Liberty Timeline Home

How America's Freedom Came from God's Revelation Over Time The philosophy of freedom on which the United States is founded did not originate with America's Founding Fathers. The founding of the American Republic is the culmination of an evolutionary process that spans millennia. During this time, men applied their God-given power of reason to the truth God had given them to work out the principles by which men should live together in society. This truth takes two forms: 1) general revelation, which is the law of God written on men's hearts and what men learn when they observe the things God has created, and 2) special revelation, God's truth revealed in the Judeo-Christian Bible. Thus, even before the Bible was complete, secular men understood and articulated the existence of a single God and absolute moral principles. As faith in, and understanding of, the truth revealed in the Bible spread in the West, man's reason was enlightened to discover how to shape his interactions with other men so as to maximize freedom, prosperity, happiness, and peace. (1) This timeline attempts to present some of the main events and ideas that shaped Western Civiliation in general and the American philosophy of liberty in particular. Much of this history is no longer taught, so we hope the timeline will be a good starting point for those studying freedom on their own. Where possible, links to primary sources are provided. The application of God's truth to human action and interaction. constitutes the "science of freedom." Like all sciences, it depends on both a knowledge of fundamental principles, in this case God's revelation, and on knowledge of the progress that has been made in the past. The process of applying God's revelation to human action must be carried out continuously, because man's natural inclination to sin as well as changing technology create new situations to which human reason must correctly apply God's truth if freedom, prosperity, happiness, and peace are to continue to be preserved. Sadly, both the understanding of God's revelation and knowledge of the wisdom of the past have waned in the last 150 years. Only you can reverse our decline. The Founders' most frequently cited authority was the Bible Although some "scholars" since the 1870s have both denied that Christianity has a political philosophy and claimed that Christianity's true political doctrines are medieval, more objective scholars have actually found that the reference most frequently cited by America's Founding Fathers was the Bible. Here's a graph that shows the relative frequency of citations from several categories of sources excerpted from an article by Donald S. Lutz at 78 American Political Science Review 189 (1984). To the extent that other cited authorities, like Locke, based their work on Bible ideas, the graph actually understates the Bible's true influence.

c.4100 Adam (Okay, so why do scientists say men were around before 4100 B.C.?) See also Lifespans of the Patriarchs Earliest evidence of civilization in Sumeria 3500 Earliest evidence of civilization in Egypt 3200 3000 Recorded history begins in Babylon (Sumeria) The Pyramids and Sphinx (pictures here) The Great Pyramid was the tallest and most accurately oriented structure (relative to the compass) on earth for over 4,000. Both the Pyramids and the Spinx show erosion damage that secular scientists agree was caused by being immersed. The three largest pyramids were built by a father, son, and grandson. The last pyramid was never completed. For Quicktime VR tour, click here. c.2680 -2500 The Flood (At this date? Are you crazy?) c.2450 Tower of Babel (Ziggurat at Ur) 2357- 2118 Dates correspond to life of Peleg, Ge. 10:5 & 25. See Lifespans of the Patriarchs 2100 Abraham moves to Canaan Code of Ur-Nammu, oldest known law code 2060 Book of Job, oldest book of the Bible 2000 1876 Jacob goes to Egypt Code of Hammurabi [date attributed to the code at the linked page is incorrect] 1750 1446 Moses leads Exodus from Egypt Jews Occupy Promised Land 1406 1375 Time of Judges begins

1340 Rise of Assyrian Empire

1050 Saul crowned first Jewish king 1010 King David 970 King Solomon Jewish nation divided into Northern & Southern kingdoms (Israel & Judah) 931 c.875 Elijah called to prophesy Homer's Iliad and Odyssey c.800 753 Rome founded c.746 Jonah prophesies in Nineveh 742 Isaiah called to prophesy 1st Jewish diaspora 722 Sargon, King of Assyria conquers Israel Assyrian King Sennacherib sacks Babylon 689

630 Rise of Babylonian Empire

630 Zephaniah called to prophesy 627 Jeremiah called to prophesy Babylonians begin to revolt against the Assyrian Empite 626 Assyrian capital Nineveh sacked by Babylonians 612 607 Habakkuk called to prophesy Babylon defeats Egypt, becomes principal power in the Middle East 605 Nebuchadnezzar comes to power, invades Judah, and deports 10,000 Jews, including 16 year old Daniel c.598 Zoroaster, also here, founder of Zoroastrianism begins to teach a religion similar to Judaism in Persia 597 Nebuchadnezzar's second seige of Jerusalem. Ezekiel caried off to Babylon at age 25 592 Ezekiel called to prophesy 2nd Jewish diaspora 586 Babylon conquers Judah, the Jewish Southern Kingdom c.563 Buddha is born Veda poetry gives rise to Hindu religion c.550 Confucius is born. His ethical teachings will become the religion of Confuscianism four centuries in the future.

539 Rise of Media-Persian Empire

Median kingdom overthrown by Persians c.550 539 Cyrus the Great begins reign over Media-Persia Babylonian Empire falls to Media-Persia 538 Jews begin to return to the Promised Land under Zerubbabel Buddhism, an offshoot of Hinduism, begins in India 525 521 Darius I becomes king of Media-Persian Empire 520 September 1, 520 Haggai called to prophecy to encourage resuming work on rebuilding the temple. In November, Zechariah is called to prophecy. 515 Rebuilding of God's Temple in Jerusalem completed Roman republic founded 509 Notion that all things consist in the Logos, which Heraclitus mistakenly identifies as fire (see also here and links therein) 500 Heraclitus Greeks defeat the Persians at Marathon 490 Miltiades 470 Socrates is born (also here) 457 Second group of Jewish exiles returns to Jerusalem under Ezra Roman law of the Twleve Tables 451 444 March 4, 444 BC, decree to rebuild Jerusalem foretold in Daniel 9:25 takes place in Nehemiah 2:1-8. Nehemiah leads third group of Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem. Malachi, last book of Old Testament 440 Malachi begins ministry 432 Nehemiah returns to Persia 425 Nehemia comes back to Jerusalem 427 Plato is born (also here) 384 Aristotle is born (also here) Plato's The Republic 380 367 Aristotle studies at Plato's Academy 343 Aristotle tutors Alexander

336 Rise of Greek Empire

336 Alexander (also here) succeeds to throne of Macedon Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics and Politics. Aristotle says the best constitutions combine elements of monarchy, aristocracy, and democracy. c.335 323 Alexander dies Roman calendar inscribed in the Forum 304

280 Rise of the Roman Empire A Republic becomes a Dictatorship, then crumbles into Anarchy

Phyrric War, Rome wins all Italy 275 Polybius's history of Rome from 262 to 120 builds on Aristotle's idea of a mixed constitution and first articulates the notion of checks and balances 202 Polybius born 201 Rome defeats Hannibal, end of Punic Wars with Carthage 184 Cato the Censor tries to protect Roman morals 175 Antiochus Epiphanes begins to rule in Judah and will reign until 163 Cicero's De Republica, De Officis, De Legibus apply Greek political philosophy to Roman government. Cicero argues government must be limited by law based on the obligation of all citizens - the governors and the governed - to follow moral rules 106 Marcus Tullius Cicero ("Tully") born 73 Spartacus leads revolt of Roman slaves 63 Roman General Pompey conquers Palestine 52 Publius Clodius dies from a plot by Milo 49 Pompey, as sole consul, has the Senate declare Julius Caesar an outlaw. Caesar's ally, tribune Mark Antony flees Rome 47 Caesar puts Cleopatra on throne of Egypt End of Roman republic 46 Cato the Senator commits suicide 45 Cicero (also here) gives up hope that Julius Caesar will establish a Roman constitution and restore the institutions of the republic 44 Brutus assasinates Julius Caesar on March 15 for making himself "king" of Rome 43 Cicero plots with Brutus and Cassius to fragment Caesar's followers. Octavian, Caesar's son, defeats Antony at Mutina 42 Octavian, Caesar's adopted son, along with Antony, and Lepidus are appointed Triumvirs for Settling the Constitution. They defeat Brutus and Cassius and take control of all Roman territory 37 Antony names Herod king of Judea 36 Octavian and Antony split Roman territory between them west and east. 31 Octavian defeats Antony and Cleopatra in the Battle of Actium, a naval battle. Herod pledges loyalty to Octavian. 30 Antony and Cleopatra commit suicide. 27 Senate renames Octavian as Augustus and gives him control of all Roman lands First Roman Emperor 23 Senate gives Augustus autocratic power The Aeneid 19 Death of Virgil End date of Livy's History of Rome 9 c.4 Birth of Christ B.C. above (no year zero) A.D. below 33 March 29, Jesus enters Jerusalem as King The Logos 40 Philo Parallel Lives 75 Plutarch (also here) Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians c.97 Clement of Rome c.100 Heresy of Gnosticism 144 Heresy of Marcionism forces church to consider the New Testament canon Apologies (scroll down at the linked page) and Dialogue with Trypho begin Christian apologetic tradition that analyzes politics and society by articulating Christian philosophy 165 Justin martyred by Marcus Aurelius c.172 Heresy of Montanism Against Heresies, (scroll down) The Epideixix [Proof of Apostolic Preaching] c.180 Irenaeus shows from the Scripture that God established government to keep down wickedness, and that governors must thus obey and enforce God's rules. Irenaeus teaches that people get kings who do not obey God's laws when they themselves do not obey God's laws. The Apology, De corona militis, Against Marcion c.200 Tertullian teaches kings can only expect obedience to their laws if the laws are just.He distinguishes God's commands for government (eye for an eye) with God's commands for individuals (turn the other cheek) and shows that the distinction was necessary because otherwise there would be no temporal force to hold the wicked in check. Urges prayer for the Emperor and argues legalizing Christianity will not increase political divisiveness because Christians value righteousness above worldly gain acquired by political power. Tertullian argues from Scripture that Christians must not serve in the military forces of a pagan nation. Tertullian worshipped in a martyr church and was keenly aware of the pagan nature of Roman society, which probably explains why he fell in with the apocalyptic heresy of Montanism in later life. Stromateis (scroll down) c.215 Clement of Alexandria teaches that God gave His laws of right and wrong to man for man's good. By enforcing God's law, government either leads someone back "from wicked courses to a virtuous and constructive life" or, by inflicting capital punishment, mercifully delivers one who will not heed the law "from a life enslaved to evils." 240 Heresy of Manichaeism foreshadows Islam 312 Conversion of Constantine. Edict of Milan makes Christianity tolerated in Roman Empire 313 For Christian scholars, the conversion of Constantine represented attainment on the ideal in Romans 13 that government should bear the sword to enforce God's rules. For about a century, Christian thought was colored by the euphoric notion that the rule of Christian kings would lead to something like the millenial kingdom on earth. The notion was shattered by both the evangelical challenge presented by barbarian invaders and Augustine's writings, though traces of it survive in Christian political thought for several hundred years. 325 Heresy of Arianism provokes first Council of Nicaea Constantinople founded on site of ancient Byzantium as new capital of Roman Empire 330 New Testament canon (which books should be included) appears 367 Athanasius c.400 John Chrysostom, drawing on King Uzziah's attempt to burn incense in 2 Chronicles 26, distinguishes the role of sacred and secular authority. Religious authority wields the power of persuasion and instruction, civil authority wields the power of the sword. "The king, then, is entrusted with the care of our bodies, the priest with our souls." For John, living in the Eastern Empire, the formula is unusual, because the greater consolidation of power in the Eastern Empire allowed emperors greater influence over church doctrine, which they repeatedly attempted to exercise. 410 Roman garrison departs Britain De Civitate Dei (The City of God) 425 Augustine Augustine was the first to articulate that Christian and non-Christian individuals hold different goals. Christians seek eternal life. They are citizens of heaven on an earthly pilgrimage. Non-Christians seek temporal goods and pleasures, they are the "inhabitants of the earth" as Revelation calls them. Since both the "city of God" and the "earthly city" are present on earth, politics reflects spiritual warfare. But as long as rulers enforce God's laws, a "cooperative order" is established that allows both groups to enjoy the maximum level of peace and prosperity. The role of civil government, therefore, is to enforce God's laws. Augustine says that following God's laws minimizes social costs. Fall of Rome 476 Odoacer sacks city of Rome

500-1075 Early Middle Ages Evangelizing Europe

c. 500 France becomes Christian under Clovis Corpus Juris Civilis 529 Byzantine Emperor Justinian I 597 Augustine of Canterbury sent to evangelize the English by Pope Gregory I Muslim Caliphate established. Arab Muslims are called Saracens and extend their influence on both the North and South shore of the Med by proselytizing and conquest 632 Muhammad dies. Abu Bakr, his father-in-law, becomes first Caliph. c. 680 Death of Caedmon, a singer who evangelized the Anglo Saxon common people in song Last English pagan leaders converted 681 England becomes the center of learning in Europe 700 Moors (Muslims from North Africa) conquer Spain 711 Ecclesiastical History of the English Nation 731 Venerable Bede considered the most learned man of his time, Bede himself said he "gave all my attention to the study of the Scriptures. Conquering Moors turned back in France 732 Charles Martel (Charles the Hammer) saves Europe from Islam by defeating the Moors - Muslims from Spain - at the Battle of Tours Saracens discover the secret of making paper from Chinese taken prisoner in the Battle of Talas 751 c.752 Pope Stephen II turns Western Christianity away from Constantinople by appealing to the Frankish Carolingian dynasty for military protection. 783 Cynewulf, an English evangelical poet in the tradition of Caedmon, dies. A papal legation is sent to England and reforms English law 786 Offa, the most powerful king in the English provinces, presides at the meeting where the new laws are written and asks the legation to consecrate his son, the first recorded coronation ceremony in English history Danish Vikings begin to raid England c.790 800 Pope Leo III crowns Charlemagne "Emperor of the Romans" at St. Peter's in Rome 802 Egbert becomes king of Wessex 839 Aethelwulf, Egbert's son, unites the English provinces of Mercia and Wessex to resist Danish Viking raids Saracens attack Rome 846 False Decretals, forgeries designed to place the Church over the State, including the fraudulent Donation of Constantine, on which the Roman Catholic Church, to this day, bases the spiritual infallibility of the pope 853 855 Aethelwulf sends his son Alfred to Rome Alfred's Code of Laws based on the Ten Commandments 871 Alfred the Great (also here), a son of Aethelwulf, becomes King of Wessex. Alfred later issues a code of laws that begins with his own Anglo-Saxon translatin of the Ten Commandments. This code of laws is the basis for all subsequent English law and establishes the tradition of English law being drawn from scripture. 878 Alfred defeats the Danish Vikings in Wessex and and converts Guthrum, their king, to Christianity. Alfred saw the conflict with the Vikings as a judgment from God for England's neglect of learning, without which men cannot learn and follow God's will Alfred creates the Danelaw, dividing England between where Alfred's law and Danish law have jurisdiction 886 Alfred brings London under his control 899 Edward the Elder succeeds his father Alfred as King of Wesses. 918 Edward the Elder reconquers the Danelaw with the help of his sister, Aethelflaed, effectively becoming the first King to rule all of England, though complete political union will not occur until the reign of Edward's son Athelstan 924 Edward's son Athelstan succeeds his father Battle of Brunanburh 937 Athelstan becomes Overlord of the English, the first real King of England 939 Edmund, another son of Edward the Elder, succeeds Athelstan. For the succession of English Kings, see this list 946 Edred, also a son of Edward the Elder, succeeds Edmund. He delegates much of the administrative duties of kingship to Saint Dunstan