Cool Stuff

Here are a few of the cool things I've been discovering as I prepare my World History I and II courses.

1. The aforementioned book and theories of David Rohl. In the US it was published as "Pharaohs and Kings: A Biblical Quest" in England as "A Test of Time: The Bible from Myth to History." There is also a video series available from the Discovery Channel, and on sale right now. Rohl is not the only one doing this kind of revision, but he's made his version of the story available on a popular level, and has also done a better job putting together a comprehensive picture, than others. "Abe" seems to be the best place to get this book-- definitely look for the British version (it's in English too).
2. Old historians-- most of you are probably familiar with Ussher's "Annals of the World" this is a nice resource for dating Biblical events and for putting them in an overall context. He has also, given us some fun and extravagant dates like that of Creation which according to Ussher began on Sunday, October 23, 4004 BC. Another history I discovered-- thanks to the fact that my friend Jamin Wight gave me two volumes from a four volume set-- is Charles Rollin-- apparently a professor at the university of Paris in the 1700's who wrote a work called "The Ancient History of the Egyptians, Carthaginians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Medes and Persians, Macedonians and Grecians." His account of the origin of the 'Grecians' is all that I've looked at very much. His approach is biblical and he draws the origins of the Greeks from the four sons of Javan.
3. Cassiodorus' "On Divine and Secular Learning" has been translated into English. Again I think "Abe" was the best price I could find.
4. "The Western Heritage" is a history textbook that I am using as a good summary and reference. It is a college textbook. I've got the 6th edition. The real kicker-- I got t complete 6th edition textbook for $2.98, plus shipping at an Amazon used book seller. Donald Kagan is one of the editors and this book, which although it is not Christian, does seem to be very even-handed in its treatment and understanding of Medieval Europe.

That's all for now. There are definitly some other great things I've found-- especially stories. Maybe I'll give you one of them later.