second Crusade. Lesson 57
Diocletian's ruling system worked for awhile, but terrible inflation nearly ruined the economy.
Did Diocletian's system work? Lesson 13
Leif Ericsson is considered the first white man to discover the continent of North America. Christopher Columbus is credited with discovering the land that is now part of the United States of America.
Did Leif Ericsson discover America? Lesson 52
Pope Gregory XI did NOT agree with John Wycliffe, had him fired from Oxford, his teachings banned, and his writings burned!
Did Pope Gregory XI agree with John Wycliffe? Lesson 78
The times of persecutions caused the Christian church to grow and flourish.
Did the persecutions cause Christians to leave the faith? Lesson 5
Yes, the Maori still live in New Zealand, but they are largely outnumbered by the Europeans who have settled in New Zealand over the last 400 years.
Do the Maori still live in New Zealand? Lesson 44
For awhile and in many places, the Jews were able to live peaceably alongside the Muslims as long as they showed respect for the local caliph (Muslim religious leader). However, sudden attacks on the Jews by the Muslims taught the Jews that they were not really friends.
During the Middle Ages, the Jews did not have a homeland to call their own. What happened to them as they settled among the Muslims? Lesson 60
Some ancient people built Stonehenge; then the Celts settled there; then the Romans invaded under Julius Caesar; then the Angles, the Saxons, and the Jutes moved in. King Arthur tried to stop them. Christianity was brought by Gregory the Great though St. Augustine and others. Then the Danish Vikings attacked.
Give a quick timeline of England up to the mid-800s. Lesson 42
Diocletian wanted to be worshiped as Jupiter, the father of the Roman mythical gods, and therefore persecuted Christians terribly since he wanted them totally destroyed and Christianity ended.
How did Diocletian feel about Christians? Lesson 13
After Mohammed died, disagreement arose between Ali, Mohammed's son, and Abu Bekr, Mohammed;s friend and father-in-law, as to who should be the leader. Even though Islam spread rapidly, this disagreement caused wars and division that lasts today - between the Shiites (Ali's followers) and the Sunnis (Abu Bekr's followers).
How did Islam grow after Mohammed's death? Lesson 30
King Duncan I's son, Malcolm III, killed Macbeth and then unseated his stepson to take back the throne.
How did Macbeth lose the throne? Lesson 53
He sent representatives to learn about the Roman Catholic Church of Western Europe, which recognize the pope, in the Eastern Orthodox Church of the Byzantine Empire, which did not. He chose the Eastern Orthodox Church for the future of Russia based only on the beauty of its church buildings!
How did Vladimer I of Russian influence (choose) The religion of Russia? Lesson 48
Eventually, Marco Polo's stories of adventure were written in a book entitled The Book of Marco Polo, by a fellow war prisoner. (Optional: Frenchman Rustichello). The book was translated into many languages around the world.
How did other people learn about Marco Polo's travels? Lesson 71
The Children's Crusade ended in tragedy. Many died, many were sold into slavery, and many were simply never heard from again. Sadly, the boys leading the Children's Crusade and the children who followed them had chosen not to obey their authorities and suffered greatly for it.
How did the Children's Crusade end? Lesson 65
Seljuk Turks invaded the Holy Land and were cruelly persecuting Christians and Jews. Pope Urban II wrongly told the people that they could earn their way to heaven if they helped liberate the Holy Land from the Arabs.
How did the Crusades start? Lesson 57
Empress Irene allowed images to be used in worship if it was recognized that they were just symbols, not God Himself. The Eastern Church (Byzantine) went back to using "symbols", while the Western Church did not (for a long time).
How did the Iconoclast Controversy end? Lesson 35
Henry IV asked forgiveness, but then got angry when Pope Gregory VII supported another King - Rudolph. Pope Gregory VII died in 1085 while in exile, having fled from Henry IV. Henry IV died in 1106 while preparing for battle against his son who was in rebellion.
How did the Investiture Controversy end? Lesson 56
The word shogun means "conquering general." In 1192, a warrior named Minamoto Yoritomo moved the authority of the emperor of Japan to himself. The emperor was still treated with respect, and this status continued for 700 years.
How did the shogun take power in Japan? Lesson 63
God through the Holy Spirit, used men like Moses, David, Matthew, Paul, and others to write the things He wanted us to know.
How did we get the Bible? Lesson 18
The names of four pagan Viking gods became the basis of the names we use today for four weekdays: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.
How does the Vikings' belief in gods impact us today? Lesson 40
The Bible is divided into two main parts: the Old Testament, originally written in Hebrew and some Aramaic, and the New Testament, originally written in Greek.
How is the Bible organized? In what language were the scriptures originally written? Lesson 18
Marco Polo lived in China for over 20 years and served in the court of Kublai Kahn as a governor, running errands all over the Khan's empire and educating the Khan on trade.
How long was Marco Polo in China, and what did he do there? Lesson 71
The earliest attempt was a disaster as 15,000 up equipped people with cloth crosses on their chests tried to make the long journey with no preparation. The official first Crusade was led by nobles and knights with an army of 50,000 who succeeded in conquering Jerusalem. It was a horrible, bloody battle.
How successful were the earliest Crusades? Lesson 57
Lydveldid Island was actually discovered three times before it was settled and became known as Iceland! The first time was in 860 by a lost Swede, the second by a Viking who was trying to hide from his enemies, and the third by a Viking who wanted to explore the island.
How was Lydveldid Island discovered and when? Lesson 43
The Black Death was spread by rats and fleas (Optional: and may have started in Asia where it killed about 13 million people) and then spread via trading ships on the Black Sea to Europe.
How was the Black Death spread? Lesson 76
The city of Cuzco is laid out in the shape of a puma, a leopard-like animal, and includes "teeth" that are actually stone walls built in a jagged shape. (Optional: The city is large enough for the 40,000 nobles and delegates that lived there.)
If you were looking down at Cuzco from space, what would you notice about the city that is so unusual? Lesson 82
Robin Hood is loosely based on the life of a man named Robert, Earl of Huntingdon, who died in England in 1247.
Is Robin Hood based on a true story? Lesson 62
The most famous foreigner to be invited into Kublai Kahn's court was Marco Polo, the great explorer.
Kublai Kahn was very interested in other cultures and invited many into his court so that he could learn more about their beliefs and cultures. Who was the most famous foreigner to be included? Lesson 70
It is said that Boniface chopped down a giant tree the pagans were using for worship. When the tree stayed dead on the ground, he pointed to a small fir tree and, in whatever words of his own, compared the fir tree's "ever" green look to God's "ever" lasting love.
On one occasion, how did Boniface teach the pagans in Germany? Lesson 34
The Turks persecuted the Christians, the crusaders slaughtered the Muslims, the Muslims killed the crusaders, and the cycle continued over and over.
Sum up the Crusades. Lesson 57
February 15 was a pagan holiday celebrating Juno, the goddess of women and marriage. Cupid, the goddess of love, was also involved - it was believed that a shot from his arrow cause people to "fall in love."
To the Romans, what was the significance of February 15? Lesson 12
Yes, Joan of Arc was found by officials to be genuine in her calling and given charge over the French army, which she led to victory at the age of 17!
Was Joan of Arc successful in her mission to help Charles VII? Lesson 81
King John was a terrible king who taxed the people outrageously and chose not to obey the laws of his own land. He despised the church and on,y used it for political gain.
Was King John a good king? Lesson 66
According to tradition, the queen's plan worked - the sultan kept her alive for at least a thousand and one nights. And he eventually fell in lover with her, so he was no longer in love with her, so she was no longer in danger.
Was the queen's plan - to save herself by telling exciting stories to the sultan - successful? Lesson 38
No, as early as 2500 B.C. there were people groups in Greenland that came and went. Even while Eric the Red was settling on one side of Greenland, the Thulte people were settling on the other.
Were Eric the Red and other Icelandic immigrants the first to live in Greenland? Lesson 51
Doing the Golden Age of India, astronomers explain things like eclipses; ironmaking was perfected; chemistry was advanced; and the Indian people were the first to use in the number "zero."
What are some examples of inventions and discoveries in India during the Golden age? Lesson 15
The Dead Sea Scrolls are hundreds of well-preserved biblical documents discovered in 1947 by a shepherd boy in caves near Israel's Dead Sea.
What are the Dead Sea Scrolls? Lesson 8
The Koran was dictated by Mohammed alone during his life - one man, language, place, and time period, with no witness or prophecy to validate it. The Bible was written by over 40 people covering three continents using three languages, over 1,000 years, yet every writer in agreement to the same teachings of God.
What are the main differences between the Koran and the Bible? Lesson 30
The New Testament contains 27 books divided into four sections: the Gospels, which tell the story of Jesus; the Book of Acts, which tells what the Early Church did; the Letters of the Apostles, which tell believers how to live; and the Book of Revelation, which tells of things to come.
What are the parts of the New Testament? Lesson 18
The Old Testament contains 39 "books" divided into three sections: the Pentateuch, which is the Law; the Writings, which are poetry, history, and wisdom; and the Prophets, which are the prophecies of things to come.
What are the parts of the Old Testament? Lesson 18
Augustine began to change his poor opinion of Christians when his mother introduced him to Ambrose, the Bishop of Milan, who was equally brilliant and a believer in Jesus Christ.
What changed Augustine's opinion that believers in Christ were just "simple-minded"? Lesson 17
Charles Martel stopped the spread of Islam in Europe by driving the Muslims back to Spain in 732, at the Battle of Tours.
What did Charles Martel do that was so significant? Lesson 36
Before his ascension, Jesus promised his followers that THEY WOULD RECEIVE POWER FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT and be witness to Christ in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria and to the end of the earth.
What did Jesus promise His followers just before He ascended to heaven? Lesson 1
He printed the Bible. It took a year to lay down the type, which included 1,282 lines, and he printed 300 copies of the Bible in 1456.
What did Johannes Gutenberg do with his printing press? Lesson 84
John Wycliffe decided that people needed to be able to read God's Word for themselves and began the process of having the Scriptures translated from Latin to English. Everything was handwritten and hand-copied because there was no printing press yet!
What did John Wycliffe do that he is most remembered for? Lesson 78
Around the year 1003, Leif Ericsson, looking for a land described by a Viking trader who had seen it at a distance, landed in what was probably Inuit territory in modern-day Canada.
What did Leif Erickson discover that many people attribute to Christopher Columbus, and when? Lesson 52
Methodius and Cyril actually developed a written language for the Slavs in order to translate the Bible so that the people could read it.
What did Methodius and Cyril do that was so amazing? Lesson 41
When Osman and his army conquered the Seljuk Turks, he declared himself sultan (king), crossed the sea to the European side, and took control of the Balkans.
What did Osman do that changed Constantinople from a Christianized city to a Muslim stronghold? Lesson 83
Patrick later returned to Ireland with a heart to share Christ with the Irish people who were so bound up in pagan superstitions. Because of his time in slavery there, he understood the people and they trusted him.
What did Patrick do that and him the title "Saint Patrick"? Lesson 19
In 495, Pope Gelasius declared February 14 as St. Valentine's Day to replace the pagan holiday and encourage Christians to remember the martyrs. Unfortunately, still today, most people view Valentine's Day only as a time to give gifts.
What did Pope Gelasius do in 495 and did it last? Lesson 12
Pope John XII crowned Otto I (who was a German) as the "Roman Emperor of the West."
What did Pope John XII do that seems rather odd? Lesson 47
Sir William Wallace raised an army of commoners that defeated the English at first and then lost to them. He was captured, tortured, and executed against the King of England in 1305.
What did Sir William Wallace do that was so important? Lesson 72
Wu Zetian improved the lives of the Chinese and furthered China's progress as a nation. Tragically, she achieved the throne by murdering those in her way. (Optional: She was a follower of Buddhism, which does not offer to cleanse people from their sins as Christ does.)
What did Wu Zetian accomplish during her leadership? Lesson 31
In 726, the Byzantine emperor Leo III issued an edict that all statues in churches be removed and that pictures of saints be whitewashed. This resulted in riots all over Europe.
What did the Byzantine emperor named Leo III do about the Iconoclast Controversy in 726 and what happened as a result? Lesson 35
The Inkan people worshipped many gods - including the moon, thunder, earth, and especially the sun, which they felt was the greatest god.
What did the Inkan people worship? Lesson 82
The Vikings built the best ships known in the Mediterranean world to travel to new lands in search of food and other goods. Monasteries were a common target because they were on the coast and guarded only by monks and nuns.
What did the Vikings do? Lesson 39
Nero COMPLAINED THAT ROME WAS TOO CROWDED, and he SPENT MORE TIME IN GREECE PARTICIPATING IN THE ARTS AND SPORTS THAN HE SPENT IN ROME, which greatly upset the prideful Romans.
What disturbed the Romans about Nero's behavior? Lesson 4
The prince and his wife, Ludmilla, became string believers when missionaries shared the Gospel with them in their language. They raised their grandson, Wenceslas, to know the Lord and be devoted to Him.
What do Czechoslovakia (presently The Czech Republic); The prince of Czechoslovakia; his wife, Ludmilla; and the Gospel have to do with king Wenceslas? Lesson 46
Charlemagne was a successful king who lived in the late 700s and loved education so much he instituted a system of free education. He conquered many countries and was declared Emperor of Rome by Pope Leo, as though the old Roman Empire was being resurrected.
What do we know about Charlemagne? Lesson 37
They were farmers, merchants, craftsmen, and traders and had large quantities of precious and other metals to trade.
What do we know about the 10,000 early residents of Zimbabwe? Lesson 45
They were amazing builders! Some of their brick buildings are still standing today even though they didn't use mortar. Zimbabwe also has stone buildings and other structures.
What do we know about the people of Zimbabwe who lived between the years 900 and 1100? Lesson 45
He helped the Christians reclaim Valencia and then ruled it well for many years. Eventually, the people seemed to forget his early brutality and disloyalty and some even begin to consider him a saint.
What eventually happened to El Cid? Lesson 54
Eventually the Muslims began to persecute and kill any who spoke against Mohammed or Islam. Christians in Spain who converted to Islam rather than be killed were called renegades, or traitors.
What eventually happened to the Christians and Jews who lived in al-Anadalus and what are "renegades"? Lesson 33
They had trouble with the natives and eventually decided not to stay - though they would come back occasionally to get lumber and furs.
What eventually happened to the Vikings who settled on the North American continent? Lesson 52
Many Vikings converted to Christianity and abandoned their violent ways. They stayed in their Scandinavian homelands or moved to new countries. Over time, they were not called Vikings anymore.
What eventually happened to the Vikings? Lesson 40
The English had developed crossbows, which could launch armor-piercing arrows, and also the use of gunpowder.
What gave the English an advantage over the French in the Hundred Years' War? Lesson 75
Just four years after becoming a believer, Augustine became the Bishop of Hippo, a city in North Africa. His writings continue to have a huge impact on church history. The church named him a saint, and a group of monks took on his name.
What happened after Augustine became a believer? Lesson 17
After Mount Vesuvius erupted, ash fell from the sky and buried about 2,000 people exactly where they were. The city was not dug out until the 1700's.
What happened after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius that was so unique? Lesson 9
Many of the great thinkers and artists moved to Western Europe after the fall of Constantinople and began the Renaissance.
What happened after the fall of Constantinople? Lesson 83
The caliph shouted praises out loud to God and decreed that Christians had won the debate and would be free of persecution under his rule. Many years after Simon's death, he was declared a saint and a church was built on the mountain to minister to the poor and needy.
What happened as a result of the miracle at Mokattam Mountain? Lesson 50
The Romans attacked Masada in A.D. 73 after seven months of building a huge dirt ramp up to the walls. They were able to breach the fortress with a massive battering ram.
What happened at Masada? Lesson 7
The Christians fasted and prayed for three days. A humble shoemaker named Simon, a man of great faith, was raised up by God to quietly pray as the Christians chanted "Forgive us" to the Lord 400 times and bowed and rose three times. The earth shook and Mokattam Mountain was raised into the sky and brought back down (more than once).
What happened at Mokattam Mountain? Lesson 50
The king of Freisalnd would not accept Christ, and Winfrid returned to England feeling a failure. He later returned to Germany where he preached and taught the people about God for 30 years.
What happened in Freisland? Lesson 34
Against Saladin in the Third Crusade, Richard the Lionhearted attempted to take back Jerusalem, but the two men reached a three-year treaty of peace instead. Before the treaty expired, Saladin had died and Richard did not make another attempt before he was killed by a crossbow.
What happened in the Third Crusade? Lesson 61
Pope Clement IV asked Roger Bacon to SECRETLY share his writings, which the Franciscan monks did not like. They put him into exile for 15 years because they were afraid that too much education would lead to unnecessary money or power!
What happened that changed Roger Bacon's life? Lesson 69
Bad-Kokhba took back Jerusalem for about three years but was killed in battle with the Romans in A.D. 135. Sadly, the Jews dispersed again and many died of starvation while in hiding.
What happened to Bar-Kokhba? Lesson 10
As India grew wealthy, outsiders wanted to take it over, and since India had a weak military, poor roads, and poor communication, the Indian people were robbed of their rich resources.
What happened to India that took it from the Golden Age to poverty and hardship? Lesson 15
Joan of Arc was captured and sent to England where she was tried as a heretic and burned at the stake in 1431. Years later, her name was cleared. Eventually, the Roman Catholic Church declared her a "saint" in 1920."
What happened to Joan of Arc? Lesson 81
The Council of Constance was used as a trap to capture John Huss, who had been invited to speak. He was unjustly imprisoned and burned at the stake as a "heretic." Huss never once denounced the truth of the Scripture.
What happened to John Huss at the Council of Constance? Lesson 80
During his six years in slavery in Ireland, Patrick became a true Christian and was able to escape and return home.
What happened to Patrick in Ireland? Lesson 19
In the early afternoon of August 24, A.D. 79, a volcano near Pompeii called Mount Vesuvius blew it's top 12 miles into the air!
What happened to Pompeii on August 24, A.D. 79, around one o'clock in the afternoon? Lesson 9
His jealous brother, Boleslav, who was a pagan and wanted to be the next Duke, invited Wenceslas to a dinner where he was killed by members of the nobility on September 28, 929.
What happened to Wenceslas at the age of 25? Lesson 46
The Maya abandoned their cities around 800 or 900, and no one knows why. (Optional: We know of them only because explorers in the late 1800's discovered the ruins of their civilization in the dense jungles and high mountains.)
What happened to the Maya? Lesson 16
Many Waldensians were excommunicated and persecuted through the centuries. Today there are still about 30,000 living in various countries around the world.
What happened to the Waldensians? Lesson 58
The Black Death killed so many people that there was a shortage of farmers and workers, which eventually ended feudalism and helped countries develop stronger governments.
What happened to the culture in Europe as a result of the Black Death? Lesson 76
The queen's stories are The Thousand and One Nights, also known as The Arabian Nights, a collection of 200 fanciful, entertaining stories of love, life, and adventure from many countries.
What happened to the stories the queen told the sultan? Lesson 38
The archbishop banned John Huss' teachings in 1408, ordered they be burned, and put the entire city of Prague under interdict, which means punishment.
What happened when John Huss preached that Christ alone is the head of the church and that only God can forgive sin? Lesson 80
At first, no one believed all the fantastic stories about China. Marco Polo had to work hard to prove he was telling the truth by showing all the things he had brought back.
What happened when Marco Polo returned to Venice in 1292 after all those years? Lesson 71
When Thomas Aquinas was traveling to Paris to become a Dominican friar, his mother had his brothers kidnap him and keep him captive in their family castle for nearly two years! Eventually, the life he led had such an impact on his mother that she helped him escape, and he went to Paris about 1252.
What happened when Thomas Aquinas tried to become a Dominican friar? Lesson 68
The Moravian king named Rostislav, rather than seek war against the Bulgar Slavs who killed the emperor, asked for Christian missionaries to go to the Slavic nations.
What happened when the Bulgar Slavs attacked and killed the emperor of the Byzantine world? Lesson 41
When the Romans captured Masada, they discovered that the Jews had burned all their possessions and killed themselves rather than be taken prisoner.
What happened when the Romans went into Masada to capture the Jews? Lesson 7
Prince Shotoku has been called the "founder of civilization" for all his contributions to Japan, including writing a constitution.
What has Prince Shotoku been called and why? Lesson 26
Roger Bacon explained reflection and refraction of light, and envisioned the time when machines would be able to help man fly, ride on and under water, and travel from Europe to India by sailing westward (which is how Christopher Columbus later discovered America)
What ideas are credited to Roger Bacon? Lesson 69
She had a very strong personality and brought a love of the arts and a refined chivalry to her countries. Thanks to her, the status of women was changed greatly for the better.
What impact did Eleanor of Aquitaine have on her two countries? Lesson 59
Jihad is the term for "holy war" waged on behalf of Islam. The first jihad occurred in 630 when Mohammed and his men left their city of Medina and conquered the city of Mecca, after which he forbade the worship of any other gods or idols.
What is "jihad" and when did it start? Lesson 29
The poem Beowulf tells of a monster in Denmark named Grendel and his ferocious mother, both vanquished by Beowulf, a Swedish warrior. Beowulf becomes a hero and rules as king of the Geats in Sweden. Even when old, Beowulf protects his people from "fire-breathing" dragons.
What is Beowulf about? Lesson 32
Cuzco is the name of the capital city of the Inkan empire built by Pachacuti; it marked where the four quarters of the empire met.
What is Cuzco? Lesson 82
Masada is the name of a magnificent fortress built by Herod the Great that Zealot Jews used as a refuge from the Romans during the First Jewish Revolt.
What is Masada? Lesson 7
The Divine Comedy is a poem, built on the foundation of "three's" that describes Dante's beliefs regarding what hell, purgatory, and heaven all look like.
What is The Divine Comedy about? Lesson 73
Thomas Aquinas is remembered for his many writings - especially the Summa Theologica, which addresses logic, metaphysics, theology, psychology, ethics, politics, and religion! He really wanted to use it to explain Christianity to Muslims in a way they could understand.
What is Thomas Aquinas most remembered for? Lesson 68
A Gentile is a person who is not of the Jewish race.
What is a Gentile? Lesson 1
A martyr is a person who is killed because of his or her own faith.
What is a martyr? Lesson 5
The teachings of Confucius were reborn during this time, which helped the poor be treated well and with respect.
What is a possible reason that the Song dynasty lasted from 960 until 1279? Lesson 49
An outlaw is someone who lives outside the law.
What is an outlaw? Lesson 62
The fall of the Western Roman empire occurred when the Germanic tribe known as "Vandals" attacked and burned Rome in 476, destroying everything around Rome, ousting the last Western Roman leader, and enslaving the citizens.
What is considered the "fall of the Western Roman Empire"? Lesson 21
China isolated itself from Western traders and outside influences for many hundreds of years, and was totally self-sufficient.
What is one reason that the cultures of the East and West are so different? Lesson 77
On his first missionary journey, Paul traveled with Barnabas to nine different cities, where PAUL TAUGHT IN THE JEWISH SYNAGOGUES (places of worship) AND PERFORMED MIRACLES.
What is significant about Paul's FIRST missionary journey? Lesson 3
On his second missionary journey, Paul traveled with Silas and later Timothy and visited 12 cities, including Athens and Corinth. HE PERFORMED MIRACLES AND WAS ILLEGALLY ARRESTED AND IMPRISONED.
What is significant about Paul's SECOND missionary journey? Lesson 3
Paul's third missionary journey took him around Europe and parts of Asia. At the start, he was imprisoned in Caesara, beaten, tried, and found innocent of any crime against Rome. Later, he was shipwrecked and performed miracles on the island of Malta before ending up in Rome, where he preached the Gospel.
What is significant about Paul's THIRD missionary journey? Lesson 3
There is a tradition that says Joseph of Arimathea obtained the cup Jesus used at the last supper and filled it with some of Christ blood at the cross. The cup supposedly had healing powers so it became known as the Holy Grail. Legend says it was smuggled to England and sought after by the Knights.
What is the "Holy Grail"? Lesson 23
The Apocrypha is a collection of 14 books that were "hidden" or "outside Scripture". This means that while they are recognized as having historical and literary value, they are not accepted as "inspired" by the Holy Spirit as the Word of God.
What is the Apocrypha? Lesson 18
The Coptic Orthodox church is actually the Egyptian orthodox church, which claims to have been started by the Apostle Mark. (Optional: The church became known for intricate tapestries and pointed archways before being nearly wiped out by Islam in the years between 642 and 744.)
What is the Coptic Orthodox Church? Lesson 50
The Magna Carta, one of the most important documents in history, is a list of rights that limits the king's authority in order to prevent abuse of power and provide for everyone to participate in government. (Optional: It is the Magna Carta that has been used as a model for the Bill of Rights of many nations, including the U.S., Canada, and France.)
What is the Magna Carta, also known as the "cornerstone of liberty"? Lesson 66
The term "diaspora" refers to the dispersion of the Jewish people to other countries after the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, as well as to other times in history when they were driven from their homeland.
What is the diaspora? Lesson 6
The epic of Beowulf is the oldest English poem in existence, composed in the early 700s by an unknown author, in the language of the Anglo-Saxons in England, with the story set in Sweden and Denmark in the 500s.
What is the epic of Beowulf? Lesson 32
The story goes that in 853 a shepherd boy was led by a star to a marble coffin. Supposedly, the coffin contained the bones of James, who wrote the book of James in the New Testament.
What is the legend of Santiago de Compostela? Lesson 54
On the day of Pentecost, the HOLY SPIRIT CAME UPON THE DISCIPLES who were gathered together, and they SPOKE IN MANY LANGUAGES. Pentecost (meaning "fifty" in Greek) happened 50 DAYS AFTER THE LAST SUPPER (Passover)
What is the significance of the Day of Pentecost that occurred in A.D. 29? Lesson 1
During the Tang dynasty, the Chinese used silk for clothing, heated homes with gas and coal, traded abundantly with other nations, discovered how to make fireworks, and greatly advanced the arts.
What kinds of things did the Chinese achieve during the Tang dynasty? Lesson 28
The Divine Comedy is written in Italian though it has been translated into many languages.
What language is The Divine Comedy written in? Lesson 73
When Patrick died, he had started at least 300 churches and baptized 120,000 people. After 30 years of ministry, he left the church in Ireland strong and growing.
What legacy did St Patrick leave? Lesson 19
The Mayan civilization is considered advanced because they were masters of astronomy, developed the concept of zero, had a written language, and left behind a detailed history carved with stone tools on just about everything!
What made the Mayan civilization advanced? Lesson 16
Josephus experienced the First Jewish Revolt against the Romans in A.D. 66 to 70, and witnessed the Romans' total destruction of the Temple, which Jesus had prophesied would happen.
What major event occurred during the time of Josephus that still impacts the Jews today and was prophesied by Jesus years before it occurred? Lesson 6
The Dead Sea Scrolls are significant because they preserve and document sacred Jewish history and provide additional historical evidence of the accuracy of the Bible.
What makes the Dead Sea Scrolls significant? Lesson 8
The Balkans include Greece, Albania, Bulgaria, the European part of Turkey, most of Yugoslavia, and, some would say, Romania.
What modern-day countries are included in the Balkans? Lesson 83
Frederick II was actually named king of Jerusalem by marrying a girl who was a princess in the region. After four Crusades, he worked out an arrangement with his friend, an Egyptian sultan, to "have" the Holy City for a while.
What particular event is very important from the time of Frederick II? Lesson 67
Vladimer I build schools, libraries, and new cities; promoted trade with other nations; and protected Russia from its neighbors.
What positive things did Vladimer I of Russia contribute? Lesson 48
Problems that contributed to the fall of the Western Roman Empire included: - the empire became too big to control, - non-Romans in the military were not loyal to Rome, - the government raised taxes and devalued money, - people couldn't afford the cities and so moved to the country which affected business and trade, and - other tribes were looking for land to conquer
What problems contributed to the fall of the Western Roman Empire? Lesson 21
The earliest religion of Japan, still practiced by some today, was Shinto, meaning "way of the gods." Prince Shotoku brought Buddhist teachings to Japan, and they have been followed there for centuries.
What religion is practiced in Japan? Lesson 26
Vladimer I forced the people of Russia to convert to Christianity without understanding their need for a genuine heart change.
What serious mistake did Vladimer I of Russia make? Lesson 48
A church leader somehow managed to talk Attila out of conquering Rome. For reasons no one knows, Attila headed back through the Alps where he came from. He died a short time later.
What stopped Attila from conquering the city of Rome? Lesson 20
In many places, Christians were kind to the Jews, even supporting and protecting them. Sadly, not all popes and leaders agreed and the Jews again suffered.
What type of relationship did the Christians and Jews have while Jews were suffering Muslim attacks? Lesson 60
Charlemagne used poor judgment in spreding Christianity. As he conquered European lands, he demanded that people convert and often killed those who refused. He also made bad choices and violated biblical standards regarding marriage.
What was Charlemagne's greatest problem? Lesson 37
Mohammed believed that from the archangel Gabriel he was receiving revelations about god, including that there was one god, Allah. Because of the revelations, Mohammed considered Jerusalem to be a holy city for Islam. Mohammed's followers eventually wrote these revelations down in what is called the Koran, the Holy Book of Islam.
What was Islam based on? Lesson 29
Jerome's translation of the Scriptures into Latin took 23 years and is known as the Vulgate. (Optional: There were already some Latin translations, but Jerome re-translated those more properly.)
What was Jerome's translation called and how long did it take him? Lesson 18
Everything had to be handwritten and it would take a year just to make one copy of the Bible, so books were rare and expensive in the Middle Ages.
What was a major problem with providing books and copies of the Bible in the Middle Ages? Lesson 84
Viking families living in Scandinavia were quite self-sufficient - they made their own clothes, food, tools, homes, and entertainment.
What was life like for the Vikings living in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark? Lesson 40
Gregory the Great (also known as Gregory I) was a true servant leader - his greatest concern was to help those in need.
What was so significant about Gregory the Great's leadership? Lesson 27
Even though Frederick II nearly lived on the streets in poverty growing up, he was brilliant and took over the throne at age 12. He instituted great growth in academics and the arts.
What was so unusual about Frederick II's life? Lesson 67
Wu Zetian was a well-educated but ruthless and ambitious woman who rose to complete power over China for 15 years at a time when women were generally considered unimportant and ignorant.
What was so unusual about Wu Zetian, for which she is remembered? Lesson 31
The Aztecs lived in an incredibly structured and ordered society were everything - from waking and bed times to quantities of food - was determined and enforced.
What was so unusual about the Aztecs? Lesson 74
The Black Death of Europe refers to a disease we now call "bubonic plague" that killed about 25 million people in Europe. (Optional: This was about one-third of the total population.)
What was the "Black Death" of Europe that occurred in the mid-1300's? Lesson 76
During John Huss' time, there were three men in three different countries claiming to be the real pope. This caused a great division in the medieval church called the "Great Schism," which lasted for several centuries.
What was the "Great Schism"? Lesson 80
The Apostles' Creed is a statement of the beliefs of the Christian faith.
What was the Apostles' Creed? Lesson 11
Three men claimed the British throne when King Edward died - William, who claimed Edward had promised it to him; Harold of Wessex, who claimed the same and was popular with the English people; and the king of Norway, who invaded England. William won the throne in the Battle of Hastings, considered one of the most important battles of all time.
What was the Battle of Hastings? Lesson 55
The emperor Constantine had reunited the Roman Empire in 324 and moved it's capital to Byzantium. After his death, however, the empire split again, and the Eastern Roman Empire became known as the Byzantine Empire.
What was the Byzantine Empire? Lesson 24
In 1212, two 12-year old boys from two separate countries claimed God was telling them to lead children in a crusade to retake the Holy Land, Jerusalem.
What was the Children's Crusade? Lesson 65
The Council of Constance in 1415 was the first time that members of four nations in Europe met together for business. The meetings ended the Great Schism by ousting the three popes and installing Martin V as the new pope.
What was the Council of Constance, which occurred in 1415? Lesson 80
The Edict of Milan was a document issued by Constantine that ensured freedom from persecution for ALL Christians in the Roman Empire, both East and West.
What was the Edict of Milan? Lesson 14
The Golden Age of India occurred during the Gupta dynasty, which lasted from 320 to 500. It was a time of great prosperity and artistic growth as the king accumulated considerable wealth for his country.
What was the Golden Age of India? Lesson 15
The Iconoclast Controversy happened in Europe during the Dark Ages and was between Christians. It was a disagreement over whether having religious symbols was a from of idol worship, which is forbidden by God.
What was the Iconoclast Controversy? Lesson 35
Pope Gregory VII declared the church to be right about everything, which angered Henry IV. Henry IV then fired Pope Gregory VII. Pope Gregory then excommunicated Henry IV from the church, which left everyone unclear about who was in authority. This went back and forth for many years.
What was the Investiture Controversy? Lesson 56
The Justinian Code was a set of laws, much like the earlier Roman laws, that was written by Justinian I. (Optional: Some of it's penalties were extreme and later ignored; but overall, the system maintained order for many centuries.)
What was the Justinian Code? Lesson 24
The Ming dynasty lasted from 1368 to 1644. Ming means "bright" or "brilliant" and refers to the time when foreign rulers were kicked out and Chinese rulers took over.
What was the Ming dynasty in existence and what does its name mean? Lesson 77
Rome began as a tiny village and by the mid-fifth century, grew to be a powerful empire that encompassed almost all of Europe, parts of the Middle East, the northern coast of Africa, and even the Mediterranean Sea.
What was the Roman Empire? Lesson 21
After a period of 370 years without a leader in China, Yang Chien started the Sui dynasty in 569, taking over both northern and southern China, lowering taxes, and southern China, lowering taxes, and shortening military duty. His successor built the Grand Canal but was killed in a tax rebellion.
What was the Sui dynasty? Lesson 28
In 618, as the Sui collapsed, Li Yuan started the Tang dynasty, which began the "Golden Age of China." His son brought the teachings of Confucius to the people and helped China achieve great success while Europe was in the Dark Ages. The Tang family ruled for about 300 years.
What was the Tang dynasty? Lesson 28
The popes believed they (the church) where the ultimate authority on earth and Frederick II felt HE, as king, was the ultimate authority. As a result of the conflict, Frederick II was excommunicated from the church twice by the pope, which really didn't matter to Frederick who then crowned himself king of Jerusalem.
What was the conflict between Frederick II and the popes who ruled in his lifetime? Lesson 67
In the feudal system, which started in Europe in the 800s, the king claimed to own everything. As people were loyal to him, the king would give them property. These people would in turn give or lend smaller portions of their land to poorer people in return for service.
What was the feudal system? Lesson 55
The Aztecs practiced human sacrifice - often killing thousands and thousands of people in a single "worship" service.
What was the religious practice of the Aztecs that kept the surrounding peoples in fear and disgust? Lesson 74
By the fifth century, nearly every village had a parish church run by a parish priest who lived there and oversaw the morality of the village people. The church was a very important part of daily life during the Dark Ages.
What was the role of the church during the Dark Ages? Lesson 22
The time period in Europe between approximately 500 and 1,000 is known as the dark ages. It was not an easy time to be alive. (Optional: It is sometimes called the early middle ages.)
What was the time period in European history known as the Dark Ages? Lesson 22
Alfred the Great created common law based on the Ten Commandments, gave legal protection to the poor, restored the educational system, helped translate the Gospels from Latin into Anglo-Saxon, documented English history, and gathered songs that captured the customs and history of England.
What were Alfred's greatest contributions? Lesson 42
A Viking home, called a longhouse, was about 100 feet long, with no windows. A small hole in the roof vented smoke from the ever-present household fire. There would be a table for food and hard benches used for working that were covered with animal skins for sleeping.
What were Viking homes like? Lesson 40
Inventions from the song dynasty include paper money, movable type, new explosive weapons, porcelain, acupuncture, the compass needle, and sadly the practice of foot binding.
What were some of the inventions that came out of the Song Dynasty? Lesson 49
The dark ages refers to a time in the early middle ages when the moral decay of Rome and the lack of progress in civilization due to the fall of the Western Roman Empire led to the loss of art, education, and spiritual growth among the people.
What were the "Dark Ages"? Lesson 21
The Council of Nicaea was held in 325 when Constantine invited 300 church leaders to work out their differences. They wrote the Nicene Creed, which states exactly what Christians believed to be true - that Jesus IS God.
What were the Council of Nicaea and the Nicene Creed? Lesson 14
The samurai were known for their code of conduct which included great respect, courage, education, and culture.
What were the samurai known for? Lesson 63
Followers of Islam, called Muslims, believe they must earn their way into Paradise (heaven) by doing good works. Christians recognize that Jesus' death on the cross paid the price for sin so that we can go to heaven. Christians do good works not to earn heaven but to please and serve God.
What would be the main difference between followers of Islam and followers of Jesus Christ? Lesson 30
Leo's III's son, Constantine V, took over and was even harsher - torturing and killing those who disobeyed the edict against statues and pictures of saints.
When Leo III died in 741, who "picked up" where he left off? Lesson 35
Nero decided to blame THE EARLY CHRISTIANS (Optional: this is called picking a "scapegoat") for the fire that destroyed most of Rome, claiming they were "cannibals" because they took communion. Thousands of Christians were killed.
When Rome burned in A.D. 64, many people thought Nero was responsible. Whom did he blame for the weeklong fire that destroyed two-thirds of the city? Lesson 4
The Hundred Year's War actually took place off and on for 116 years - from 1337 to 1453.
When did the The Hundred Years' War occur? Lesson 75
The first time believers in Jesus were called "Christians" was in Antioch WHEN BARNABAS AND PAUL WENT THERE FOR A YEAR to assemble with other believers and teach them.
When did the believers in Jesus as the Christ first get the name "Christians"? Lesson 2
If people were unwilling to convert to Islam, they were heavily taxed. Eventually, all the Christian cities fell to the Ottomans.
When the Muslims took over the Balkans, what did they do to those who were not willing to convert to Islam? Lesson 83
There was a time in the Middle Ages when the popes in Rome and the Byzantine emperors agreed they wanted the cruel Muslim Turks who were persecuting Christians and Jews out of Israel (also called Palestine). They called on the peasantry to travel from the West to Palestine to attack the Muslim Turks.
When we study the eight Crusades of the Middle Ages, what are we talking about? Lesson 57
Under the city of Rome were miles of underground of underground burial chambers known as CATACOMBS where the Christians would to worship and pray in secret.
Where did Christians go in Rome to worship and pray in secret? Lesson 4
The Swedish Vikings settled in present-day Russia; the Danish Vikings settled in England, France, and Spain; and the Norwegian Vikings settles in Greenland, Iceland, Scotland, and Ireland.
Where did the Vikings eventually settle? Lesson 39
Legend says that a queen was engaged to marry a sultan known for killing his brides the morning after the wedding. To save herself, she began telling the sultan exciting stories - always stopping at the most exciting part so he would keep her alive one more day to hear more!
Where did the stories of The Thousand and One Nights come from? Lesson 38
Possibly, the term "Holy Roman Empire" came from the effort by Otto I to force Christianity upon the people - not over concern for their souls, but in order to unify power and control.
Where did the term "Holy Roman Empire" come from? Lesson 47
We get our modern view of the legend of Robin Hood from Sir Walter Scott's historical fiction book, Ivanhoe, written in the 1800s.
Where do our modern ideas of Robin Hood and other characters from? Lesson 62
The term "martyr" comes from Justin Martyr, a great writer of "apologetics" (explanations of what Christians believe), who died in one of the eight great persecutions of Christians that occurred between A.D. 64 and 257.
Where do we get the term "martyr"? Lesson 5
People were PROTESTING the way the church was doing things, which is where we get "Protestant," and wanting real REFORM which means "change," and that is where we get "Reformation."
Where does the term "Protestant Reformation" come from? Lesson 78
Japan is an archipelago - a chain of islands - in the Pacific Ocean just off the eastern coast of China. (Optional: There are four main islands and thousands of small islands, only about 600 of which are inhabited.)
Where is Japan? Lesson 26
Lydveldid Island is about 500 miles west of Sweden, south of the Arctic Circle, and is about the size of the state of Kentucky.
Where is Lydveldid Island, also known as Iceland? Lesson 43
Mongolia is the region in the north part of China where the Gobi Desert is located. It was populated by a group of nomadic people who lived in felt tents called "yurts."
Where is Mongolia? Lesson 70
New Zealand is a cluster of islands in the South Pacific Ocean about 1,200 miles southeast of Australia. (Optional: It is on the exact opposite of the globe from Iceland and is in the Southern Hemisphere.)
Where is New Zealand? Lesson 44
Zimbabwe is located in the southeast corner of Africa, and it's size is only 500 miles by 400 miles.
Where is Zimbabwe? Lesson 45
The Forbidden City is actually an ENORMOUS beautiful place in Beijing that was restricted to anyone except the emperor of China for 500 years during the Ming dynasty.
Where is the "Forbidden City" and why is it called that? Lesson 77
In the Early Church and up until today, the Apostles' Creed is recited at baptisms and other church services as a reminder of what Christians believe.
Where is the Apostles' Creed used? Lesson 11
Pompeii was an important port city in Italy and a major trade center. It was under Roman rule.
Where was Pompeii? Lesson 9
Al-Andalus was a place in southern Spain ruled by Abd al-Rahman where Christians, Jews, and Muslims lived in peace alongside one another for many years.
Where was al-Andalus and why was it so important? Lesson 33
The Inkan empire was along the west coast of South America. It was neatly organized into four regions that include the world's longest mountain range, the Andes; the world's driest desert; and the world's largest rain forest, the Amazon!
Where was the Inkan empire located? Lesson 82
The Franciscans, who started with just 12 men following the example of St. Francis, are still active today in ministry as they seek to model Christ. (Optional: St. Francis and his Friars changed the priorities of many clergy to reach out to the poor rather than separate from them.)
Who are the Franciscans? Lesson 64
Separately, Nicholas of Germany led 30,000 children and Stephen of Cloyes, France, led 20,000 on the Children's Crusade - against their parent's wishes.
Who led the Children's Crusade in 1212? Lesson 65
Early Japanese history is not clear, but it is believed that one of the first emperors was Jimmu Tenno, about 600 years B.C. About A.D. 400, the Yamato clan gained control and since then, all imperial rulers of Japan have claimed to be descendants of this clan.
Who ruled Japan? Lesson 26
Alfred the Great became the king of Wessex in 871 at only 22 years of age. He fought many battles against the Danes, not just winning militarily, but also converting his enemies to Christianity.
Who was Alfred the Great? Lesson 42
Attila the Hun was a fifth century warrior king who was beard by the Roman empire and did serious damage to it.
Who was Attila the Hun? Lesson 20
Aurelius Augustine was a brilliant man born in North Africa in 354 of a Christian mother and pagan father. He was a highly educated pagan who loved worldly pursuits but would eventually become known as St. Augustine.
Who was Aurelius Augustine? Lesson 17
Bar-Kokhba was a Jew who raised an army of 400,000 men and led the Second Jewish Revolt around A.D. 132.
Who was Bar-Kokhba? Lesson 10
Charlemagne was the son of Pepin the Short who was the son of Charles Martel. Pepin had become king by having the pope of the Western Church declare him so.
Who was Charlemagne? Lesson 37
Charles Martel was a mayor in the palace of the Franks, one of many Germanic tribes that had invaded the Western Roman Empire and eventually set up the country we know as France.
Who was Charles "Martel"? Lesson 36
Columba was an Irishman who lived in the mid-500s and took the Gospel of Christ to Scotland.
Who was Columba? Lesson 25
Constantine became the emperor of the Western Roman Empire in 312 and eventually, ruler of the entire Roman Empire. After a spiritual experience during battle, he signed the edict of Milan in 313.
Who was Constantine? Lesson 14
Dante Alighieri was a famous poet who lived in Florence, Italy, in the early 1300s. He is best known for his work, The Divine Comedy, written in 1318.
Who was Dante Alighieri? Lesson 73
Diocletian was a Roman emperor who determined that the vast empire needed more than one ruler. So he divided the empire into 120 provinces with himself at the head sharing power with one other man.
Who was Diocletian? Lesson 13
Drahomira was the mother of Wenceslas; she until he was old enough to take the throne. She was a pagan, advisors, and had Ludmilla killed in order to end the Christian influence on her son.
Who was Drahomira and what did she do? Lesson 46
El Cid was a Spanish knight named Rodrigo Diaz, born about 1040, who fought for both the Muslims and Christians - whoever would pay him the most!
Who was El Cid? Lesson 54
Eleanor of Aquatine lived in the early 1100s and grew up to be both queen of France by marrying Louis VII and, after her marriage was annulled, queen of England by marrying Henry II.
Who was Eleanor of Aquatine? Lesson 59
Eric the Red was a Norwegian with red hair and a red-hot temper inherited from his father. Eric lived in Iceland and eventually discovered (and named) Greenland.
Who was Eric the Red? Lesson 51
The son of a holy Roman Emperor, Frederick II Himself became the Holy Roman Emperor at the age of two! Because Frederick II was so young when his mother died, Pope Innocent III was named his guardian,mug the pope didn't do a good job.
Who was Frederick II, also known as "The Amazement of the World"? Lesson 67
General Zhao Kuangyin was a ruler who started the Song dynasty in 960. He was able to pull China together as a nation after stealing the throne from a seven-year-old emperor.
Who was General Zhao Kuangyin who lived from 927-976? Lesson 49
Geoffrey Chaucer lived in the 1300s and is the author of The Canterbury Tales, which is a classic work of historical fiction that contains 17,000 lines of poetry!
Who was Geoffrey Chaucer? Lesson 79
Gregory the Great was a man born to a wealthy family who shared his wealth, lived simply as a monk, and ultimately was chosen to be the pope over the Roman Catholic Church.
Who was Gregory the Great? Lesson 27
Henry IV of Germany was a Holy Roman Emperor who, under the feudal system, believed only HE should have authority to select men for positions in the church. It was a ceremonial tradition to "invest" these church leaders with a sacred staff and ring as symbols of power. (Optional: From this we get the word "investiture.")
Who was Henry IV? Lesson 56
Jerome was a brilliant priest who lived in the fourth century and devoted his life to translating the Scriptures into Latin so that the common man could read God's Word for himself.
Who was Jerome and what did he do? Lesson 18
Joan of Arc, was a young peasant girl. She believed she heard heavenly voices directing her to aid Charles VII to take the crown of France back from the English during the Hundred Years' War.
Who was Joan of Arc? Lesson 81
Johannes Gutenberg was born an aristocrat in Germany. He probably received a good education and as a result, loved books! He had the idea of forming one letter out of a piece of metal and turning it into a stamp - then lots of letters together to make words, sentences, and eventually, books!
Who was Johannes Gutenberg? Lesson 83
John Huss grew up in Bohemia and attended oxford, where he learned about John Wycliffe's concerns over the church. He translated and distributed Wycliffe's writings.
Who was John Huss? (Hint: He would have been 10 years old when John Wycliffe died.) Lesson 80
John Wycliffe was a man who lived during the late 1300s, was a teacher at Oxford, and who boldly called into question the practices and beliefs in the church that were invented by men, not God.
Who was John Wycliffe? Lesson 78
Josephus Flavius was a very devout Jew who lived at the time of Nero as a Pharisee and wrote the most thorough history of the Jewish people known.
Who was Josephus? Lesson 6
King Arthur may have been a Celtic warrior chief who lived in England around the time the Romans left and the ruthless Saxons took over. He is believed to have been a wise and well-loved King.
Who was King Arthur? Lesson 23
King John became King of England in 1199 when his brother, Richard the Lionhearted, was suddenly killed by a crossbow. He may be the King John who pursued Robin Hood.
Who was King John? Lesson 66
Leif Ericsson was the son of Eric the Red who, after meeting the king of Norway and converting to Christianity, was commissioned by the king to bring the gospel to Greenland.
Who was Leif Ericsson? Lesson 52
Macbeth was a greedy general in Scotland who desired the throne of King Duncan I. In 1040, Macbeth killed the king and took the throne, ruling for 17 years.
Who was Macbeth? Lesson 53
Marco Polo was a man from Venice, Italy, who traveled with his father and uncle to the faraway land of China in 1271.
Who was Marco Polo? Lesson 71
Moaz was an Islamic caliph who hosted a heated debate between a Christian and a Jew about their faiths. As a result, he issued a decree that a mountain must be moved in order to prove the Christian faith.
Who was Moaz Ladeen Allah El Fatimy and what event did he host? Lesson 50
Mohammed II came to rule the Ottoman Turks in 1451. With an army more than 10 times that of Byzantine emperor Constantine XI, he captured Constantinople and renamed it Istanbul.
Who was Mohammed II and what did he do? Lesson 83
Mohammed was born in 570 in Mecca on the peninsula of Arabia and went on to found the religion of Islam.
Who was Mohammed? Lesson 29
Maimonides was a brilliant Jewish philosopher who lived in the 12th century. He taught that some of the Old Testament stories were only symbolic in nature. Maimonides compiled and organized all the books of the Law and the Talmud into one volume called the Mishneh Torah. (Optional: This means "Repetition of the Law.")
Who was Moses ben Maimon (sometimes referred to as "Maimonides")? Lesson 60
The fifth Caesar to rule, Nero, was AN EVIL MAN BORN IN A.D. 37. He started out humble, but quickly became selfish, cruel, and paranoid. HE WENT OUT ON A KILLING SPREE AND MURDERED ANYONE HE THOUGHT WAS A THREAT TO HIM - including his mother and his wife.
Who was Nero? Lesson 4
Osman was a man who lived in the mid-1400s and led a group called the Ottomans. The Ottomans fled Genghis Khan and took refuge among the Seljuk Turks living around the Black Sea near Constantinople.
Who was Osman? Lesson 83
Otto I (sometimes called "Otto the Great") became king of Germany in 936 and expanded his empire through war and marriage.
Who was Otto I? Lesson 47
Paul the Apostle was Saul of Tarsus AFTER he had an encounter with Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus, about A.D. 31, and experienced an incredible conversion to Christ. He would eventually write most of the New Testament in the form of letters.
Who was Paul? Lesson 2
Pope Gregory VII started out as a Benediction monk named Hildebrand who was well liked and advised five popes before him. After becoming pope, he made big changes to the Catholic Church and wanted the church to select men for positions in the church, not the government.
Who was Pope Gregory VII? Lesson 56
Richard the Lionhearted was the courageous son of the queen of Aquatine. He was determined to capture the Holy Land, Jerusalem, and led the Third Crusade.
Who was Richard the Lionhearted? Lesson 61
Robert Bruce was a man who had originally sided with the English, then became loyal to the Scots. Inspired by a spider that wouldn't give up on making its web, Robert Bruce continued to fight the English and won. He was crowned King Robert I in 1328.
Who was Robert Bruce? Lesson 72
Roger Bacon was a brilliant Englishmen who became a Franciscan monk despite his love of learning.
Who was Roger Bacon? Lesson 69
The sultan of Egypt, Saladin, was a Muslim, who captured Jerusalem for the Muslims in 1187. He was known to be fierce, but he could also be exceedingly gracious and merciful.
Who was Saladin? Lesson 61
Saul of Tarsus was a very DEVOUT JEW AND A PHARISEE WHO PERSECUTED THE FIRST FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST because he believed that Jesus spoke blasphemy against God.
Who was Saul of Tarsus? Lesson 2
Sir William Wallace was a brave Scottish man who defied Edward I of England. Edward I had declared himself "overlord" of both Scotland and England in 1292.
Who was Sir William Wallace? Lesson 72
St. Boniface was born Winfrid and trained as a Benedictine monk. He then went to Freisland to share Christ. His name was changed from Winfrid to Boniface by the pope in 723, and he has been called the "Apostle to the Germans."
Who was St. Boniface? Lesson 34
St. Clara was a wealthy young woman in the early 1200s who saw the huge impact that St. Francis and his friars were having with the poor. With the help of St. Francis, she formed the Second Order of St. Francis, which trained nuns to diligent service for the Lord.
Who was St. Clara? Lesson 64
St. Dominic was a young Spaniard in the early 1200s who grew up with a passion to put down heresy - false teachings - in the church and encouraged excellence and the pursuit of higher education. He and his followers gave up all earthly wealth to serve the poor.
Who was St. Dominic? Lesson 64
St. Francis of Assisi was a man who felt the call of Christ on his life in the early part of the 1200s. He gave up great wealth in order to serve the poor and show them the true love of Christ through action. (Optional: Assisi is the city in Italy where he was from.)
Who was St. Francis of Assisi? Lesson 64
Born of Christian parents, Patrick started out as a rebellious young English boy. He was kidnapped by Irish pirates at the age of 16 and taken to Ireland in slavery.
Who was St. Patrick? Lesson 19
St. Valentine was a priest in Rome who was beheaded for his faith.
Who was St. Valentine? Lesson 12
Thomas Aquinas began life as a wealthy relative of the king in the mid-1200s but forsook that life in order to follow his calling to become a Dominican friar. Eventually, he became known as one of the world's greatest philosophers.
Who was Thomas Aquinas who lived in the mid-1200s? Lesson 68
Vladimer I of Russia was a king (Grand Duke of Kiev) Who lived in the late 1900s and believed in God. His influence helped shape the religion of Russia for centuries after his death.
Who was Vladimer I of Russia? Lesson 48
William the Conqueror was the Duke of Normandy in France. He was a Viking by blood, and a true Norman. William was also a cousin to the king of England, Edward the Confessor.
Who was William the Conqueror? Lesson 55
Wu Zetian was born in Wu Zhao in the 600s in China to a wealthy family. She became a concubine to T'ai Tsung, the emperor of China.
Who was Wu Zetian? Lesson 31
The Hundred Years' War was between France and England - both rulers wanted to rule over the other!
Who was fighting in the Hundred Years' War? Lesson 75
Justinian I and Theodora were the king and queen of the Byzantine Empire for almost 40 years, from 527 to 565.
Who were Justinian I and Theodora? Lesson 24
Methodius and Cyril were brothers born in Thessalonica, Greece, who heard the call of King Rostislav and set forth to share the Gospel with the Slavs.
Who were Methodius and Cyril? Lesson 41
Queen Guinevere was king Arthur's wife, who had a sinful relationship with one of the king's best nights, sir Lancelot. Although they repented, this caused great damage to friendships, trust, and the kingdom.
Who were Queen Guinevere and Sir Lancelot? Lesson 23
The Aztecs were a group of people who lived in the area we know as Mexico in the early to mid-1300s.
Who were the Aztecs? Lesson 74
The first of the Great Kahns who Genghis Kahn who spread his rule over other tribes in Mongolia and was known as a ruthless and savage warrior. His goal was to conquer the whole world - and he succeeded in taking two-thirds of it! (Optional: He would destroy anything and anyone in his way.)
Who were the Great Khans of the Mongolian empire? Lesson 70
The Huns were a fierce barbaric people who stormed through Europe on horseback, killing and capturing people.
Who were the Huns that Attila ruled over? Lesson 20
The legend goes that king Arthur wisely chose to have his knights meet at a huge table that was round so there would be no disagreements over who would sit next to the king.
Who were the Knights of the Round Table? Lesson 23
The Maya were a people that lived in Mexico and in the rain forests of Central America with a very advanced civilization.
Who were the Maya? Lesson 16
The Petrobrusians were followers of the French priest, Peter Bruis, who lived in the early 1100s and was burned at the stake for heresy. His heresy was that he read the Bible for himself and taught others to do the same.
Who were the Petrobrusians? Lesson 58
The Picts were a fierce tribe of people who painted their bodies. The story handed down is that they were not open to Columba or the Gospel until God miraculously opened their village gates. Columba and his friends led them to Christ.
Who were the Picts? Lesson 25
The Vikings were a people who originally lived on the coasts of Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. They became savage raiders who plundered and destroyed countless villages across Europe for about 300 years.
Who were the Vikings? Lesson 39
The Waldensians were a group of people in the 1100s who followed the example of a wealthy businessman named Peter Waldo, who became a Christian, read the Bible for himself, gave away his wealth, and spent his life sharing Jesus and Bibles with others.
Who were the Waldensians? Lesson 58
The Maori were the first people known to have inhabited New Zealand. They practiced moko, the art of tattooing elaborate patterns of spirals and curves on their faces.
Who were the first people to inhabit New Zealand (around 900 to 1300), and what is so interesting about them? Lesson 44
The classes of people who lived in the Dark Ages were basically the: - Serfs - the poorest peasants; - Villeins - peasants who farmed small plots of land and paid landowners with produce, - Merchants and craftsmen - commoners who provided goods and services in the towns, and - Lords, dukes, and counts - the wealthiest; controlled the land.
Who were the people who lived in the Dark Ages? Lesson 22
The samurai were a a warring class of soldiers (and their wives and children) that surrounded the shogun and his lords. They were like a Japanese version of the knights that served under knights in Europe.
Who were the samurai? Lesson 63
PAUL AND BARNABAS were the first missionaries of the Gospel of Christ. They taught followers how to live as Christians and in spiritual families of God called churches.
Who were the very first missionaries of the Gospel of Christ? Lesson 3
William Shakespeare wrote (and embellished) the story of Macbeth.
Who wrote a play that dramatized (and added lots of characters and ideas that weren't part of the real story) the events of Macbeth's reign? Lesson 53
It is believed that early Christians, around A.D. 150, felt it necessary to write the Apostles' Creed as a statement of the basis of their faith.
Who wrote the Apostles' Creed? Lesson 11
A Jewish sect called the Essenes wrote the Dead Sea Scrolls while they lived "separated" from the rest of the world.
Who wrote the Dead Sea Scrolls? Lesson 8
Many popes through history have the same name because it became customary for each new pope to chose the name of a previous pope or saint he admired and take it as his own.
Why are there so many popes in history with the same name? Lesson 27
Columba's temper led to a dispute and a battle that killed 3,000 men. Devastated, he left Ireland with 12 friends to avoid causing more problems there and moved to Scotland, resolved to convert AT LEAST 3,000 people.
Why didn't Columba stay in Ireland? Lesson 25
Beowulf is so important because of it's literary and historical information, but more importantly, if true, it appears to support the Christian worldview of the Bible, including the Creation story that places dinosaurs and mankind on earth at the same time.
Why is Beowulf so important? Lesson 32
Iceland is nicknamed the "Land of Fire and Ice" because one-third of the island is actually ice and yet it has more volcanic activity than any other island in the world. (Optional: At least one volcano erupts every five years and there are multiple geysers.)
Why is Iceland called the "Land of Fire and Ice"? Lesson 43
When Geoffrey Chaucer wrote The Canterbury Tales, he blended Saxon, French, Latin, and some words he just made up! In doing so, he helped to create the language that is English today! Lesson 79
Why is The Canterbury Tales so important in history? Lesson 79
Eric the Red wanted a lot of people to migrate there, so he picked a name that sounded warm, friendly, and promising to those who would need to plant crops and raise animals.
Why is it called "Greenland" if it isn't green? Lesson 51
About 400 years after settling Greenland, the Viking settlers disappeared - no one is certain why. We know they existed because they wrote historical poems called "sagas" that still exist today.
Why is it that 75% of Greenland population today is descended from the Thulte people and not Eric the Red? Lesson 51
The New Testament is considered the best-attested document in all ancient writings because, although no original documents exist, the New Testament was copied over and over by early Christians. Some letters were copied only 30 to 50 years after the apostle Paul wrote them.
Why is the New Testament considered to be the best-attested document in all ancient writings? Lesson 18
Without Charles Martel's defeat of the Muslims at the Battle of Tours, it is possible that many more people would have been conquered and controlled by the Muslims. (Optional: "Martel" means "hammer" in French, so Charles "Martel" is actually Charles the Hammer.)
Why is the outcome of the Battle of Tours so significant? Lesson 36
When is his loss was this kindness, even forgiving and honoring his mother, being generous to provide food and shelter for the poor, and freeing children from slavery.
Why was Wenceslas (who was really a Duke) known as "Good King Wenceslas"? Lesson 46
Al-Andalus was called the "ornament of the world" because when Europe was in the midst of the Dark Ages, al-Andalus was experiencing such wealth and growth that it was unmatched in cultural richness.
Why was al-Andalus called "the ornament of the world"? Lesson 33
Medieval Church leaders believed that only priests could read and interpret the Scriptures and that the Bible needed to be kept from the common people to avoid confusion. There was also a lot of corruption where rules of men became more important to religious leaders than God's Word.
Why was the Midieval Church so opposed to the Petrobrusians and the Waldensians? Lesson 58
Although the Muslims controlled most of Spain, this find, real or not, caused a huge growth in the Christian population as many made pilgrimages to the area. These pilgrimages lead to a desire by Christians to retake the land. (Optional: This was called the Reconquista and lasted for 450 years.)
Why was the legend of Santiago de Compostela significant? Lesson 54
The pope's involvement in Pepin's crowning was huge because the church was now officially involved in politics and governing and, because Pepin gave the pope a large gift of land, the church was now essentially a small country.
Why was the pope's involvement in making Pepin the king so momentous? Lesson 37
Bar-Kokhba proclaimed himself the "prince of Israel." Because Bar-Kokhba was a strong military leader, many Jews believed he was the long-awaited Messiah who would free them from Rome. (Optional: Jesus came to free men from their sins, not from the Roman government.)
Why were so many Jews willing to follow Bar-Kokbha? Lesson 10
Shakespeare wrote Henry V, about the king who managed to get the French crown for England.
William Shakespeare wrote which famous play about which events during the Hundred Years' War? Lesson 75