14A -- 323 BC Alexander the Great dies (student of Aristotle)

 

THIS IS ONE OF THE TEN MEMORY DATES. 

1. Lesson pages from Supplemental Materials:

·         From Adam to Us: p. 224- 242 (additional activities for these pages are in the accompanying Map Book and Student Workbook)

·         Story of the World, vol. 1: p.176-187 (additional activities for these pages are in the accompanying The Story of the World: Activity Book One)

2.  Study material for family discussion (older students can read on their own, parents can read and summarize for younger students):

·          Omni

·         Read Daniel’s prophecies in Daniel 8 and Daniel 11. Alexander is mentioned in these, and it is prophesied that his kingdom will be split into four territories after his death. This happened, with each of the four pieces of his empire being ruled by his four generals:

• “Lysimachus - who took Thrace and much of Asia Minor.
• Cassander - controlled Macedonia and Greece.
• Ptolemy I - ruled Egypt, Palestine, Cilicia, Petra and Cyprus. He founded the Ptolemaic Dynasty which lasted until the death of Cleopatra VII in 30 BCE.  
• Seleucus I Nicator - ruled the remainder of Asia and founded the Seleucid Empire which was comprised of Mesopotamia, the Levant, Persia, and part of India.” (from https://www.ancient.eu/article/94/the-hellenistic-world-the-world-of-alexander-the-g/, good info about Alexander and his father Philip II)

• A breakdown of the historical figures described in Daniel’s prophecy in chapter 8  can be found here: https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/daniel-8/ and for chapter 11 can be found here: https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/daniel-11/. Overall these are more for adults, but the sections on Alexander the Great might be interesting to your students. And the ends of these prophecies deal with our times and are therefore an important study.

3. Attention Getter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0czxSi53jI (Bill and Ted meet Socrates)

4. Videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VicE4FM3aRA (prelude to Peloponnesian War)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_IP6Qrshh4 (the Peloponnesian War begins. If you want details of the war, you can watch the rest of the episodes on the war by See U in History)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFlOl_cD2ww (Socrates, Plato, Aristotle)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjbfS8RDoYo (summary of Peloponnesian War)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_x0QKG1XzYs (Alexander and the horse Bucephallus)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lW0uBdJy2vY (Alexander and Aristotle)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wf4I4QwjkQ&pp=QAA%3D (10 facts about Alexander the Great)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFTYnonC4q4 (Coriantumer and Shiz, we don’t know for sure when the end of the Jaredites occurred, but it was probably somewhere in this time period)

5. Mapping: Map 13 in From Adam to Us Map Book. There are also maps in the Activity Book to go with the chapters covered in The Story of the World.

6. World History Reading:

·         Alexander the Great by Jane Bingham, Usborne Famous Lives series

·         Who Was Alexander the Great? By Kathryn Waterfield and Robin Waterfield

·         Alexander the Great: Master of the Ancient World by Doug Wilhelm, A Wicked History series

 

Memory DatesWorksheet:  If you need help, use the answers on Page One to complete one of the four worksheets

 

13A -- 546 BC Cyrus (Buddha, Confucius, Esther)

 

1.  Lesson pages from Supplemental Materials:

·         From Adam to Us: p. 190-223 (additional activities for these pages are in the accompanying Map Book and Student Workbook)

·         The Story of the World, vol. 1: p. 155-161, 173-179, 205-216, 222-232, 251-253 (additional activities for these pages are in the accompanying The Story of the World: Activity Book One)

2. Study material for family discussion (older students can read on their own, parents can read and summarize for younger students):

·         Esther

·         Daniel 5-6

·         Isaiah 44

·         Ezra

·         Nehemiah

·         Jacob – Jarom

Rome in this time period is growing as a power and overthrowing its government, changing it from a monarchy to a republic. It is important to understand a republic, since this is the form of government we have. In this form of government everyone, including leaders, must follow the law. The Romans did not sit down and write out a document that would spell out the law, while in our history our founders took a lot of time and thought writing out the constitution that would be the law of the land. So in Rome, the law changed often. The women in Rome could not vote. Rome also kept a lot of power in the hands of the wealthy. A commoner could not vote for a Senator, but they could vote for members of the Plebeian Council (plebeian is another word for commoner).

The Medes and then the Persians rise up as the power houses of the Middle East. Cyrus founded the first Persian Empire (the Achaemenid Empire). Cyrus allowed the Jews to go back to their homeland.

Remember that Daniel served in Babylon, first under Nebuchadnezzar who took him from his homeland in Judah. Then he mentions serving under Belshazzar, who for a long time was thought to be a fictional character as Daniel was the only one to make mention of him. However, new archaeological evidence shows he was a real person (https://apxaioc.com/?p=25#:~:text=Daniel%2C%20Nebuchadnezzar%2C%20Belshazzar%2C%20and%20Cyrus%20Uncategorized%20%2F%20By,as%20a%20result%20of%20rebellion%20against%20Babylonian%20rule.). Next Daniel talks about King Darius the Mede. As explained here (https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/encyclopedia-of-the-bible/Darius-Mede), Darius was probably a sub-king under Cyrus, who had conquered the Medes and then conquered Babylon. This was the king of Babylon at the time Daniel was thrown into the lion’s den. Scholars like to say this is a mythical king, but I think that since Daniel was correct about Belshazzar, we can trust him on Darius.

After Cyrus the Great, Cyrus’ son ruled Persia, and then a Persian named Darius (not the same as Darius the Mede), then Xerxes and then Artaxerxes. One of these two men was the king married to Queen Esther.

One of the most important things you will read in this lesson is p.211 of From Adam to Us: “Morality alone does not make people new on the inside. Jesus Christ does that.” Though very good teachers, neither Buddha nor Confucius can save us.

3. Videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ar8S6virCwM (Athens)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtQ_d0lIrt4 (Medes and Persians)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VK2Gt1uiFjw&pp=QAA%3D (King Cyrus)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCTyU3G5FEo (Cyrus and Persian Empire)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcAPoY6l-Pc (Greek City-states)

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/children/videos/scripture-stories/old-testament/43-daniel-and-the-lions-den?&lang=eng (Daniel and the lion’s den)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkyEjOGHDGg (Daniel and the lion’s den, live action)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzalMfAXP3M (Edict of Cyrus, allowing Jews to return)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvBoCATqriM (Battle of Marathon)

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/children/videos/scripture-stories/old-testament/44-return-to-jerusalem?lang=eng

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkETkRv9tG8 (Overview Ezra and Nehemiah)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdDvqWtVkro (Nehemiah)

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/children/videos/scripture-stories/old-testament/45-esther?&lang=eng

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oo1A3sOvHyo (Esther)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jwBxxgYcaw&pbjreload=101 (Greek and Persian battles continue)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtKHqgXyFU4&list=PLakP7xqygC1ymsX3WD5zsUw7xYBENLsBp&index=13 (teachings of Jacob)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5E1xLryM1dE&list=PLakP7xqygC1ymsX3WD5zsUw7xYBENLsBp&index=14 (Sherem and Jacob)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUfbSZqhwQg&list=PLakP7xqygC1ymsX3WD5zsUw7xYBENLsBp&index=15 (Enos prays mightily)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTI3P9zx-oY (Buddhism borrows the idea of reincarnation from Hinduism, the oldest religion in India. Also, remind students that we can only ultimately find peace through Christ, who will eventually remove all suffering)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TR5RWLmYbw (Confucianism)

4. Mapping: Map 7 in the Gospel Library Bible Maps. Complete Maps 10-12 in the From Adam to Us Map Book. There are also maps in the Activity Book for the chapters covered in The Story of the World. Find the corresponding areas on a modern map of the world.

5. Think of two questions you would like to know about each of these people, then research the answers: Cyrus the Great, Queen Esther, Buddha, Confucius.

6. List ten or more interesting facts about Persia, cut up the list and put it into a jar. Have each person select one fact and act it out, and have the others guess what fact is on the paper.

7. Poster: Label this poster “Mighty Prayer” and draw Daniel, Esther, and Enos.

8. World History Reading:

·         Victory on the Walls: a Story of Nehemiah by Frieda Clark Hyman

9. Memory DatesWorksheet:  If you need help, use the answers on Page One to complete one of the four worksheets

12A -- 587 BC Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem (Daniel, Nephi)

 

1. Lesson pages from Supplemental Materials:

·         From Adam to Us: p. 173-189 (additional activities for these pages are in the accompanying Map Book and Student Workbook)

·         The Story of the World, vol. 1: p. 122-127, 162-168 (additional activities for these pages are in the accompanying The Story of the World: Activity Book One)

2. Study material for family discussion (older students can read on their own, parents can read and summarize for younger students):

·         Read 2 Kings 16-25 (a couple of good stories include Hezekiah in 2 Kings 19—20 and 2 Chronicles 29—32, and King Josiah 2 Kings 22—23 and 2 Chronicles 34—35)

·         2 Chronicles 29—36

·         Daniel 1-4 (the famous lion’s den story will be in the next lesson)

·         1 Nephi –2 Nephi

·         Omni 1:15-17

3. Videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wd6cu3GDFw (Sparta and Athens)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7V1a1I5BL0 (Sparta)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0A6Uchb1F8&list=PLH0Szn1yYNeeVFodkI9J_WEATHQCwRZ0u&index=14 (Continue the Overview of Isaiah from 4:47. Isaiah lived in the time of King Hezekiah)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TzdEPuqgQg&list=PLH0Szn1yYNeeVFodkI9J_WEATHQCwRZ0u&index=15&pbjreload=101  (continue the Overview of Isaiah, you can show or just summarize. Isaiah lived a century before Nephi. Nephi found his words to be very important)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wx9mCY3HJ-Q (Hezekiah)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggWHMo6McFI (Josiah)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4ogCrEoG5s Obadiah

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HrL7H_nitw sennacherib

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-CIPu1nko8 (Overview Ezekiel part 1)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSK36cHbrk0 (Overview Jeremiah)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edg-0hAM3iA&list=PLWHql2MOiVzrVKRL790oOLrmxf-6HBp3k (1 Nephi 1-2, your family has probably watched all the videos for 1 Nephi and 2 Nephi with your Come Follow Me studies, if not, these are a good Sunday activity. There are 11 more videos covering these two books after this one)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4SHktGtSTg (King Zedekiah and Prophet Jeremiah)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrmTw0WroQ8 (Babylon destroys Jerusalem)

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/children/videos/scripture-stories/old-testament/40-daniel-and-his-friends?&lang=eng

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/children/videos/scripture-stories/old-testament/41-daniel-and-the-kings-dream?&lang=eng

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSDdRqQy8Pk (Nebuchadnezzar’s dream)

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/children/videos/scripture-stories/old-testament/42-shadrach-meshach-and-abednego?&lang=eng

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJ3ipCxp2KY (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego in the fiery furnace)

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnoqlCV__z4&pp=QADQAwE%3D (Nubia, 14:16 to 17:58)

4. Mapping: Complete the map activity on p. 86 (map on Student Page 63) in The Story of the World: Activity Book One. Study Map 6 in the Bible Maps of the Gospel Library. Find Israel, Ancient Babylon (in modern Iraq), and Greece on a modern map of the world.

5. Worksheets: https://www.biblewise.com/characters_topics/daniel.php 

6. Write or narrate about one of these topics:

·         Your life if you lived in ancient Sparta

·         Choose one of the members of Lehi’s family and describe how they feel leaving Jerusalem

·         How you think Daniel or his friends felt being taken from Jerusalem and living among King Nebuchadnezzar’s wise men

 

7. Poster: Draw any of the topics listed above

8. Memory DatesWorksheet:  If you need help, use the answers on Page One to complete one of the four worksheets

Review #2

11A -- 722 BC Shalmaneser V- final captivity 10 tribes

 

1. Lesson pages from Supplemental Materials:

·         From Adam to Us: p. 159-172 (additional activities for these pages are in the accompanying Map Book and Student Workbook)

·         The Story of the World, vol. 1: p. 112-121, 142-154, 198-204 (additional activities for these pages are in the accompanying The Story of the World: Activity Book One)

2. Study material for family discussion (older students can read on their own, parents can read and summarize for younger students):

Read 1 Kings 13—2 Kings 15

2 Chronicles 11—28

Hosea

Amos

Jonah

Micah

 

After the Kingdom of Israel split from Judah, they had two hundred years of terribly wicked kings. During this time, God, ever patient and loving, sent several prophets to them to warn them that if they continued in their wickedness, they would be punished. Finally, during the reign of Hoshea, the Lord allowed them to be invaded and carried off by Shalmaneser V of Assyria. The next king, Sargon II, finished off the removal of the 10 tribes and sent other people to live in their lands.

Assyria, ruled by kings with really cool names, had been building an empire for several centuries, and during this time period they expanded their territory. For a time the capital city of Nineveh listened to the prophet Jonah and repented of many of their evil doings. This did not last. They remained powerful long enough to carry the 10 tribes away and send other people to live in their land, but within the following century Assyria would fall and Nineveh would be left in ruins.

Elijah, Elisha, Jonah, Hosea, and Amos were all prophets in the northern kingdom of Israel. Elijah was a prophet of extraordinary faith and obedience like Moses. He was sent to a widow who was most likely a Phoenician, not an Israelite. She demonstrated faith and kindness through her act of giving the last of her food to Elijah. The story of Elijah being taken to heaven in a fiery chariot is so amazing, and through modern revelation we get further insight that he was translated so that he could keep the priesthood keys of sealing that had been given to him, and then later he gave these to Peter, James, and John. In the latter days, in Kirtland, he conferred them to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery, and they have been passed down through the prophets of the church since then. (https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bd/elijah?lang=eng)

The Jews still leave an empty place at their table when they celebrate Passover because they have the tradition that Elijah will return, as foretold in Malachi 4:5-6, they just don’t realize that it already happened in 1836!

The story in 2 Kings 16 where Elisha sees angelic warriors prepared to help fight is also an important story with an unforgettable quote, “They that be with us are more than they that be with them.” God’s power is always mightier than anything any enemy can raise against us.

Amos lived in Judah but prophesied in Israel.

Micah and Isaiah were prophets in Judah.

As the Kingdom of Israel was taken captive, people continued to spread over the earth and kings and tribal leaders rose and fell in lands everywhere. The Greek nation was rising. Homer, the supposedly blind poet, was writing down the stories of the Trojan War that had been passed down for generations. And the Phoenicians were continuing to sail the Mediterranean and settle new lands, including a city named Carthage on the northern coast of Africa.

In Italy, a tribe called the Etruscans was getting civilized in the area of Tuscany, while south of Tuscany, tradition tells us that two boys named Romulus and Remus had been doomed to drown only to be saved by a she-wolf.

In Egypt, the pharaohs of the 25^th dynasty were from the land south of Egypt, Nubia, which lies mostly in modern day Sudan. 

3. Attention Getter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ca9LnzJnpjQ  

4. Videos: Pick through these, you might want to watch a couple each evening for the two weeks of this lesson.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pa54hWROpQ (Assyrian Empire)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLn-KuHalOY (Assyria, when the video says Samaria, they are referring to the Kingdom of Israel)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVFW3wbi9pk (Overview of Kings, watch from 3:30 to 7:00)

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/children/videos/scripture-stories/old-testament/33-the-prophet-elijah?lang=eng

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAwuKUHKKBw (Elijah and the Widow)

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/children/videos/scripture-stories/old-testament/34-elijah-and-the-priests-of-baal?&lang=eng

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/children/videos/scripture-stories/old-testament/35-elijah-talks-with-jesus?&lang=eng

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m73kf8Z1aZo (Elijah taken to heaven)

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/children/videos/scripture-stories/old-testament/36-elijah-and-elisha?&lang=eng

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/children/videos/scripture-stories/old-testament/37-the-prophet-elisha-three-miracles?&lang=eng

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FkfrI3dpJE (Elisha and Naaman)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DafgIYjHvw (Elisha and the Syrians)

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/children/videos/scripture-stories/old-testament/38-jonah?&lang=eng

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGgWaPGpGz4&list=PLH0Szn1yYNeeVFodkI9J_WEATHQCwRZ0u&index=21 (Overview of Amos)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kE6SZ1ogOVU&list=PLH0Szn1yYNeeVFodkI9J_WEATHQCwRZ0u&index=19 (Overview of Hosea, more appropriate for teens)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFEUEcylwLc&list=PLH0Szn1yYNeeVFodkI9J_WEATHQCwRZ0u&index=24 (Overview of Micah)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0A6Uchb1F8&list=PLH0Szn1yYNeeVFodkI9J_WEATHQCwRZ0u&index=14 (Overview of Isaiah part 1, to 4:47, choose whether to show or just summarize)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qh2WVHE4X3c (Etruscans—PREVIEW!!!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wA1D9wd29jI (Romulus and Remus)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAS3Z7cXuuU (Carthage founded by Queen Elissar (a.k.a. Alyssa, Dido)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnoqlCV__z4&pp=QADQAwE%3D (Nubia, watch from 10:57 to 14:16)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O47rZQLp82Y (Nubian King/ Egyptian Pharaoh Piye)

 

5. Mapping: Map 5 in the Bible Maps of the Gospel Library shows the Assyrian Empire after they exiled the 10 tribes. The map activity from Chapter Twenty (on Student Page 57) of The Story of the World: Activity Book One focuses on Greece. The map activity from Chapter Twenty-seven in the same activity book (Student Page 84) shows Rome and the Etruscan territory.

6. Worksheets: There are several good activities under Fun and Games on these pages:

https://www.biblewise.com/characters_topics/elijah-elisha.php

https://www.biblewise.com/characters_topics/jonah.php

There are good activities about ancient Greece in Chapter Twenty of The Story of the World: Activity Book One.

 

7. Discussion For Teens: You will research two opposing sides of a topic, and then discuss these with a parent or peers and come to an agreement on the topic. Your consensus may agree with one side or another, or may end up being some combination of the two. For this lesson, discuss whether or not you think some group of the ten tribes is living together and will return as a body in the days “Last Days” before the Millennium. Do some thorough research before coming to a conclusion.

8. Memory DatesWorksheet:  If you need help, use the answers on Page One to complete one of the four worksheets

 

10A -- c. 1000 BC King David reigns (1027 Zhou overthrows Shang)

 

1. Lesson Pages from Supplemental Materials:

·         From Adam to Us: p. 137-158 (additional activities for these pages are in the accompanying Map Book and Student Workbook)

2. Study material for family discussion (older students can read on their own, parents can read and summarize for younger students):

There is a lot of scripture reading here, so you might want to read the chapter headings and focus on important chapters.

1 Samuel 8—1

Kings 12

1 Chronicles 10 – 2 Chronicles 10

 

Here are some of the highlights:

1 Samuel 8:5-7, 11-18  The Israelites plead for a king so they can be like other nations, Samuel tries to talk them out of it

1 Samuel 15:22  Saul, the first king, disobeys. Samuel tells him obedience is more important than sacrifice

1 Samuel 17  David and Goliath

2 Samuel 12   Nathan reprimands David for his sins, his son with Bathsheba dies, Solomon is born

1 Kings 3  Solomon gets the gift of wisdom, he uses the gift to judge between two harlots to see who is the real mother of a baby

1 Kings 6  Solomon builds the temple

1 Kings 12 and 2 Chronicles 10  Israel splits from Judah

 Here is a summary of Saul’s life: https://bible.wikia.org/wiki/Saul_(King) 

3. Attention Getter:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDCU0hQV0Pk

 

4. Videos:

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/children/videos/scripture-stories/old-testament/26-king-saul?lang=eng

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/children/videos/scripture-stories/old-testament/27-young-david?lang=eng

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/children/videos/scripture-stories/old-testament/28-david-and-goliath?lang=eng

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/children/videos/scripture-stories/old-testament/29-king-david?lang=eng

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/children/videos/scripture-stories/old-testament/30-king-solomon?lang=eng

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/children/videos/scripture-stories/old-testament/31-the-temple?lang=eng

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/children/videos/scripture-stories/old-testament/32-the-divided-kingdom?lang=eng

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJOju5Dw0V0 (Overview 1 Samuel)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvoWDXNDJgs (Overview 2 Samuel, MATURE TOPICS)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVFW3wbi9pk (Overview Kings, watch to 3:30)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HR7xaHv3Ias (Overview Chronicles)

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RrAoL_PVmo (The Zhou Dynasty)

 

 5. Mapping: Review Map 7 from the last lesson. Map 8 in the From Adam to Us Map Book shows the divided Israel. Map 9 is an overview of the Mediterranean. In the Gospel Library, Map 4 of the Bible Maps shows the empires of David and Solomon.

 

6. Worksheets: There are several good activities under Fun and Games on this page: https://www.biblewise.com/characters_topics/david.php

7. Poster: Label your poster “Kings” and draw Saul, David, and Solomon.

8. Memory DatesWorksheet:  If you need help, use the answers on Page One to complete one of the four worksheets

9A -- c. 1184 BC Troy Destroyed

 

THIS IS ONE OF TEN DATES THAT WE MEMORIZE TO HELP STUDENTS ALWAYS HAVE REFERENCE POINTS THROUGH HISTORY.

Each lesson will now include worksheets to learn and review these ten dates.

 

1. Lesson Pages from Supplemental Materials:

·         From Adam to Us: p. 125-129, 133-134 (additional activities for these pages are in the accompanying Map Book and Student Workbook)

·        The Story of the World, vol. 1: p.138-141, 169-172, 191-193 (additional activities for these pages are in the accompanying The Story of the World: Activity Book One)

2. Study material for family discussion (older students can read on their own, parents can read and summarize for younger students):

Before the Trojan War, one of Egypt’s most famous pharaoh’s reigned. Ramesses II, or Ramesses the Great, was power hungry and driven. His many monuments to himself are one of the reason he is still remembered so well. In his quest for more territory, he brought his forces against the Hittites in what would come to be known as the Battle of Kadesh. And though most maps show him owning territory all through modern Israel and surrounding countries, Egypt actually controlled the trade routes through these areas and probably didn’t have much to do with the people living in these areas. The Israelites were still mostly tribes and small cities, not a kingdom, so were not really a concern (the pharaoh after Ramesses makes a quick mention of them in a battle). After Ramesses long reign into old age, his 13^th son, old himself, reigned. After his death there was a small period of confusion, with a few pharaoh’s ruling for short times, including a woman, Twosret. Finally Ramesses III came to the throne. He would have to battle a group of people called the Sea People who play a big part in this lesson.

The main enemy of the Israelites in this time period is a group of people called the Philistines. They are thought to be a group of the Sea People who were raiding around the Mediterranean for many years during this time period. The Sea People came from somewhere, in the Mediterranean. At least a part of them came from islands around Greece and maybe even mainland Greece, which would have included the Myceneans. They would be comparable to the Vikings who raided by sea two thousand years later. These Sea People were the main body of fighters in the Trojan War. The Philistines settled on the southern coast of modern Israel.  

 Judges 2- 4, 6-8, 13-16 (Note in this last chapter how Samson lied to Delilah about the source of his strength three times, and each time she tested out what he had told her. So when he finally told her the truth, he had to have known she would cut his hair to see if he would be weak.)

 Ruth

1 Samuel 1, 3

There is a lot of heavy content in this lesson, both in the Biblical history and in the Trojan War history. Read and preview the suggested materials before deciding how to share them with your students.

3. Attention Getter: It might be fun to set this one up by watching Troy (2004) the evening before. WARNING: This movie is rated R and has some definite bad scenes, so I only recommend the filtered version such as with VidAngel for streaming or Clearplay for BlueRay/DVD. But it is a great way to remember this story and the people involved. Or you could pick clips of the movie from Youtube, and give your students the back story.

4. Videos: You can pick and choose a few of these, or watch a couple each evening as a family.

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/children/videos/scripture-stories/old-testament/24-ruth-and-naomi?&lang=eng (Ruth is an ancestor of King David, who is an ancestor of Christ)

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kILvEa3cJdI (Hittites: Battle of Kadesh from 1:19 to 1:34, you may choose to also watch 1:06:30 to 1:19 and then finish the video from 1:34 to 1:58 for more Hittite history in this time period ending with the fall of the Hittite empire).

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2ar2bdbLec (Ramesses for teens)

I suggest you preview these and decide how you want to present these stories:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOYy8iCfIJ4 (Overview of the Book of Judges)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myeSLGXHt4k&pbjreload=101 (Deborah, cartoon but a bit bloody)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GakKDNn2_YE (Deborah, fewer bloody details) 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5Cnh0GPJ1g (Gideon, spiritual application)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNvRodoWh8c (Gideon, full story) 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TonT5Ulh9s (Samson)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abzr537WGTc (Samson for teens)

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/children/videos/scripture-stories/old-testament/25-samuel?&lang=eng

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kxm5tCuJtcw (Samuel’s mother, Hannah)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVos84e8keM (Samuel)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQbZX9JEQsQ (archaeological search for Troy)

5. Mapping: Find Troy on the map on this site (http://thetrojantumult.weebly.com/geography.html), and then show the location on a modern map of the world. Follow the route of Aeneas as he escapes Troy and founds Rome on the map on this site: https://hehasawifeyouknow.tumblr.com/post/83392229910/map-of-aeneas-journey-according-to-the-aeneid

 

  Map 7 in the From Adam to Us Map Book accompanies the reading on Ramses II. You could locate Troy and Greece and Crete on this map as well. Find where Israel fits on this map. Using Map 3 in the Gospel Library (under Scriptures>Study Helps>Bible Maps>3. The Division of the 12 Tribes), locate four of the five main Philistine cities: Ashkelon, Gaza, Ashdod, and Gath (Ekron is not shown).

 

6. The Literature: our story of the Trojan War is based on The Iliad by Homer. This video discusses the literary work (for teens): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aofPdMbXzUQ

 We don’t know for sure which characters were actually part of the real Trojan War. Agamemnon was a Mycenean king, but may have lived much earlier than the epic story. Many of the warriors were probably based on real people who were made larger than life over time. While back in the day, being heroic often meant the ability to kill a lot of people, there seems to be only one real heroic character in this story, Hector. Also, the Greek gods and goddesses play a big part in the literary version of the war.

The Odyssey is less historical and more an adventure story. Once you have learned the overview of this story, a fun activity is to watch O Brother, Where Art Thou? and list all the allusions to the Odyssey, with a Southern twist. You can get a summary of the Odyssey here (preview first): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kj0K8OpuK0I

The Aeneid was written several centuries later than Homer’s works. It was written at the request of Augustus Caesar to glorify Rome and himself. The central character, Aeneas, was mentioned in the Iliad, and he was a part of Roman tradition. He escapes the fallen Troy with his son and old father and ends up in Italy. Virgil, the writer, beefed up the stories that had been told and added to over the centuries. The story of the Trojan horse, while part of Greek tradition about the Trojan War, was actually found in The Aeneid and not The Iliad. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNVJNxkNSDs, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62uHKgAVU3c

 

7. Poster: Your poster for this section could be labeled “Battles” and depict Kadesh, Troy, and any of the Judges in their battles.

8. Make a paper Trojan Horse: https://www.dltk-kids.com/world/greece/m-trojan.htm

9. World History Reading:

·         Younger readers: The Trojan Horse: How the Greeks Won the War by Emily Little

·         Black Ships Before Troy by Rosemary Sutcliff

·         The Aeneid for Boys and Girls by Alfred J. Church

·         A graphic novel The Trojan Horse: The Fall of Troy - A Greek Myth by Justine Fontes 

·         The Odyssey retold by Geraldine McCaughrean

 

 

10. Memory DatesWorksheet:  If you need help, use the answers on Page One to complete one of the four worksheets