The Fall of Languages Worldwide

      Fall of the Akkadian Language ebrew,   the   Holy   Language;   a   Semitic   and   one   of   the   oldest   language;   language   of   the   Bible,   also   called   the Language   of   Canaan;   originally   language   of   the   Israelites;   Moses   had   to   write   the   Torah   in   Hebrew;   the   Ten Commandments were written by God in the Hebrew language. The   Hebrew   speaking   people   traditionally   begins   their   history   with   Abraham   being   promised   by   God   that   he would   become   the   father   of   a   great   nation.   Abraham,   declares   his   belief   in   the   Oneness   of   God,   later becomes   basis   of   Judaism.   Abraham's   grandson   Jacob   was   renamed   Israel   and,   according   to   the   Biblical account,   his   12   sons   became   the   fathers   of   the   12   tribes   of   Israel.   In   around   1300   BC,   the   Hebrew-born Moses,   an   adopted   Egyptian   prince,   Servant   of   God   becomes   the   deliverer   of   the   Hebrew   slaves.   Leading   the Exodus   of   around   600,000   Hebrews,   men,   women   and   children,   out   of   the   Egyptian   bondage,   Moses   crossed the   Red   Sea;   then   they   base   themselves   at   Mount   Sinai,   where   Moses   receives   the   Ten   Commandments.   The First   commandment   endorses   Abraham’s   belief   in   the   Oneness   of   God.   It   reads:   “I   am   the   Lord   your   God, who   brought   you   out   of   the   land   of   Egypt,   out   of   the   house   of   bondage.   You   shall   have   no   other   gods   before Me."   Then   Moses   dispatched   Twelve   Spies   -   a   group   of   Israelite   chieftains,   one   from   each   of   the   Twelve Tribes, to scout out the Land of Canaan for 40 days. During   their   visit,   the   spies   saw   fortified   cities   and   resident   giants,   which   frightened   them;   subsequently   ten of   the   spies   were   of   the   opinion   that   it   was   not   possible   for   the   Israelites   to   conquer   the   land   as   God   had promised. As a result, the entire nation was made to wander in the desert for 40 years. After   the   death   of   Moses,   Joshua   becomes   the   leader   of   the   Hebrews,   he   was   one   of   the   twelve   spies   sent   by   Moses   to   explore   and   report   on   the   land   of Canaan   (Numbers   13:16-17).   Joshua   lived   through   the   40   year   wandering   period;   he   was   born   in   Egypt   prior   to   the   Exodus.   He   led   the   Israelite   tribes   in the conquest of Canaan - a land of city-states. Each   city   had   its   own   king   and   to   conquer   the   land   each   city   would   have   to   be   defeated.   God   com¬manded   that   all   Canaanites   be   de¬stroyed   or   driven from   the   land   (Num.   33:51-56;   Deut.   7:1-5).   The   first   battle   after   the   crossing   of   the   Jordan   was   the   Battle   of   Jericho.   Thirteen   times   the   city   was   circled and   then   the   walls   fell,   Israelites   took   the   city   and   destroyed   it;   more   or   less   all   the   people   of   the   city   were   killed.   The   Bible   says   that   when   the   walls collapsed, the Israelites stormed the city and set it on fire. “The destruction was complete. Then   Joshua   sent   3,000   soldiers,   who   defeated   citizens   of   Ai.   The   result   was   that   all   12,000   of   the   male   in¬habitants   of   Ai   were   killed,   the   king   hanged, and   the   city   reduced   to   ashes.   With   Jericho,   Ai,   and   Bethel   con¬trolled,   Joshua   took   the   people,   according   to   God’s   instruction   (Deut.   27:1-26),   north   to Shechem to renew God’s covenant. However,   Joshua   by   way   of   conquest   occupied   the   area   on   the   east   of   the   Jordan   from   the   Arnon   River   in   the   south   to   Mount   Hermon   in   the   north,   and on the west from below the Dead Sea in the south to Mount Hermon again in the north. During   the   conquest,   31   kings   were   killed;   their   names   and   of   their   cities   being   given   in   Joshua   12:10-24.   One   main   city,   however,   was   not   taken,   and   that was   Jerusalem;   it   remained   in   the   hands   of   Cannanites   for   a   further   period   of   around   two   hundred   years,   until   King   David   seized   it   later.   During   the   wars, the surviving Canaanites scattered throughout the land. Following   the   conquest   of   Canaan   by   Joshua   until   the   formation   of   the   first   Kingdom   of   Israel,   the   Israelite   Tribes   formed   a   loose   confederation;   in   times of crisis, the people were led by ad hoc leaders known as judges. According   to   tradition,   the   Hebrew   speaking   tribes   formed   the   first   United   Kingdom   of   Israel   in   around   1020   BC,   under   Saul   of   Benjamin   tribe   (circa   1079 – 1007 BC) as its first king. In   around   1020   BC,   Saul   became   the   first   king   of   the   Israelites.   Saul   was   marvelously   handsome;   in   war   he   was   able   to   march   120   miles   without   rest. According to the Bible, Saul was anointed by the prophet Samuel and reigned, from Gibeah (north of Jerusalem). During   the   reign   of   Saul,   the   Philistines   attacked   Israel.   They   were   settled   in   southern   Canaan   and   considered   as   the   most   dangerous   enemy   of   Israel. However,   Saul   led   out   his   army   to   face   them   at   Mount   Gilboa,   where   the   Israelites   were   decisively   defeated.   King   Saul   attempted   suicide   to   avoid capture,   however   he   was   slain   at   the   Battle   of   Mount   Gilboa;   three   of   his   sons   Jonathan,   Abinadab,   and   Malchishua   were   also   killed   during   the   war   (1 Samuel 31:2; 1 Chronicles 10:2). Saul was succeeded by Ish-bosheth his only surviving son, who became king of Israel, at the age of forty. Ish-bosheth   reigned   for   two   years   and   was   killed   by   two   of   his   own   captains.   (2   Samuel   4:5)   The   only   male   descendant   of   Saul   to   survive   was Mephibosheth,   Jonathan's   son,   (2   Samuel   4:4)   who   had   been   five   when   his   father   and   grandfather   Saul   had   died   in   the   battle   of   Mount   Gilboa. Subsequently   David,   aged   30   is   anointed   king   of   the   United   Kingdom   of   Israel   (c.   1003–970   BC).   He   was   also   son-in-   law   of   Saul   and   commander   of   the army.   David   conquers   Jerusalem   and   shifted   there   his   capital   from   Gibeah.   He   embarked   on   successful   military   campaigns,   David   defeats   the   enemies   of Israel,   slaughtering   Philistines,   Moabites   (in   modern   Jordan),   Edomites   (located   south   of   Judea)   Syrians   and   Arameans.   He   brings   back   the   Ark   of   the Covenant to Jerusalem which was earlier taken away by the Philistines. Thus he secured borders of Israel. David   ruled   forty   years   over   the   United   kingdom   of   Israel   (seven   in   Hebron   and   thirty-three   in   Jerusalem).   In   the   Hebrew   Bible,   it   is   written   that   a   human descendant   of   David   will   occupy   the   throne   of   a   restored   kingdom   and   usher   in   a   messianic   age.   According   to   Genesis   46:12   and   Ruth   4:18-22,   David   is the   eleventh   generation   from   Judah,   the   fourth   son   of   the   patriarch   Jacob   (Israel).   Jesus   of   Nazareth   (Jesus   Christ),   claimed   his   descent   from   the   Biblical David, or had it claimed on his behalf. Adonijah   -   fourth   son   of   David,   by   Haggith;   claimed   to   be   the   rightful   heir   to   the   throne;   he   was   put   to   death   by   Solomon   for   seeking   in   marriage   Abishag, David's   concubine.   This   was   regarded   as   an   act   of   constructive   treason   (I   Kings,   ii.   25   [A.V.   26]).   David's   priest   Abiathar   was   exiled   by   Solomon   because   he had   sided   with   rival   Adonijah.   David's   general   Joab   was   killed,   in   accord   with   David's   deathbed   request   to   Solomon,   because   he   had   killed   generals   Abner and Amasa during a peace (2 Samuel 20:8-13; 1 Kings 2:5). Subsequently,   David   was   succeeded   by   his   son   Solomon   from   his   favorite   wife   Bathsheba.   Under   Solomon,   the   United   kingdom   experienced   a   period   of peace and prosperity, and cultural development. Much public building took place, including the First Temple in Jerusalem. Solomon,   according   to   the   Book   of   Kings   and   the   Book   of   Chronicles,   King   of   Israel   and   according   to   the   Talmud   one   of   the   48   prophets.   He   proved   to   be the   last   king   of   the   united   kingdom   of   Israel.   The   Hebrew   Bible   credits   Solomon   as   the   builder   of   the   First   Temple   in   Jerusalem,   and   portrays   him   as   great in wisdom, wealth, and power. According   to   the   Bible,   Solomon   had   seven   hundred   wives   and   three   hundred   concubines.   The   wives   are   described   as   foreign   princesses,   including Pharaoh's   daughter   and   women   of   Moab,   Ammon,   Sidon   and   of   the   Hittites.   The   only   wife   that   is   mentioned   by   name   is   Naamah,   who   is   described   as the Ammonite. She was the mother of Solomon's successor, Rehoboam. In   the   Eastern   Orthodox   Church,   Solomon   is   commemorated   as   a   saint,   with   the   title   of   "Righteous   Prophet   and   King".   The   Qur'an   states   that   Sulayman ruled   not   only   people,   but   also   hosts   of   Jinn,   was   able   to   understand   the   language   of   the   birds   and   ants,   and   to   see   some   of   the   hidden   glory   in   the   world that   was   not   accessible   to   most   other   human   beings.   Ruling   a   large   kingdom,   that   extended   south   into   Yemen,   via   Queen   of   Sheba,   who   accepted Solomon's   prophethood   and   religion.   He   was   famed   throughout   the   lands   for   his   wisdom   and   fair   judgments.   In   particular,   the   Qur'an   denies   that Solomon ever turned away from Allah. According   to   the   Hebrew   Bible,   Solomon   died   of   natural   causes   at   around   80   years   of   age.   Upon   Solomon's   death,   his   son,   Rehoboam,   aged   41, succeeded him. During   the   days   of   Rehoboam,   the   people   of   Judah   under   the   command   of   Jeroboam   revolted   over   the   imposition   of   heavy   taxes.   Jeroboam   was   a member   of   the   Tribe   of   Ephraim   of   Zereda;   he   together   with   the   the   people   of   Judah   (northern   part)   promised   their   loyalty   in   return   for   lesser   tax burden. But king Rehoboam refused to reduce taxes, rather proclaimed: "Whereas   my   father   laid   upon   you   a   heavy   yoke,   so   shall   I   add   tenfold   thereto.   Whereas   my   father   chastised   (tortured)   you   with   whips,   so   shall   I   chastise you   with   scorpions.   For   my   littlest   finger   is   thicker   than   my   father's   loins;   and   your   backs,   which   bent   like   reeds   at   my   father's   touch,   shall   break   like straws at my own touch." As   a   result,   the   people   of   the   northern   part,   known   as   Israel   rebelled;   the   Ten   of   the   Tribes   of   Israel   also   refused   to   accept   Rehoboam   as   king. Sunsequently,   the   kindom   of   Judah   split   in   932/931   BC   and   form   the   northern   Kingdom   of   Israel   ruled   by   Jeroboam,   while   Rehoboam   son   of   Solomon continued to reign the remaining southern part of Judah. Jeroboam established Shechem as the capital of his kingdom. In   the   5th   year   of   Rehoboam's   reign   Shishaq,   king   of   Egypt,   brought   a   huge   army   and   took   many   cities.   When   they   laid   siege   to   Jerusalem,   Rehoboam gave Shishaq all of the treasures out of the temple as a tribute. Judah became a vassal state of Egypt. Rehoboam   had   18   wives   and   60   concubines.   They   bore   him   28   sons   and   60   daughters.   He   reigned   for   17   years.   After   death,   he   was   succeeded   by   his   son Abijah as king of Judah (915 - 912 BC). Abijam married fourteen wives, and had 22 sons and 16 daughters. To   reunite   the   kingdom,   and   to   bring   Israel   under   his   control,   Abijah   waged   a   major   battle   against   King   Jeroboam   of   Israel   in   the   mountains   of   Ephraim.   2 Chronicles   13:3   gives   the   sizes   of   the   two   armies   as   400,000   on   Abijah's   side   and   800,000   on   Jeraboam's.   According   to   2   Chronicles   13:17,   during   war 500,000 of Jeroboam's troops were slain. However, Abijah failed to reunite Israel and Judah. When   Abijah   died,   he   was   buried   in   Jerusalem,   and   his   son,   Asa,   became   the   new   king   of   Judah.   The   Hebrew   Bible   gives   the   period   of   his   reign   as   41 years (913-910 BC to 873-869 BC). During   the   reign   of   Asa,   the   Bible   states   of   an   invasion   by   the   Egyptian-backed   chieftain   Zerah   the   Ethiopian   and   his   million   men   and   300   chariots   was defeated   by   Asa's   580,000   men   in   the   Valley   of   Zephath,   near   Mareshah.   (2   Chronicles   14:9-15)   The   Ethiopians   were   pursued   all   the   way   to   Gerar,   in   the coastal plain; as a result, Judah was free from Egyptian incursions for a long time. In   Asa's   36th   year,   Baasha,   king   of   Israel   (900   -   877   BC)   attacked   Judah   and   fortified   Ramah   -   a   city   five   miles   north   of   Jerusalem.   King   Asa   approached Ben-Hadad   I,   king   of   Syria   (Aram   Damascus)   for   military   assistance   and   paid   him   all   the   silver   and   gold   in   his   treasuries   as   well   as   in   the   Temple. Subsequently, Baasha was forced by the Ben-Hadad armies to vacate the city of Ramah. Immediately   after   the   partition   of   Israel,   both   the   kingdoms   remained   at   war   for   many   centuries   to   come.   Judah   always   struggled   to   recapture   Israel   so as   to   reunite   the   kingdom;   at   the   other   hand   Israel   insisted   and   fought   for   its   independence.   They   were   the   Israelites,   who   gave   the   message   of "Oneness of God," at a time, when the entire world had a belief in multiple gods and goddesses. In   the   Middle   East,   variety   of   gods   were   introduced   by   most   of   the   great   conquerors,   from   god   An,   Enlil   and   Enki   to   Shamash,   goddess   Ishtar   to   Marduk; they   had   achieved   the   universal   status.   In   the   neighboring   Egypt,   there   were   Ra,   Amon,   goddess   Isis,   god   Osiris   and   Horus   and   many   others,   ruling   over the Egyptian's mind and heart as the greatest gods. Adjacent   to   Israel   and   Judah,   there   was   a   most   powerful   city   of   Tyre   (in   Lebanon),   founded   around   2750   BC,   which   eventually   emerged   as   centre   for   the great   Carthaginian   empire,   created   by   way   of   trade.   Tyre   was   considered   as   the   birth   place   of   Europa   as   well   as   of   Dido   -   the   founder   and   first   queen   of Carthage.   Europa,   princess   of   Tyre   was   raped   by   Zeus,   the   king   of   the   gods   according   to   Greek   mythology.   Europa   had   by   Zeus   three   sons   including   King Minos of Crete, who is the founder of the first European civilization. The   city   of   Tyre   had   introduced   Ba'al   also   identified   as   Hadad;   he   demanded   offerings   in   the   shape   of   human   sacrifice,   exclusively   innocent   children.   The Ba'al   had   emerged   as   one   of   the   greatest   gods   of   the   ancient   world.   He   was   worshipped   in   the   most   parts   of   the   Middle   East,   North   Africa   and   all   along the Mediterranean region. Under   such   circumstances,   when   there   were   innumerable   great   gods,   supported   by   the   super   powers,   it   was   very   difficult   for   a   small   nation   to   survive with   the   message   of   the   Oneness   of   God.   Subsequently,   they   severly   suffered;   they   were   tortured,   killed,   massacred,   deported,   dispered   at   the   pain   of death   from   their   mother   land.   But   they   never   surrendered,   never   agreed   to   bow   before   the   emperors   except   God.   At   this   stage,   no   one   was   prepared   to accept   the   idea   of   Oneness   of   God;   they   orgued,   how   one   God   can   handle   the   entire   universe;   how   one   god   can   control   the   winds,   the   seas,   the   air   and many other functions. This   was   the   period,   when   Assyrians   had   emerged   as   the   great   conquerors   of   the   ancient   world;   they   kept   on   conquering   all   the   nations   inhabiting   the Middle East. Subsequently they established the most powerful empire on earth known as the Neo-Assyrian Empire. Each   year   the   large   Assyrian   armies   marched   for   hunting   the   people   and   to   occupy   their   lands,   resources   and   properties.   By   repeated   arracks,   they   used to   exhaust   rather   cripple   militarly   and   economically   independent   nations,   so   that   they   must   surrender.   Adad-nirari   II   (c.   911-891   BC)   the   first   King   of   the Neo-Assyrian   period,   led   six   campaigns   against   Aramaean   people   of   Aram   (modern   Syria).   He   was   followed   by   Ashurnasirpal   II   (883–859   BC)   with   the same mission. To   maintain   and   save   independence,   the   Aramaean   people   time   and   again   had   to   surrender   their   lives;   they   were   killed,   massacred   kidnapped   and deported   to   unknown   areas;   their   settlements   were   burnt   to   ashes.   Under   such   circumstances,   when   Shalmaneser   III   of   Assyria   (858-824)   moved   forward to   reinvade   Aramaeans,   they   made   alliance   with   all   those   neighbouring   nations,   who   had   the   similar   threat   from   the   Assyrians.   According   to   the   Assyrian chronicles,   a   coalition   of   twelve   kings   was   formed,   against   the   Assyrian   king   Shalmaneser   III,   headed   by   Ben-Hadad   II   (Hadadezer),   king   of   Aram Damascus   (Syria).   Others   included   Egyptians,   Phoenicians,   Hittites,   Ammonites   and   Arabian   tribes   together   with   the   King   of   Hamath   and   Ahab,   king   of Israel. In 853 BC, they all were together at the Battle of Qarqar (modern Syrian site of Tell Qarqur), against Shalmaneser III. It   was   one   of   the   great   battles   of   antiquity.   According   to   the   Syrian   text,   their   army   totaled   3,940   chariots,   1,900   cavalry,   over   62,000   infantry,   and   1,000 camel   riders.   Although   Shalmaneser   claimed   victory,   the   records   indicate   that   the   battle   ended   in   a   deadlock,   as   the   Assyrian   forces   were   withdrawn soon afterwards. After   this   battle,   Shalmaneser   invaded   for   further   six   times,   within   a   decade,   to   achieve   his   goal,   until   at   least   841   BC.   At   his   every   attack,   people   were killed,   massacred,   kidnapped   and   looted;   their   lands   were   pillaged.   They   would   often   kill   every   single   person   even   prisoners   of   war.   It   was   part   of   the Assyrian's strategy to exhaust and cripple the nations. However, Shalmaneser describes the fight (Battle of Qarqar) in his own wordings:             "With   the   supreme   forces   which   Assur,   my   lord   (Assyrian   god)   had   given   me   and   with   the   mighty   weapons   ...   I   fought   with   them.   I   decisively   defeated them   from   the   city   of   Qarqar   to   the   city   of   Gilzau.   I   felt   with   the   sword   14,000   troops,   their   fighting   men   ...   I   made   their   blood   flow   in   the   wadis   ...   I blocked the Orontes river with their corpses as with a causeway. In the midst of the battle I took away from them chariots, cavalry, and teams of horses." In   841   BC,   Shalmaneser   again   invaded   the   Arameans   of   Aram-Damascus   then   ruled   by   king   Hazael   (c.   842   BC-805   BC)   and   besieged   the   city.   Previously Hazael   was   commander-in-chief   of   the   kingdom   of   Aram-Damascus;   he   killed   its   king   Benhadad   II,   and   himself   became   king.   However,   Shalmaneser agreed   to   withdraw   his   forces   against   a   huge   amount   as   ransom   paid   by   the   king   Hazael.   Shalmaneser   also   forced   King   Jehu   of   Israel   (842-815   BC)   and the Phoenician states of Tyre, and Sidon to pay ransom. The   situation   turned   around,   when   king   Hazael   of   Aram   Damacus   (c.   842   -   805   BC)   led   the   army   to   invade   both   the   kingdoms   of   Israel   and   Judah.   He defeated   Jehoram,   king   of   Israel   (849   -   842   BC)   and   occupied   all   of   the   territories   of   Israel   beyond   the   Jordan   river,   in   the   lands   of   Gilead,   Gad,   Reuben, and   Manasseh   (10:32f).   During   war   king   Jehoram   was   wounded;   taking   advantage   of   the   situation,   his   general   Jehu   revolted   and   took   the   throne   and became   king   of   Israel   (841-814   BC).   At   the   other   side,   Hazael   turned   to   king   Ahaziah   of   Judah   (842   -   815   BC)   so   as   to   occupy   Jerusalem.   Finally   Hazael withdrew   his   forces   from   Jerusalem   after   receiving   huge   ransom   from   king   Jehoahaz   in   the   shape   of   all   the   gold   that   was   found   in   the   treasures   of   the house of the Lord, and in the king's palace (2 Kings 12:18; 2 Chr. 24:24). According   to   the   account   given   in   the   Second   Book   of   Kings,   king   Ahaziah   and   the   deported   king   Jehoram   of   Israel   (nephew   of   Ahaziah),   both   went   out   to meet   the   rebellious   general   Jehu.   Further   record   reveals   that   Jehu   slain   Jehoram;   under   the   situation   king   Ahaziah   fled   from   the   scene   along   the   road   to Beth-haggan.   Jehu   rode   after   him,   shouting,   "shoot   him,   too!"   So   Ahaziah   was   shot   in   his   chariot   at   the   Ascent   of   Gur,   near   Ibleam.   He   was   able   to   go   on as far as Megiddo, where he died. General   Jehu   ruled   Israel   as   king   from   842   to   815   BC;   after   death,   he   was   succeeded   by   his   son   Jehoahaz   as   king   of   Israel   (815   –   801   BC).   During   his   days, Adad-nirari   III   (810-783   BC)   emperor   of   Assyria   attacked   Aram   Damascus   in   803   BC,   defeated   its   king   Ben-Hadad   III.   As   a   result,   the   defeated   Arameans army had to vacate the occupied territory of Israel. Jehoash,   the   grandson   of   general   Jehu,   king   of   Israel   (798   –   782   BC)   invaded   Judah,   then   under   king   Amaziah   (797   -   767   BC).   During   war,   king   Amaziah was   defeated   and   arrested   at   Beth-shemesh,   on   the   borders   of   Dan   and   Philistia.   Jehoash   took   Amaziah   as   a   prisoner.   Jehoash   also   invaded   and   sacked Jerusalem,   broke   down   the   wall   of   Jerusalem   from   the   Gate   of   Ephraim   to   the   Corner   Gate,   took   all   the   gold   and   silver,   all   the   articles   that   were   found   in the   house   of   the   LORD   and   in   the   treasuries   of   the   king's   house,   and   hostages,   and   returned   to   Samaria.   In   the   meantime   Amaziah   fled   from   captivity but   was   caught   at   Lachish,   where   he   was   slain.   His   body   was   brought   upon   horses   to   Jerusalem,   where   it   was   buried   in   the   royal   sepulchre   (2   Kings 14:19, 20; 2 Chr. 25:27, 28). Then,   one   of   Amaziah's   sons,   Uzziah   also   known   as   Azariah,   became   king   of   Judah   at   the   age   of   sixteen.   He   reigned   for   fifty-two   years   (783   –   742   BC).   He is   recorded   as   having   built   the   Upper   Gate   of   the   Temple   of   Jerusalem,   and   extended   the   "wall   of   Ophel".   His   long   period   is   considered   as   the   most prosperous and peaceful. After death, Uzziah was succeeded by his son Jotham. During   the   reign   of   Jotham   (742   –   735   BC),   Israel   (under   king   Pekah)   and   Aram   Damascus   (under   king   Rezin)   jointly   prepared   to   invade   kingdom   of   Judah. Previously   Pekah   was   army   commander,   who   conspired   and   occupied   the   throne   of   Israel   after   killing   its   king   Pekahiah,   who   ruled   Israel   from   738   to   737 BC. King   Ahaz   of   Judah   sent   messengers   to   Tiglath-pileser   III,   king   of   Assyria   (745   –727   BC)   for   help,   then   the   most   dominating   power   in   the   region.   While saying,   I   am   thy   servant   and   thy   son;   come   up,   and   save   me   out   of   the   hand   of   the   king   of   Syria   (Aram   Damascus),   and   out   of   the   hand   of   the   king   of Israel,   which   rise   up   against   me.   King   Ahaz   also   paid   for   the   job,   all   the   gold   and   silver   that   was   found   in   the   house   of   the   LORD,   and   in   the   treasures   of the king's palace. Subsequently   Tiglath-Pileser   invaded   and   conquered   the   kingdom   of   Aram   Damascus   and   executed   its   king   Rezin.   According   to   2   Kings   16:9,   the population   of   Aram   Damascus   was   deported   to   Assyria.   Then,   Tiglath-Pileser   invaded   Israel   and   occupied   its   major   cities,   including   Ijon,   Abel   Beth Maacah, Janoah, Kedesh and Hazor. He also took Gilead and Galilee, and all the land of Naphtali, and deported the people of Israel to Assyria. In   the   meantime,   king   Pekah   of   Israel   was   murdered   by   Hoshea,   the   son   of   Elah,   who   eventually   proved   to   be   the   last   king   of   Israel;   he   reigned   in between 732 – 721 BC. After the death of Tiglath-Pileser III in 722 BC, Hoshea refused to pay tribute to Assyrians and approached the king of Egypt for his assistance. Tiglath-Pileser   was   succeeded   by   his   son   Shalmaneser   V   (727   to   722   BC),   who   arrived   with   large   armies   against   Hoshea.   He   forced   him   to   submit   and render   tribute   (2   Kings   17:3).   Finally   Shalmaneser   besieged   Samaria,   the   capital   city   of   Israel,   which   lasted   continuously   for   three   years.   In   the   meantime Shalmaneser   suddenly   died   and   was   replaced   by   Sargon   II   (722   –   705   BC)   as   emperor   of   the   Assyrian   empire,   who   continued   the   siege.   Finally   Sargon was   able   to   occupy   Samaria,   destroyed   the   kingdom   of   Israel   and   exiled   27,290   Israelites   to   Assyria   and   placed   them   in   colonies   in   Halah,   along   the banks   of   the   Habor   River   in   Gozan,   and   in   the   cities   of   the   Medes.   With   this,   Ten   Tribes   of   ancient   Israel   also   lost,   who   were   the   founding   fathers   of   this kingdom. They also disappeared from Biblical and all other historical accounts as the kingdom of Israel was destroyed in about 720 BC by Sargon II. The   deportation   of   the   Israelites   together   with   the   Arameans   continued   for   over   a   century   that   started   from   the   days   of   Shalmaneser   III   (858–823   BC) after   the   Battle   of   Qarqar   fought   in   853   BC.   The   deportation   was   in   full   force   during   the   period   of   Tiglath-pilezer   III   (r.   745   –   727   BC),   Sargon   II   (722   –   705 BC)   and   Sennacherib   (705   –   681   BC),   who   captured   46   cities,   killed   and   deported   its   people.   It   was   during   the   siege   of   Jerusalem   that   the   Bible   says   the Angel   of   the   Lord   killed   185,000   Assyrian   soldiers.   Tiglath-pilezer   began   a   three   step   deportation   of   the   Hebrew   speaking   people   of   Israel;   initially   he deported   the   tribes   east   of   the   Jordan:   the   tribes   of   Reuben,   Manasseh,   and   Gad   in   about   734   BC.   The   tribes   of   Dan,   Naphtali,   and   Zebulun   were   taken during   the   invasion   and   the   destruction   of   Galilee   and   Damascus   by   Tiglath-pilezer   in   731   BC.   The   rest   three   tribes:   Ephraim,   Issachar   and   Asher   together with   the   remaining   Manasseh   of   'Ten   Tribes'   were   kidnapped   by   Sargon   II   at   the   fall   of   Samaria   in   722   BC.   Many   Israelites   were   killed   or   died   during   the exile.   However,   to   fill   in   the   gap,   people   from   Babylon,   Kuthah,   Avva,   Hamath   and   Sepharvaim   were   shifted   and   settled   in   Israel.   After   the   fall   of   Israel, the kingdom of Judah consisted of only four tribes: Judah, Benjamin, Simeon, and Levi. However,   Israel   disappeared   from   the   map   in   721   BC,   but   the   kingdom   of   Judah   survived   for   further   122   years,   when   it   was   conquered   and   destroyed   in 586   BC   by   Nebuchadnezzar   II,   king   of   Babylonia.   These   were   the   days   when   the   greatest   Assyrian   empire   suddenly   collapsed;   the   allied   forces   of   the Babylonians   and   Medes,   together   with   the   Scythians   and   Cimmerians,   attacked   Nineveh,   capital   of   the   Assyrian   empire.   After   four   years   of   bitter   fighting, Nineveh   was   finally   sacked   in   612   BC.   Sin-shar-ishkun,   the   Assyrian   emperor   was   killed   in   the   process.   To   help   the   Assyrians,   pharaoh   of   Egypt   Necho   II (610   –   595   BC)   personally   marched   towards   Assyria   while   heading   a   large   army.   When   he   reached   in   the   Jezreel   Valley   at   Megiddo   (Judah),   he   found   his passage blocked by Josiah, king of Judah. Ultimately,   there   was   a   fierce   war   in   which   king   Josiah   was   killed   at   the   battle   ground.   Nevertheless,   pharoah   Necho   II   could   not   reach   in   time   and   was definately   delayed.   When   he   reached   at   the   destiny,   the   Assyrian   empire   already   had   collapsed.   Finally,   pharoah   Necho   II   returned   back.   He   arrived   in Jerusalem   during   609   BC;   where   Jehoahaz,   aged   twenty-three   was   elected   as   king   of   Judah,   in   place   of   his   father   Josiah,   who   was   killed   during   war   with Necho II. King   Jehoahaz   was   kidnapped   to   Egypt   by   Necho   II,   where   he   died   in   captivity.   He   could   rule   Judah   only   for   three   months.   Jehoahaz   was   replaced   in   608 BC,   by   his   brother   Jehoiakim,   aged   twenty-five,   as   king   of   Judah.   Jehoiakim   was   renamed   by   Pharaoh   Necho   as   Eliakim.   Necho   II,   king   of   Egypt   imposed unbearable   tax   on   Judah   -   four   tons   of   silver   and   75   pounds   of   gold.   To   raise   such   amount   Jehoiakim   "taxed   the   land   and   exacted   the   silver   and   gold from the people by house to house search. In   the   meantime,   the   Babylonians   under   king   Nebuchadrezzar   II   defeated   the   combined   forces   of   Egypt   and   the   remnants   of   the   Assyrian   empire   at Carchemish,   in   605   BC.   Subsequently   the   greatest   and   the   most   powerful   Assyrian   empire   collapsed   completely.   It   was   no   more   a   dominating   force, rather   was   ruled   by   Babylonians;   even   Egypt   lost   its   importance.   Keeping   in   view   such   situation,   king   Jehoiakim   of   Judah   changed   his   lotality   and   started paying tribute to Nebuchadrezzar II of Babylon. In   the   meantime,   king   Jehoiakim,   king   of   Judah   ceased   paying   the   tribute   to   Babylonia.   As   a   result,   in   599   BC,   Nebuchadnezzar   II   invaded   Judah   and   laid siege   to   Jerusalem.   During   seige,   king   Jehoiakim   died   in   598   BC;   his   body   was   thrown   out   of   the   walls.   He   was   replaced   by   his   son   Jeconiah   -   also   known as Jehoiachin. However,   Jerusalem   was   occupied   on   16   March,   597   BC,   by   the   Babylonian   king   Nebuchadnezzar   II.   He   arrested   the   new   king   Jeconiah   together   with   all his   family   members,   his   mother,   wives   and   all   officials   and   around   three   thousand   Hebrew   spaking   people   of   elite   class;   they   all   were   exiled   to   Babylon. Jeconiah   remained   king   during   the   seige   for   three   months   and   ten   days   (December   9,   598   -   March   15/16,   597   BC).   He   spent   37   years   of   his   life   in   prison. He   is   shown   in   the   Babylonian   tablets   as   recipient   of   food   ration   together   with   his   five   sons,   in   Babylon.   Now   Jeconiah   was   replaced   by   his   younger brother   Zedekiah,   aged   eighteen   in   597   BC,   against   a   huge   amount   of   tribute.   He   reigned   Judah   for   eleven   years.   At   his   eleventh   year,   in   589   BC,   Jeconiah revolted   against   Babylon,   and   entered   into   an   alliance   with   Pharaoh   Hophra   of   Egypt.   As   a   matter   of   fact,   kingdom   of   Judah   was   trapped   by   two gangsters: Egypt and Babylone. Both asked for ransom. When   Zedekiah   paid   ransom   to   Egypt,   instead   of   Babylonia,   as   a   result,   Nebuchadnezzar   II   arrived   in   Judah   with   heavy   force.   Nebuchadnezzar   besieged Jerusalem for the second time in January 589 BC, which lasted about thirty months. Eventually, Nebuchadnezzar   occupied   Jerusalem   in   the   summer   of   587   BC.   In   the   meantime,   king   Zedekiah   with   his   family   members   and   followers,   attempting   to escape;   they   all   were   arrested   and   and   taken   to   Riblah.   Subsequently   the   children   and   close   relatives   of   king   Zedekiah   were   murdered   before   him;   then both   the   eyes   of   king   Zedekiah   were   taken   out.   He   was   bound   with   fetters   of   brass,   and   carried   to   Babylon,   where   he   was   placed   in   prison   till   the   day   of his death. After   the   fall   of   Jerusalem,   the   Babylonian   general   Nebuzaraddan   was   sent   to   destroy   the   city   completely.   As   a   result,   Jerusalem   was   thoroughly   looted, house   to   house,   then   destroyed   and   burned.   The   Solomon's   Temple   was   looted   and   destroyed   down   to   its   foundations;   only   some   parts   of   the   western side remain. In   other   parts   of   Judah,   no   one   was   left   safe;   after   the   loot   and   plunder,   majority   of   the   population   of   Judah   were   exiled   to   Babylon   -   all   the   army   men, officials,   all   the   skilled   workers   and   artisans;   many   were   taken   into   slavery;   many   people   of   Judah   fled   to   Egypt;   many   Hebrew   speaking   people   settled beside the Euphrates, while preserving their faith, their traditions and customs. After   about   fifty   years,   Cyrus   the   Great   of   Persia   conquered   Babylon   in   538   BC,   subsequently   the   Babylonian   empire   disappeared.   Now   Judah   was   under the   Persians.   Cyrus   issued   a   proclamation   granting   freedom   for   the   Hebrew   speaking   people   (living   in   exile   in   Babylon)   to   return   back   to   their   mother land.   According   to   the   Hebrew   Bible   50,000   Judeans,   led   by   Zerubabel   returned   to   Judah   and   rebuilt   the   temple;   funds   were   provided   by   the   Persian emperors.   Further,   a   second   group   of   5,000   Hebrew   speaking   people,   led   by   Ezra   and   Nehemiah,   returned   to   Judah   in   456   BC.   These   were   the   days   when Judah was settled by non-Hebrews; they wrote to Cyrus to prevent their return of the Jews. Again   after   a   gap   of   around   two   hundred   years,   Alexander   the   Great   defeated   the   Persian   emperor   Darius   III,   in   331   BC,   and   conquered   all   the   territories under   the   Persians.   After   the   Alexander's   sudden   death   at   the   age   of   thirty   one,   in   323   BC,   his   generals   fought   each   other,   occupied   and   divided   the former Persian empire. Eventually Judah became part of the Seleucid Empire. Antiochus   IV,   emperor   of   the   Seleucid   Empire   (175   -   164   BC),   ordained   the   people   of   Judah   to   relinquish   Judaism   and   convert   to   Hellenistic   religion   and worship   Zeus   as   the   supreme   god.   When   they   refused,   Antiochus   attacked   Jerusalem   in   167   BC;   he   ordered   for   general   massacre   of   all   young   and   old, men, women and children; massacre continued for three days; not a single house was spared. Around   eighty   thousand   Hebrew   speaking   people   lost   thier   lives   and   the   same   number   being   sold   into   slavery.   The   city   of   Jerusalem   was   put   to   fire   and destroyed   completely;   no   any   house   was   spared;   the   women   and   children   were   made   captive   and   sold   into   slavery.   Jewish   religion   was   outlawed; circumcision   was   made   illegal;   the   sacred   books   were   to   be   surrendered   and   the   Jews   were   compelled   to   offer   sacrifi   ces   to   the   idols   that   had   been erected.   The   believers   in   the   Oneness   of   God   were   compelled   to   worship   Zues   and   the   other   Greek   gods.   The   sacred   Temple   of   Solomon   was   dedicated to   Zues,   whose   statue   was   placed   in   the   Temple.   Jews   were   prohibited   to   observe   the   Sabbath   or   celebrate   the   traditional   feasts,   nor   even   admit   that they were Jews; many were whipped and crucified. A   decree   was   issued   ordering   that   those   who   would   not   adopt   the   customs   of   the   Greeks   would   be   put   to   death.   The   possession   of   a   sacred   book   Torah and   the   performance   of   the   rite   of   circumcision   was   punishable   with   death.   Any   one   found   calling   himself   Jew   would   be   killed   instantly.   Many   were burned to death, who had assembled to observe the Sabbath in secret. However,   the   believers   in   the   Oneness   of   God,   fully   resisted   the   move;   ultimately   it   turned   into   a   revolt   headed   by   a   priest   named   Mattathias   (168   -   166 BC).   The   armed   men   of   the   emperor   Antiochus   were   assigned   the   duty   to   check   whether   the   Jews   had   converted   to   Greek   religion   (Hellenism)   or   not.   In 167   BC,   one   of   its   group   reached   in   the   village   of   Modein,   they   asked   the   villagers   to   offer   sacrifices   to   Zues.   They   exclusively   commanded   Mattathias, priest   of   the   village   to   offer   sacrifices.   He   refused   and   killed   the   group   officials.   This   incident   turned   into   a   Maccabean   revolt   against   Antiochus.   His officials and army men were killed; even those Jews were also killed who had under duress had followed the Hellenistic belief. The   aged   priest   Mattathias   was   much   too   old   for   such   a   rigorous   lifestyle,   however,   and   died   in   166   BC.   The   mission   was   carried   by   five   of   his   sons, headed   by   Judah,   who   assumed   leadership   of   the   revolt   in   accordance   with   the   deathbed   disposition   of   his   father.   Judah   repeatedly   repullsed   series   of attacks   made   by   the   Seleucid   forces;   after   several   years   of   conflict   Judah   drove   out   Seleucid   army   and   officials   from   Jerusalem,   removed   the   Hellenistic statues, rededicated the Temple to God and restored the service in the Temple, on December 25, 165 BC. In   retaliation,   emperor   Antiochus   sent   Lysias,   the   commander-in-chief   of   the   Seleucid   army,   along   with   60,000   infantrymen   and   5000   cavalry,   to   utterly destroy the Jews. They encountered Judas, but ultimately failed. Again   in   the   autumn   of   163   BC,   Lysias   arrived   with   an   army   of   120,000   men   and   32   war   elephants,   met   Judas   and   his   army   near   Jerusalem.   During   the battle,   Eleazer   (the   younger   brother   of   Judas)   died.   But   Lysias   had   to   withdraw   his   forces.   Finally   Lysias,   agreed   to   restore   religious   freedom   to   Jews   if they   remain   politically   loyal   to   the   Seleucid   Empire;   they   were   allowed   to   live   in   accordance   with   their   own   laws,   and   officially   returned   the   Temple   to   the Jews in 163 BC. After   the   death   of   Seleucus   IV,   Demetrius   I,   son   of   and   the   new   ruler   of   the   Seleucid   empire   (161-150   BC),   defeated   and   killed   Judas,   in   160   BC.   After   the death   of   Judah   Maccabee,   two   of   his   brothers   Jonathan   and   Simon   took   the   command;   they   fought   for   further   several   years;   finally   the   Jews   achieved independence, named the country Israel, they were freed after almost 400 years of foreign bondage and survived for over a century until 63BC. It   was   during   this   period   (in   between   134-104   BC),   Israel   conquered   Edom,   and   forcibly   converted   the   Edomites   to   Judaism.   Edom   -   a   country   located south   of   Judea   and   the   Dead   Sea.   Originally,   Edom   was   conquered   by   Judas   Maccabeus   in   around   163   BC.   They   were   again   subdued   by   John   Hyrcanus (134 - 104 BC) - leader of a Hasmonean (Maccabeean), who forcibly incorporated them into the Jewish nation. In   the   meantime,   two   new   conquerors   Rome   and   the   Parthians   had   emerged   against   the   Seleucid   empire.   By   100   BC,   the   once   formidable   Seleucid Empire   encompassed   little   more   than   Antioch   and   some   Syrian   cities.   In   63   BC,   the   Roman   General   Pompey   made   Syria   into   a   Roman   province. Subsequently   Seleucid   Empire   disappeared   from   the   map.   In   the   same   year,   Pompey   captured   Jerusalem   and   once   again   Jews   were   deprived   of   their independence. They again had to struggle for survival as an independent nation. In   40   BC,   the   Roman   senate   appointed   Harod,   descended   from   Edom,   as   king   of   the   Jews,   thereby   bringing   about   the   end   of   the   Hasmonean   rule   over Judea. The fall of the Hasmonean Kingdom marked an end to a century of Jewish self-governance. However,   Harod   was   authorised   to   rule   Judea,   Samaria,   and   almost   all   of   Palestine,   on   behalf   of   the   Romans.   He   is   also   known   as   Herod   the   Great;   he enlarged   the   Temple,   making   it   one   of   the   largest   religious   structures   in   the   world.   Herod   sent   out   his   soldiers   to   slaughter   all   male   children   two   years old and under in Bethlehem and the surrounding neighborhoods. (Matthew 2:1-4, 7, 16) After ruling for about 37 years, Herod died at Jericho about 4 BC. The   Herodian   dynasty,   ruled   until   AD   92.   Some   of   its   members   were   made   rulers   of   Chalcis   and   Armenia.   Herod   Antipas,   one   of   the   sons   of   Herod,   was made   ruler   of   the   Galilee   and   Perea;   he   is   also   the   person   referenced   in   the   Christian   New   Testament   Gospels,   playing   a   role   in   the   death   of   John   the Baptist and the trial of Jesus. Since,   most   of   the   Great   Conquerors   of   the   world   had   introduced   their   own   gods   and   goddesses,   similarly   the   Romans   also   tried   to   evolve   a   new   religion, headed   by   their   own   gods   and   goddesses,   known   in   history   as   'Imperial   cult.'   Although   they   already   had   a   belief   in   a   pantheon   headed   by   Jupiter,   but side by side, they cautiously moved for a new pantheon. They   started   projecting   the   Roman   emperors   as   gods,   dead   or   alive;   temples,   amphitheatres,   theatres   and   baths   were   constructed   and   dedicated   to   the new gods; priests were appointed and the defeated people were compelled at the pain of death to worship them all over the empire. Firstly,   the   Roman   General   Julius   Caesar   (49   -   44   BC)   was   declared   a   god.   It   was   propagated   that   General   Julius   Caesar   was   the   descendant   of   the   Roman goddess   Venus   and   the   god   Mars.   His   birthday   was   made   a   public   festival;   the   Roman   month   Quinctilis   was   renamed   July,   and   a   Temple   was   dedicated   in his   honour.   General   Julius   Caesar   was   conqueror   of   Gaul,   who   also   invaded   Britain.   While   conquering   Gaul,   he   destroyed   800   cities   of   300   Galic   tribes, defeated   three   million   men   of   whom   one   million   were   killed   during   the   wars,   and   another   million   were   enslaved.   In   44   BC,   Julius   Caesar   was   surrounded by   60   Senators   and   others;   they   stabbed   him   to   death   within   the   premises   of   the   Senate.   It   was   feared   that   the   Caesar   wanted   to   establish   kingship   by abolishing   the   Roman   Republic.   According   to   the   Roman   law,   such   persons   were   required   to   be   killed   without   trial.   Julius   Caesar   was   succeeded   by General   Octavian   (31   BC   -   Ad   14)   who   terrorized   the   senate   by   killing   300   senators   and   2000   knights;   he   established   kingship   rather   empire   and   became its   first   emperor   and   obtained   the   title   'Augustus'.   He   proclaimed   to   be   the   Son   of   god   (of   Julius   Caesar),   thus   became   the   living   god.   General   Octivian was the conqueror of Hispania, all of Gaul, Syria, Cilicia (Armenian Kingdom), Cyprus, and Egypt. Again   for   the   god   emperor   Tiberius   (AD   14   -   37),   a   temple   in   Smyrna   (present-day   Turkey)   was   allocated   with   the   approval   of   the   Roman   senate   during   AD 26;   it   was   endorsed   that   Tiberius   was   born   for   the   eternity   of   the   Rome.   He   was   the   conquor   of   Pannonia,   Dalmatia,   Raetia,   and   temporarily   Germania for   the   Empire.   The   Gospels   record   that   during   Tiberius'   reign,   Jesus   of   Nazareth   preached   and   was   crucified   under   the   authority   of   Pontius   Pilate,   the Roman governor of Judaea province. The   Roman   god   and   Emperor   Caligula   (AD   37   -   41)   referring   to   himself   in   public   documents   as   Jupiter   -   the   greatest   god   of   the   Roman   pantheon.   To worship   Emperor   Caligula,   two   temples   were   erected   in   Rome   and   one   in   the   Greek   city   of   Miletus   (present-day   Turkey).   While   in   public,   some   times   he presented himself as Hercules and Apollo. He preferred to be worshipped as Sun-god. In   Egypt,   coins   were   issued   representing   Caligula   as   Sun-god.   He   even   pressurized   the   Senators   to   worship   him   as   a   living   god.   However,   all   over   the empire,   the   defeated   nations   were   ordained   to   worship   Caligula   as   god;   he   sent   the   governor   of   Syria,   Publius   Petronius,   to   place   his   statue   in   the Temple,   in   Jerusalem   to   be   worshipped   by   the   Jews   as   god.   He   issued   orders,   those   who   refuse   should   be   cut   down   and   the   rest   to   be   carried   into captivity. Subsequently riots erupted in Jerusalem and Alexandria during AD 40. Jews   refused   to   worship   Caligula   as   god;   they   destroyed   his   statue.   Although,   all   over   the   Roman   Empire,   the   defeated   people   began   to   worship   the Roman emperors as gods and temples were built in their honour. For   another   Roman   god   and   emperor   Claudius   (AD   41   -   54),   a   temple   was   constructed   in   Britain   and   the   British   people   were   ordained   to   worship   him   as a   living   god.   He   was   the   conqueror   of   Thrace,   Noricum,   Pamphylia,   Lycia   and   Judaea,   and   also   began   the   conquest   of   Britain.   After   death,   Claudius   was given   a   temple   on   Mons   Caelius   -   one   of   the   famous   Seven   Hills   of   Rome.   He   was   succeeded   after   death   by   Nero.   Nero,   the   new   Roman   emperor   (54   -   68 AD),   claimed   for   himself   to   be   a   Sun-god;   a   magnificient   bronze   statue   Colossus   Neronis   30   meter   in   height,   was   erected   in   the   imperial   villa   complex,   on the Palatine Hill of Rome. Nero   killed   his   pragnent   wife   Poppaea   by   kicking   her   in   the   abdomen,   thereby   causing   her   death.   Then   Nero   declared   his   wife   Poppaea   as   goddess together   with   his   infant   daughter   Claudia   Augusta,   who   had   died   after   birth   within   three   months.   Gold   statues   were   placed   in   temples   and   circus   games were held in their honour. A priest was appointed to manage and supervise worship of both the goddesses. The   Roman   emperor   as   well   as   the   Sun-god   Nero   was   extremely   annoyed   of   the   Jews;   they   were   only   the   subject   nations   all   over   the   Roman   Empire,   who had refused to worship the Romans Emperors as gods. The   god   emperor   Nero   issued   two   simple   commands   -   destroy   Jerusalem   -   level   the   temple.   The   job   was   handed   over   to   Vespasian   -   the   conqueror   of Britain (AD 43), who was to be assisted by his son Titus. General   Vespasian,   along   with   legions   landed   at   Ptolemais   in   April   67.   There   he   was   joined   by   his   son   Titus,   who   arrived   from   Alexandria.   Vespasian began operations by subjugating Galilee; Jews were killed in Caesarea, Scythopolis, Ascolon, Tyre, and in Alexandri. In   the   summer   of   70   the   offensive   was   launched   in   Jerusalem.   The   Jewish   forces   were   under   Simon   bar-Giora   and   Yohanan   of   Gush-Halab   (John   of Gischala).   The   Romans   surrounded   Jerusalem   and   seiged   the   city.   The   siege   of   Jerusalem   lasted   for   6   months;   Unable   to   breach   the   city's   defences,   the Roman   armies   established   a   permanent   camp   just   outside   the   city,   digging   a   trench   around   the   circumference   of   its   walls   and   building   a   wall   as   high   as the   city   walls   themselves   around   Jerusalem.   Those   attempting   to   escape   the   city   were   crucified,   with   as   many   as   five   hundred   crucifixions   occurring   in   a day.   By   the   summer   of   70,   the   Romans   had   breached   the   walls   of   Jerusalem;   after   bitter   fighting   and   frightful   massacres;   the   slaughter   within   was   even more   dreadful   than   the   spectacle   from   without.   Men   and   women,   old   and   young,   insurgents   and   priests,   those   who   fought   and   those   who   entreated mercy,   were   hewn   down   in   indiscriminate   carnage.   The   number   of   the   slain   exceeded   that   of   the   slayers.   The   legionaries   had   to   clamber   over   heaps   of dead to carry on the work of extermination. The   Holy   City   was   taken   and   burned;   more   than   a   million   Jews   were   slaughtered.   According   to   estimates,   in   all,   1,356,460   Jews   died;   97,000   were captured   and   enslaved,   including   Simon   bar   Giora   and   John   of   Giscala,   leaders   of   the   Revolt;   11,000   died   of   starvation;   many   others   fled   to   areas   around the Mediterranean. The   temple   was   leveled   to   the   ground   and   utterly   destroyed   on   Jewish   Sabbath,   August   10th,   70.   Simon   bar   Giora   was   taken   prisoner   and   brought   to Rome,   where   he   was   executed   near   the   Temple   of   Jupiter,   at   the   Tarpeian   Rock.   John   of   Giscala   was   paraded   through   the   streets   of   Rome   in   chains   and was sentenced to life imprisonment. After the war ended, Israel was converted into a Roman Province. But   the   Jews   continued   struggle   for   independence;   it   gave   rise   to   a   series   of   Jewish-Roman   wars   including   Bar   Kokhba's   revolt   (132–135).   In   AD   130,   the Roman   emperor   Hadrian   (AD   117   to   138)   arrived   in   Jerusalem.   He   decided   to   establish   a   new   city   over   the   ruins   of   Jerusalem.   The   city   was   completely destroyed,   every   wall   was   pull   down   and   plowed   up   to   make   way   for   the   new   Roman   city   -   Colonia   Aelia   Capitolina.   The   new   city   was   dedicated   to Hadrian   and   to   the   Jupiter   Capitolinus,   the   greatest   god   of   Rome.   A   large   temple   of   Jupiter   was   also   built   on   the   site   of   the   sacred   Second   Temple   and   a temple of Venus on the site of Golgotha. The city had the usual Roman structures such as a theater, a hippodrome, public baths, and an aqueduct. No   Jews   were   allowed   in   the   city,   or   even   within   sight   of   it   -   a   condition   that   prevailed   until   the   4th   century,   and   even   then   they   were   allowed   to   visit   the city only for one day on 9 Ab to bewail the destruction of the temple. To   root   out   Judaism,   Hadrian   prohibited   the   Torah   law,   the   Hebrew   calendar   and   executed   many   Judaic   scholars.   He   remaned   Judaea   as   Syria   Palaestina (after the Philistines), and the Jews were forbidden from entering in Jerusalem, now called Aelia Capitolina. These   anti-Jewish   policies   of   Hadrian   triggered   in   Judaea   a   massive   Jewish   uprising,   led   by   Simon   bar   Kokhba   and   Akiba   ben   Joseph.   Following   the outbreak   of   the   revolt,   Hadrian   called   his   general   Sextus   Julius   Severus   from   Britain,   and   troops   were   brought   from   as   far   as   the   Danube.   However, Hadrian's   army   eventually   put   down   the   rebellion   in   135,   after   three   years   of   fighting.   It   is   estimated   that,   during   the   war   580,000   Jews   were   killed,   while many   others   were   sold   into   slavery.   Around   50   fortified   towns   and   985   villages   razed.   The   final   battle   took   place   in   Beitar,   a   fortified   city   10   kilo   meter southwest   of   Jerusalem.   The   city   only   fell   after   a   lengthy   siege,   and   Hadrian   only   allowed   the   Jews   to   bury   their   dead   after   a   period   of   six   days.   From   then on, the Jews scattered over the face of the earth, became the wandering people, without temple. Hadrian   died   on   the   10th   of   July,   138;   his   body   was   cremated,   and   his   ashes   were   finally   placed   in   a   great   mausoleum;   he   was   declared   a   god   with   the approval   of   the   Roman   Senate.   A   great   temple   in   the   Campus   Martius   was   built   to   his   memory   in   the   early   140s,   now   called   the   Hadrianeum,   one   of   the largest in Rome. For   the   next   1900   years,   the   Temple   Mount   would   lack   any   Jewish   presence.   The   Hebrew   speaking   Jews   scattered   throughout   the   world;   they   lost   their mother   land,   their   nationality   as   well   as   their   language.   It   was   the   major   decline   and   fall   of   the   Hebrew   language;   no   nation   over   the   globe   had   suffered to   that   extent   for   their   faith   in   the   Oneness   of   God.   The   most   despotic   rulers,   the   Assyrians,   the   Babylonians,   the   Macedonians,   the   Greeks   and   the Romans   applied   all   type   of   physical   torture   over   them;   they   were   crucified,   beheaded,   impayled,   burned   and   burried   alive;   time   and   again   they   were rooted   out   from   their   lands,   sold   into   slavery,   but   the   Jews   never   ever   agreed   to   relinquish   faith   in   the   Oneness   of   God.   During   the   long   1900   years   exile, they   were   found   in   Egypt,   in   Rome,   in   England,   in   Spain,   in   Ukrain,   in   Poland,   in   Russia,   in   Germany,   in   the   United   States   and   in   the   other   parts   of   the world. Even in these areas, they were again massacred, killed and repeatedly deported from one place to other. In   1948,   Hebrew   was   reborn   after   a   long   period   of   over   nineteen   centuries   and   is   written   much   the   same   way   as   the   language   of   the   Bible;   it   is   now   the official   rather   principal   language   of   the   new   State   of   Israel,   with   a   capital   at   Jerusalem.   Today,   over   3   million   people   speak   Hebrew   either   as   their maternal, adopted, or religious tongue. Fall of the Aramaic - language of Jesus Christ The   Aramaic   -   originated   in   Aram   -   an   ancient   region   in   central   Syria   between   1000   and   600   BC;   Aramaic   is   one   of   the   Semitic   languages,   known   almost from   the   beginning   of   human   history;   of   all   Semitic   languages   the   Aramaic   is   most   closely   related   to   the   Hebrew;   it   became   extremely   widespread, spoken   from   the   Mediterranean   coast   to   the   borders   of   India.   Its   script,   derived   from   Phoenician   became   extremely   popular   and   was   adopted   to   write quite   a   few   other   languages,   and   developed   into   a   number   of   new   alphabets,   including   the   Hebrew   square   script   and   cursive   script,   Nabataean,   Syriac, Palmyrenean, Mandaic, Sogdian, Mongolian and probably the Old Turkic script. At   its   height,   Aramaic   became   the   lingua   franca   and   the   international   trade   language   of   the   ancient   Middle   East,   Western   Asia   and   Egypt   for   about   one thousand years from about 7th century BC until the 7th century AD. Aramaic   also   served   as   the   official   and   written   language   of   the   great   empires   in   the   Middle   East;   Assyrian   Empire   adopted   Aramaic   as   its   official language, parallel to Akkadian. Later by the Neo Babylonian (Chaldean) Empire (626-539 BC) and the Persian Achaemenid Empire (539-330 BC). Aramaic   is   also   the   language   of   large   sections   of   the   biblical   books   of   Daniel   and   Ezra   and   is   the   main   language   of   the   Talmud.   Before   the   Christian   era, Aramaic   had   become   the   language   of   the   Jews   in   Palestine.   Jesus,   his   disciples   and   contemporaries   spoke   and   wrote   in   Aramaic.   The   message   of Christianity   spread   throughout   Palestine,   Syria   and   Mesopotamia   exclusively   in   Aramaic.   The   Hebrew   patriarchs   preserved   their   Aramaic   names   and spoke   in   Aramaic.   Christians   in   Palestine   eventually   rendered   portions   of   Christian   Scripture   into   their   dialect   of   Aramaic;   these   translations   and   related writings constitute "Christian Palestinian Aramaic." When   the   Romans,   under   Titus   destroyed   Jerusalem   and   its   Second   Temple   in   AD   70,   enslaved   the   Jews,   they   had   become   almost   completely   an   Aramaic- speaking people. During   the   Hellenistic   period,   that   followed   the   conquests   of   Alexander   the   Great   and   imposition   of   Greek   language,   Aramaic   remained   the   vernacular   of the defeated peoples in the Holy Land, Syria, Mesopotamia and the adjacent countries. The   first   known   inscriptions   of   Aramaic   date   to   the   late   tenth   or   early   ninth   century   BC.   Aramaic   survives   today,   in   Eastern   and   Western   dialects,   mostly as the language of Christians living in a few scattered communities in Syria, Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq and Iran. History Aramaic   -   the   name   derived   from   Aram   -   an   ancient   Aramaean   state   around   Damascus   in   Syria,   from   the   late   12th   century   BC   to   734   BC.   The   sources   for the early history of Aram are almost nonexistent. In   about   1500   BC,   the   Aramaeans   migrated   and   settled   in   Syria.   By   1200   BC,   Damascus   became   a   prosperous   Aramaean   city.   Prior   to   Aramaeans,   an unidentified people lived in Syria by about 4500 BC; then the area was settled by Semites in around 3500 BC. In   the   late   third   millennium   BC,   first   city-state   of   Ebla   was   established   in   Syria;   some   20,000   cuneiform   tablets   have   been   discovered   from   its   ruins   dated around   2250   BC,   written   in   the   Eblaite   —   a   form   of   Semitic   language,   closely   related   Akkadian.   A   statue   of   the   goddess   Ishtar,   worshipped   exclusively   by the   Akkadians   was   also   recovered   bearing   the   name   of   Ibbit-Lim,   a   king   of   Ebla.   Sargon   of   Akkad   and   his   grandson   Naram-sin,   each   claimed   to   have destroyed   Ebla.   However,   after   several   centuries,   Ebla   was   recovered   and   settled   by   the   Amorites   in   between   1850   to   1600   BC;   these   settlers   also established one of the greatest empires in the Middle East, under Hammurabi (died c. 1750 BC), centered at Babylon. In   the   9th   century   BC,   Aram   Damascus   was   the   most   important   of   the   Aramean   kingdoms   stretched   over   most   of   Golan   to   the   Sea   of   Galilee.   The Assyrian   texts   also   mention   a   state   with   its   capital   in   Damascus.   The   state   seems   to   have   reached   its   peak   under   Hazael,   who   fought   against   the Assyrians. The   Hebrew   Bible   also   gives   some   accounts   of   Aram-Damascus'   history,   mainly   in   its   interaction   with   Israel.   For   instance,   there   are   texts   mentioning David's battles against Aramaeans in southern Syria in the 10th century BC. (2 Samuel 9:6-19) In   the   8th   century   BC,   Rezin   of   Aram   had   been   a   tributary   of   Tiglath-Pileser   III,   the   king   of   Assyria.   In   c.   732   BC,   he   allied   himself   with   Pekah,   the   king   of Israel,   to   attack   Ahaz,   the   king   of   Judah.   However,   Ahaz   appealed   to   Tiglath-Pileser   III   for   help.   As   a   result,   Tiglath-Pileser   sacked   Damascus   and   annexed Aram.   According   to   2   Kings   16:9,   the   population   was   deported   and   the   king   Rezin   was   slained.   Tiglath-Pileser   also   records   this   act   in   one   of   his inscriptions. This   was   the   turning   point,   in   the   history   of   Aramaic   language;   at   this   juncture,   the   Assyrians,   for   the   third   time,   remerged   as   the   most   dominating   force in   Middle   East,   under   Tiglath-Pileser   III   (745–727   BC).   Most   of   the   nations   of   the   Middle   East   were   invaded   and   conquered   by   the   Assyrians;   in   turn   all   the defeated   nations,   time   and   again   struggled,   waged   wars   against   the   Assyrians   to   regain   their   independence.   But   they   were   again   and   again   defeated   and had   to   surrender   their   territories,   resources,   wealth   and   man-power   to   the   Assyrians.   There   is   a   long   list   of   those   kingdoms   conquered   by   the   Assyrians; they   all   in   turn   struggled   to   regain   independence,   such   as:   Babylonia,   Urartu,   Aram   (Syria),   Egypt,   Elam,   Phoenicia,   Philistia,   Israel,   Judah,   Edom,   Phrygia, Lydia,   Cyprus,   Cilicia   and   many   others.   It   was   not   easy   to   gain   independence   from   the   Assyrians;   in   retaliation,   they   were   severely   punished,   tortured, maimed,   flayed   alive,   impaled,   beheaded,   burnt   alive,   their   eyes   were   ripped   out,   fingers,   noses   and   ears   cut   off.   Even   the   defeated   kings,   army commanders,   their   supporters   and   high   officials   were   not   spared.   The   surviving   people,   young   and   old,   men   and   women   were   kidnapped,   uprooted from their mother lands and deported to unknown places; their cities, towns and villages were destroyed, burned, raised to ground. Out   of   these   nations,   the   Aramaic   speaking   people   of   Aram   (Syria)   were   one   of   those   nations,   who   after   each   defeat,   declared   independence,   at   the   first available   chance;   neither   the   Assyrians   left   them   to   survive   in   peace,   nor   the   Aramaeans   made   peace   with   the   Assyrian   monarchs   at   the   cost   of   their independence. It was observed that every child born over the soil of Aramaeans brought with him the message of independence. The   raids   over   the   Aramaeans   started   with   the   rise   of   the   Assyrian   king   Tukulti-Ninurta   I   (ca.   1240   BC)   followed   by   Tiglath-Pileser   I   (ca.   1100   BC),   Ashur- bel-kala   (ca.   1070   BC),   Adad-nirari   II   (ca.   911),   Tukulti-Ninurta   II   (ca.   890),   Ashurnasirpal   II   (883–859   BC)   and   Shalmaneser   III   (859   BC   –   824   BC).   After   each defeat,   most   of   the   Aramaeans   were   deported   enmass   to   the   far   flung   areas   of   the   Assyrian   empire   under   the   severe   conditions;   many   would   die   on roads.   They   were   intermixed   with   other   unknown   peoples,   so   that   they   may   loose   their   identity,   nationality,   culture   and   religious   faith.   Such   a   dirty   and inhuman   practice   remained   intact   for   the   entire   longest   period   of   the   Assyrians.   As   a   result,   the   Aramaean   people   became   major   part   of   the   Assyrian population   exclusively   in   Assyria   and   Babylonia,   and   their   language   Aramaic   became   so   popular   within   the   empire   that,   it   emerged   as   the   lingo   franca   of the   Middle   East.   The   Assyrian   emperor   Tiglath-Pileser   III   (747   -   722   BC)   also   declared   Aramaic   together   with   the   Akkadian,   as   the   official   language   of   his empire,   together   with   the   Babylonian   kingdom.   Tiglath-Pileser   III   is   considered   as   the   founder   of   the   Neo   Assyrian   empire.   He   conquered   Babylonia   and crowned   himself   as   Pulu   King   of   Babylon.   He   also   invaded   and   captured   Urartu,   Aramea   -   lands   of   the   Aramaeans;   he   also   occupied   Judah,   Arpad, Philistia   (Palestine),   Phoenicia,   Hamath   and   defeated   the   Medes,   Persians   and   Neo-Hittites.   He   conquered   Israel   and   deported   large   proportions   of   the Israelite population of Galilee (northern Israel) to Assyria. As   soon   as   Tiglath-Pileser   III   died   in   727   BC,   the   Aramaean   rulers   declared   independence.   Tiglath-Pileser   III   was   succeeded   by   Shalmaneser   V   (727   -   722 BC).   He   had   to   face   two   challenges   at   the   Aramaeans   lands   and   in   Israel,   where   Hoshea   (732-723   BC),   last   king   of   Israel   had   revolted   and   refused   to   pay tribute   to   the   Assyrians.   Israel   was   the   land,   where   every   born   child   brought   the   message   of   Oneness   of   God   -   not   acceptable   to   those,   who   believed   in multiple   gods.   However,   Shalmaneser   V,   himself   besieged   Samaria,   capital   city   of   Israel.   The   siege   of   Samaria   lasted   for   three   years   and   during   the   siege, Shalmaneser   V   died.   He   was   replaced   by   Sargon   II,   as   emperor   of   the   Assyrian   empire,   who   was   able   to   conquer   Samaria   722   BC,   looted   and   destroyed the   city   and   deported   27,290   its   citizens   in   exile   followed   by   the   twelve   tribes   of   Israel   (known   as   the   Ten   Lost   Tribes).   Twenty   years   later,   Sennacherib   son and   successor   of   Sargon   II,   invaded   Judea   In   701   BC,   and   deported   200,000   Israelites   in   exile   (2   Kings   18:12).   Previously   Sennacherib   had   deports   208,000 people from Babylon. However,   the   Aramaeans   people   had   to   suffer   at   the   hands   of   Sargon   II,   followed   by   his   son   Sennacherib   (705   –   681   BC)   down   to   the   last   powerful   ruler Ashurbanipal (669–627 BC), when the Assyrian empire reached at its instant end. After   death,   Ashurbanipal   was   succeeded   by   his   son   Ashur-etil-ilani,   who   was   over   thrown   by   one   of   his   generals   Sin-shumu-lishir,   who   usurped   the throne   and   became   emperor   of   the   Assyrian   empire   and   of   Babylonia.   Subsequently   civil   war   erupted.   General   Sin-shumu-lishir   was   deposed   by   Sin- shar-ishkun,   another   son   of   Ashurbanipal,   who   claimed   the   emperorship   of   Assyria;   it   was   not   acceptable   to   his   brother   Ashur-etil-ilani   -   the   deposed emperor.   Now   there   was   a   war   in   both   the   brothers;   According   to   the   chronicle,   Ashur-etil-ilani   was   defeated   and   killed   in   battle   against   Sin-shar-ishkun near   Nippur   in   623.   Such   circumstances   created   chaos,   frustration   and   evolved   as   a   hope   for   freedom   of   all   the   defeated   nations;   eventually   the   empire began   to   disintegrate   rapidly.   Firstly,   Nabopolassar,   a   Chaldean,   army   commander   of   Assyria,   in   Babylonia   declared   independence   in   620   BC,   for   over   200 years,   Babylon   was   ruled   by   the   Assyrians.   In   the   meantime,   the   Medes   also   freed   themselves   from   Assyrian   domination   and   consolidated   power   in   what was   to   become   Persia.   In   616   BC,   the   Babylonians   and   Medes,   together   with   the   Scythians   and   Cimmerians,   attacked   Assyria.   After   four   years   of   bitter fighting,   the   coalition   finally   destroyed   and   burned   Nineveh   -   capital   city   of   Assyrian   empire.   Emperor   Sinsharishkun   lost   his   life.   Thus   the   Assyrian empire   instantly   collapsed.   A   general   called   Ashur-uballit   II,   declared   himself   king   of   Assyria,   with   the   support   of   Egypt,   seated   at   Harran.   In   a   final   battle at   Harran,   the   Babylonians   and   Medes   defeated   Ashur-uballit   II,   in   608   BC,   after   which   Assyria   ceased   to   exist   as   an   independent   nation,   only   to   be   ruled in future by the invading alien masters. However,   the   Assyrians   disappeared   once   for   all,   after   ruling   the   Ancient   East   in   three   phases,   for   about   955   years:   The   Old   Assyrian   Empire   lasted   about 340   years,   from   2000   BC   to   1759   BC;   it   was   occupied   by   Hammurabi   -   emperor   of   the   Babylonian   empire.   The   Middle   Assyrian   Empire,   for   about   315 years,   beginning   with   the   rise   of   Ashur-uballit   in   around   1360   BC,   down   to   Tiglath-Pileser   I   in   around   1047   BC.   The   Neo-Assyrian   Empire   lasted   from   934 BC   and   ended   in   612   BC,   with   the   fall   of   Ninevah.   The   empire   lasted   roughly   330   years.   During   the   entire   Assyrian   period,   the   Akkadian   was   maintained as its official language; after the rise of the Neo Assyrian Empire, Aramaic also achieved official status together with the Akkadian language. However,   after   the   fall   Ninevah,   within   73   years,   the   conquerors   of   the   Assyrian   empire   were   defeated   and   enslaved   by   Cyrus   the   Great   in   539   BC.   He raised   from   a   tiny   kingdom   of   Anshan   (in   modern   Iran),   and   by   way   of   conquest,   established   the   largest   empire   the   world   had   yet   seen,   encompassed approximately   8   million   kilo   meters,   and   spanned   three   continents:   Asia,   Africa   and   Europe,   known   as   Achaemenid   Empire.   Initially,   he   conquered   all   the states   of   the   ancient   Near   East,   including   the   Median   Empire,   the   Lydian   Empire,   the   Neo-Babylonian   Empire   and   then   he   moved   further,   conquered most   of   Southwest   Asia,   much   of   Central   Asia   and   parts   of   Europe.   His   son   Cambyses   defeated   the   Egyptian   forces   in   the   eastern   Nile   Delta,   and occupied Egypt in 525 BC. In   modern   terms,   the   Achaemenid   Empire   of   the   Persians,   at   its   height,   ruled   the   following   conquered   territories:   the   present-day   Iran,   Iraq,   Egypt,   Syria, Armenia,   Azerbaijan,   Pakistan,   Afghanistan,   Tajikistan,   Turkmenistan,   Kyrgyzstan,   Georgia,   Macedonia,   Uzbekistan,   Turkey,   Bulgaria,   Cyprus,   Kuwait, Jordan, Israel, Lebanon, many parts of Greece, Libya and northern Saudi Arabia. Following   the   conquest   of   Babylonia   and   Assyria,   the   Aramaic   language,   and   then   lingua   franca   of   the   Middle   East   was   adopted   by   the   Achaemenid emperors   as   "official   language"   together   with   the   Akkadian.   The   Elamite   language   was   also   declared   as   the   language   of   the   chancellery,   used   in   the capital city Susa for official inscriptions of the kings, as well as administrative records. It was written in the Cuneiform script. After   about   a   century,   during   the   days   of   Artaxerxes   I   (465–424   BCE),   Elamite   ceased   to   be   the   language   of   government,   and   Aramaic   gained   more importance.   Under   Artaxerxes   I,   Zoroastrianism   became   the   de-facto   religion   of   the   empire.   During   Artaxerxes   II   (404–358   BCE),   who   reigned   for   the longest period of 45 years, Zoroastrianism was disseminated throughout Asia Minor and the Levant, from Armenia. The   Achaemenid   empire   survived   for   about   220   years   (550   –   330   BC)   and   was   lost   in   the   gambling   of   conquest,   under   a   new   player,   Alexander,   22   years young   king   of   Macedonia.   He   started   his   campaign   with   13,000   infantry   and   5,000   cavalry   against   over   half   a   million   Persian   soldiers.   He   ultimately   broke the   power   of   Persians   in   a   series   of   decisive   battles,   most   notably   the   battles   of   Issus   and   Gaugamela.   Subsequently,   Alexander   overthrew   the   last Persian   emperor   Darius   III   and   occupied   the   entire   Achaemenid   empire   within   ten   years   and   looted   its   entire   wealth,   which   was   shifted   to   Macedonia. From   a   single   city   of   Susa   1,180   tons   of   gold   was   looted.   However,   during   this   gambling,   all   the   territory   under   Achaemenid   empire   became   battle ground;   tens   of   thousands   of   Persian   soldiers   lost   their   lives,   many   cities   were   burned   and   raised   to   ground;   hundreds   of   thousands   of   the   common people were killed; their young men and women were sold into slavery. While   moving   towards   the   Indus   Valley   and   invading   Punjab   (present-day   Pakistan)   in   326   BC,   Alexander   was   severally   wounded   in   an   attack   by   Malli   - one   of   the   most   warlike   tribes   of   Punjab.   An   arrow   pierced   his   breastplate   and   his   ribcage.   Then,   Alexander   turned   back   with   his   forces   to   Susa,   Iran. While crossing Gerdosian desert, thousands of his soldiers died of heat and exhaustion. In   the   process   of   conquest,   Alexander   could   not   get   chance   to   go   back   to   his   home   kingdom   Mecedonia,   where   the   entire   looted   wealth   of   the Achaemenid   empire   was   stocked   for   him.   He   suddenly   died   in   Babylon   at   the   age   of   33,   during   June   323   BC.   Even   he   was   not   buried   in   his   native   land   - Macedonia,   of   whom   he   was   king;   instead   his   body   was   shifted   to   Egypt,   where   he   was   finally   buried   in   Alexandria   -   a   new   Greek   settlement.   His   son Alexander   IV,   his   first   wife   Roxane,   half-brother   Philip   III,   his   mother   Olympias,   all   were   killed,   together   with   those   who   could   be   claimant   to   the   throne. Even   Herakles,   another   son   of   Alexander   from   his   Persian   mistress   Barsine   was   strangled   to   death.   His   mother   was   also   murdered.   However,   the   entire Achaemenid   empire   gained   in   the   gambling   of   conquest   by   Alexander   the   Great   was   eventually   usurped   by   his   generals;   even   they   occupied   his   home kingdom Macedonia. To   occupy   the   vast   territories   conquered   by   Alexander,   most   of   his   generals   fought   bloody   wars   for   power;   they   murdered   each   other   and   eventually Seleucus   I   became   ruler   of   the   Asian   territory,   Ptolemy   occupied   Egypt,   Lysimachus   received   Thrace,   and   Cassander   became   ruler   of   Macedonia   and Greece.   Thrace   and   Greece   in   338   BC,   were   conquered   by   Philip   I   (382   –   336   BC),   king   of   Macedon   -   father   of   Alexander   the   Great,   who   was   also   stabbed to death; a guard plunged a spear into his chest. General   Seleucus   I   established   his   own   dynasty   and   Seleucid   Empire   over   most   of   the   Asian   territories   of   the   former   Achaemenid   empire:   Mesopotamia, Armenia,   'Seleucid'   Cappadocia,   Persis,   Parthia,   Bactria,   Arabia,   Tapouria,   Sogdia,   Arachosia,   Hyrcania,   and   other   areas   down   to   the   river   Indus.   The boundaries of his empire were the most extensive in Asia after that of Alexander. In   India   Seleucus   was   defeated   by   Chandragupta   Maurya,   emperor   of   Bharatvarsha   (India);   subsequently   he   had   to   surrender   the   Indus   Valley,   Hindu Kush,   modern   day   Afghanistan,   and   the   Balochistan,   now   province   of   Pakistan.   Later,   much   of   the   eastern   parts   of   the   empire   were   conquered   by   the Parthians   under   Mithridates   I   (r.c   171   BC   -   138   BC):   Herat   (in   167   BC),   Babylonia   (in   144   BC),   Media   (in   141   BC)   and   Persia   (in   139   BC).   During   war   in Persia, Mithridates I also captured the Seleucid King Demetrius II, in 139 BC, and held him captive for 10 years. During   the   Seleucid   period,   the   Asian   defeated   people   were   forced   to   adopt   Hellenized   philosophic   thought,   Greek   religion   and   culture.   However,   the core   of   Hellenistic   culture   was   essentially   Athenian.   To   erase   the   great   past   of   the   Asian   peoples   -   founder   of   many   civilizations,   more   or   less   all   their settlements,   cities,   towns   and   villages   were   disbanded   and   the   populations   enblock   were   forcibly   shifted   to   hundreds   of   new   cities,   towns   and   villages, constructed   on   the   Greek   polis-model   town   planning,   with   gymnasiums,   amphitheatres,   centered   with   the   temples   of   Greek   gods   and   goddesses.   The education   system   was   converted   on   Greek   ideals.   There   was   no   other   way,   for   the   Asian   people   just   to   forget   and   abandon   their   own   religious   faith,   as there were no temples of their own gods and goddesses for worship in the new cities. To   speed   up   the   process   of   Hellenization,   the   emperor   Antiochus   IV   (175   -   164   BC),   made   a   horrible   example   -   as   a   warning   to   the   Asian   defeated   people. He   outlawed   Judaism   and   the   Jews   were   ordered   to   worship   Zeus   as   the   supreme   god;   when   they   refused,   Antiochus   attacked   and   destroyed   Jerusalem, ordered   slaughter   of   its   citizens;   all   young,   old,   men,   women   and   children   were   massacred   without   mercy;   many   were   thrown   down   from   the   top   of   the city   wall.   The   massacres   continued   for   three   days,   around   eighty   thousand   were   butchered   and   the   same   number   was   sold   into   slavery.   Finally   the   Jewish temple was looted and converted to the temple of Zues. A   large   population   was   brought   from   Macedonia   and   Greece   and   settled   in   the   new   Asian   cities   to   form   dominant   elite;   they   were   allotted   lands   and offered   important   posts   in   the   administration   and   army.   Though   the   army   was   headed   by   the   Macedonians   and   Greeks,   but   the   troops   from   Persia   and Babylonia were incorporated to form the cataphracts and the heavy cavalry. During   the   Seleucid   period,   the   Greek   language   (Attic-based   "koine"   dialect)   was   made   the   official   language   of   the   empire   and   all   the   other   Asian languages,    including    Akkadian    and    Aramaic    were    fully    discouraged.    As    a    result,    with    the    passage    of    time,    the    oldest    Akkadian    language    lost    its importance,   but   the   Aramaic   remained   alive   as   the   most   dominating   regional   language.   Greeks   had   called   Aramaic   by   a   word   they   coined,   'Syriac', although it has always been known by its own name, 'Lishana Aramaya' (the Aramaic language). During   the   Seleucid   period,   various   dialects   of   Aramaic   also   began   to   form,   due   to   regional   influences   of   pronunciation   and   vocabulary.   At   the   other   side, Aramaic   became   an   instrumental   in   transmitting   Greek   philosophy,   culture   and   religion   to   the   defeated   nations.   Due   to   the   forceful   imposition   of   the Koine   Greek,   it   abruptly   spread   throughout   the   empire,   becoming   the   lingua   franca   of   Hellenistic   lands   down   to   Egypt   and   eventually   the   ancestor   of modern Greek. Seleucid   Empire   survived   for   about   250   years(312   -   63   BC);   during   this   period,   Koine   Greek   language,   Greek   culture   and   the   Greek   religion,   together   with its gods and goddesses, headed by Zues achieved universal status. In   the   meantime,   situation   turned   around   when   a   village   of   Rome   was   transformed   into   a   World   Power,   by   way   of   conquest.   The   villagers   of   Rome, established   Senate   in   753   BC,   they   became   its   permanent   members   -   initially   100;   they   eventually   evolved   a   new   system   of   governance   by   discarding kingship,   hired   the   services   of   the   fighters   and   mercenaries   exclusively   to   conduct   the   business   of   conquest.   To   handle   the   affairs   of   conquest,   some suitable   person   was   employed   initially   as   a   king   (rex),   later   designated   as   consul   and   tribune   -   all   fully   answerable   to   the   Roman   Senate   -   a   final   authority. When   the   king,   consul   or   tribune   died,   that   sovereign   power   immediately   reverted   back   to   the   Senate.   For   some   unavoidable   circumstances,   such employees   or   share   holders   in   the   loot   were   given   dictatorial   powers,   but   no   one   was   allowed   to   supersede   the   Senate   or   to   claim   kingship.   By   law,   such claimant could be instantly killed by the members of the Senate (called Patricians), without trial. However,   by   adopting   profession   of   conquest,   the   rulers   of   the   city   state   of   Rome   eventually   conquered   central   and   southern   Italy   in   304   BC;   they decisively   defeated   Etruscans   -   their   former   masters   and   the   most   powerful   nation   in   264   BC;   they   were   the   Etruscans   who   brought   first   civilization   over the   Italic   Peninsula   and   ruled   its   vast   territory   for   many   centuries.   In   241   BC,   Sicily   becomes   the   first   Roman   province,   followed   by   Sardinia   and   Corsica   in 238 BC. In   146   BC,   Romans   defeated   Carthage   -   a   civilization   and   a   Republic,   one   of   the   longest-lived   and   largest   states   in   the   ancient   Mediterranean,   based   in North   Africa,   centered   at   the   modern   Tunis,   in   Tunisia.   They   had   established   around   300   colonies   in   Tunisia,   Morocco,   Algeria,   Iberia,   and   Libya.   In Europe,   they   controlled   Cyprus,   Sardinia,   Corsica,   and   the   Balearic   Islands   and   had   established   colonies   on   the   Iberian   Peninsula,   as   well   as   some possessions   in   Crete   and   Sicily.   Nearly   all   of   the   Carthaginian   dependencies   fell   into   Roman   hands.   After   the   fall   of   Carthage,   the   walls   of   the   city   were torn   down,   the   city   was   set   ablaze;   a   population   of   250,000   reduced   to   50,000.   The   Romans   went   from   house   to   house,   capturing,   raping   and   enslaving the   people;   fifty   thousand   Carthaginians,   who   survived   were   sold   into   slavery.   The   city   burned   for   seventeen   days,   after   which   the   ground   was   cleared and   ploughed;   salt   was   scattered   in   the   furrows.   Subsequently   Carthage   disappeared   after   a   long   survival   of   about   seven   centuries;   it   was   established   in 813 BC. After   the   fall   of   Carthage,   within   two   years   (in   148   BC),   the   Romans   conquered   Macedonia   -   mother-land   of   Alexander   the   Great   -   conqueror   of   the World.   Again   after   one   year,   in   147   BC,   the   Romans   occupied   Greece   -   then   colony   of   Macedonia.   This   is   worth   mentioning   here   that   both   the   countries Macedonia   and   Greece   -   remained   enslaved   for   the   coming   two   thousand   years.   This   was   the   price;   they   paid   for   their   gambling   of   conquest   -   slavery   of two thousand years. The   Romans   kept   on   moving   ahead;   by   64   BC,   they   conquered   Syria   -   the   last   remaining   portion   of   the   Seleucid   Empire.   Subsequently   Seleucid   Empire disappeared.   In   30   BC,   the   Romans   occupied   Egypt,   thereby   ending   the   Ptolemy's   family   rule   (descendants   of   Ptolemy   I   -   one   of   the   generals   of Alexander the Great) after a long period of over 300 years. However,   the   Romans   established   one   of   the   greatest   empires   of   the   world,   stretched   over   the   three   continents:   Europe,   Asia   and   North   Africa,   all controlled by the city of Rome. To   control,   such   a   huge   empire,   the   Romans   made   crucifixion   as   their   main   weapon;   the   defeated   people   were   frequently   crucified   even   for   whispering. Crucifixion   was   usually   intended   to   provide   a   prolonged,   agonizing   death,   usually   carried   after   multiple   tortures   before   the   large   public   gatherings.   The condemned   persons   were   tied   or   nailed   to   a   wooden   cross   and   left   to   hang   until   dead;   often   legs   of   the   victim   were   broken   to   hasten   death   through severe   traumatic   shock.   The   dead   body   was   left   on   cross   to   prevent   its   burial,   to   be   consumed   by   the   vultures   and   other   birds.   It   was   considered   as warnings to others. Some time, during crucifixion, the private parts of the victims were impaled. The   Romans   were   pagan   by   faith   and   introduced   many   gods   and   goddesses   headed   by   Jupiter.   They   usurped   the   entire   pantheon   of   the   Greeks   and   it was   made   to   believe   that   all   the   authorities   and   attributes   of   the   Greek   gods   and   goddesses   had   been   shifted   to   the   Roman   gods.   Subsequently,   Jupiter became more superior to Zues - the greatest god of the defeated Greeks. The   Romans   imposed   Latin,   the   language   of   the   city   of   Rome,   as   the   official   language   of   their   empire;   since   Koine   Greek   language   had   achieved   the status   of   lingo   franca   of   the   Middle   East   and   the   Mediterranean   world   during   the   Seleucid   and   Ptolemic   periods,   therefore   it   was   also   kept   as   the   official language   of   the   Easteren   part   of   the   Roman   Empire   together   with   Latin,   as   the   language   of   law,   administration.   At   this   juncture,   Aramaic   still   served   as the most powerful regional language all over the Middle East. In   around   33   AD,   Jesus   of   Nazareth   (7–2   BC   to   30–33   AD),   commonly   referred   to   as   Jesus   Christ   was   crucified   by   the   Romans,   during   the   governorship   of Pontius   Pilate   of   Judaea   (r.   AD   26-36)   at   an   estimated   date   Friday,   April   3,   33   AD.   After   the   crucifixion   of   Jesus,   continuously   for   over   three   centuries, Romans   never   agreed   to   recognize   Christianity   as   a   legal   religion   of   the   Roman   empire.   Any   one,   professing   Christianity   was   liable   for   death   sentence;   all the   Churches   constructed   during   this   long   period   were   confiscated.   The   Romans   strictly   followed   the   pagan   faiths   and   ordained   the   Christians   to   follow the Pagan religions of the empire. However,   after   a   great   revolt   and   sacrifice   by   innumerable   Christians,   the   Edict   of   Toleration   was   issued   on   April   30,   311   by   Galerius,   the   Roman   emperor of   the   Eastern   part   (AD   305   to   311).   He   agreed   to   end   persecution   of   Christianity   with   the   following   wordings:   "wherefore,   for   this   our   indulgence,   they ought   to   pray   to   their   God   for   our   safety,   for   that   of   the   republic,   and   for   their   own,   that   the   republic   may   continue   uninjured   on   every   side,   and   that   they may be able to live securely in their homes." Two   years   later,   Christianity   was   officially   legalized   in   the   Roman   Empire   during   313   by   Emperor   Constantine   the   Great   (AD   306   -   337)   through   Edict   of Milan.   It   is   said   that   at   his   death   bed   Constantine   by   baptized;   eventually   he   became   Christian.   After   his   death   on   22   May   337,   Constantine   was   buried   in the   Church   of   the   Holy   Apostleshis,   in   Constantinople.   His   empire   was   divided   into   three   of   his   sons:   Constantine   II   (337   to   340),   Constantius   II   (337   -   361) and   Constans   (337   to   350)   -   all   staunch   Christians.   Within   few   decades,   circumstances   were   created   in   such   a   way   that   the   entire   nations   under   the Romans   bondage   became   Christians.   In   the   meantime,   the   followers   of   Paganism   resisted   at   the   pain   of   death;   ultimately   they   surrendered   and   their worship places were destroyed. As a result, the Christianity emerged as the major religion of the Middle East, North Africa and Europe. After   a   gap   of   around   three   hundred   years,   the   Arabs   based   at   Mecca   and   Madina   of   present-day   Saudi   Arabia   conquered   most   of   the   areas   under   the Eastern   Roman   Empire   (also   called   Byzantines)   in   Middle   East,   during   the   7th   century   AD.   They   moved   further   and   established   one   the   greatest   empires (Caliphates)   spread   over   more   than   thirteen   million   square   kilometers   (five   million   square   miles).   It   covered   most   of   the   Middle   East,   North   Africa,   and Central   Asia   down   to   the   borders   of   China,   parts   of   the   Indian   subcontinent,   across   the   Sicily,   the   Iberian   Peninsula,   to   the   Pyrenees.   They   brought   with them   Islam   and   the   Arabic   language.   The   Christianized   Middle   East   was   transformed   into   a   Muslim   world.   Arabic   was   imposed   over   the   defeated   nations with full force. Egypt,   then   staunch   Christian   state   was   instantly   converted   to   Islam;   Caliph   Abd   al-Malik   ibn   Marwan   (AD   646–705)   decreed   that   Arabic   replace   Koine Greek,   as   the   sole   official   language   of   Egypt.   Subsequently   the   Egyptians   had   to   surrender   their   own   Coptic   and   Demotic   languages   -   both   their   mother tongues   and   languages   of   literature   and   religion.   It   is   worth   mentioning   here   that   the   Koine   Greek,   official   language   of   the   Ptolemaic   Egypt,   could   not replace   Demotic   and   Coptic   entirely.   But,   Arabic   was   forced   in   such   a   way,   that   the   Egyptians,   by   speaking   Arabic,   artificially   emerged   as   Arabs;   although they are not Arabs. The   entire   Christianized   North   Africa   was   transformed   into   Muslim   Africa;   Arabic   was   imposed   in   such   a   force,   that   the   North   African   people   of   the present-day   Morocco,   Algeria,   Tunisia   and   Libya,   by   adopting   Arabic,   artificially   emerged   as   Arabs;   although   they   are   not   Arabs.   In   Middle   East,   the Christianized   Babylonia   (modern-day   Iraq   and   Syria)   was   also   transformed   into   Muslim   belt   in   AD   637;   their   main   language   Aramaic   as   well   as   Greek   - official   language   of   the   Romans,   both   were   replaced   by   Arabic.   However,   in   due   course,   by   speaking   Arabic,   the   people   of   Iraq   and   Syria   emerged artificially as Arabs; otherwise they are not Arabs. They were Sumerians, Akkadians or the Babylonians; even they lost their original national identity. However,   it   was   the   beginning   of   the   fall   of   the   Aramaic   language,   as   all   its   areas   were   encroached   by   the   Arabic   -   language   of   the   new   conquerors. Ultimately,   with   the   passage   of   time,   Aramaic   disappeared   as   a   living   language;   it   is   a   World   of   Conquerors;   Aramaic   -   lingo   franca   of   the   Middle   East, official   language   of   the   three   greatest   empires   of   the   world:   Assyrian,   Neo   Babylonian   and   the   Achaemenid   Empire   had   to   fall;   historically   the   people inhabiting   this   globe   are   bound   to   follow   the   religious   faiths,   languages   and   cultures   of   the   conquerors.   Even   they   are   the   source   of   our   identity   and nationality. Today,   Aramaic   can   be   found   in   certain   Eastern   Christian   churches,   in   the   form   of   Syriac;   it   is   still   spoken   by   small   isolated   communities   throughout   its original area of influence, predominantly in northwest Iraq, northeast Syria, northern Iran, southeast Turkey, Israel and Lebanon. Fall Of Australian Aborignal Languages To   recover   the   loss   of   thirteen   colonies   (emerged   as   the   United   States   of   America),   the   British   mercenaries,   on   behalf   of   the   British   monarchs,   landed   in the   Australian   continent,   the   Indian   sub-continent   as   well   as   in   the   mainland   China.   By   1857,   the   East   India   Company,   on   behalf   of   the   British   monarchs occupied most of the Indian sub-continent. They also penetrated deep into the mainland China and occupied its fifteen sea ports. For   Australia,   it   is   recorded   that,   Willem   Janszoon,   a   Dutch   navigator,   employ   of   the   Dutch   East   India   Company   was   the   first   European   who   is   known   to have   seen   the   “western   coast   of   Australia”.   He   saw   and   conquered   the   territory   with   his   evil   eyes;   subsequently   the   Dutch   Company   named   the   area “New Holland.” Similarly   James   Cook,   another   navigator   of   England   was   the   first   European   who   could   see   the   eastern   coast   of   Australia   in   1770;   so   he   also   saw   and conquered   eastern   Australia   with   his   wicked   eyes,   named   the   territory   as   “New   South   Wales”   and   claimed   it   for   the   King   George   III   of   England.   During   his voyage,   Cook   also   visited   New   Zealand,   first   seen   by   Dutch   explorer   Abel   Tasman   in   1642.   However,   Cook   also   claimed   the   North   and   South   islands   for the British monarch. Initially,   the   British   monarchs   decided   to   use   the   territory   of   Australia   as   a   “prison   regime”   or   open   jail,   penal   colony   or   the   dumping   ground   for   the convicts.   Subsequently   the   first   British   Penal   colony   was   established   on   26   January   1788,   at   Sydney   Cove   (in   honor   of   Viscount   Sydney,   home   secretary   of England)   by   Captain   Arthur   Phillip,   who   was   designated   as   the   first   governor   of   eastern   Australia.   He   brought   with   him   778   convicts   (192   women   and   586 men) from England loaded in 11 vessels, known as the First Fleet. The   Second   Fleet,   also   known   as   ‘Death   Fleet’   carrying   convicts   arrived   here   during   1790.   The   process   continued,   as   a   result   some   161,700   convicts   and hardened criminals, including around 25,000 women were transported from the midlands and north of England to Australia, in between 1788 and 1868. In   the   mean   time,   the   British   mercenaries   created   many   separate   colonies   and   settlements   from   parts   of   New   South   Wales:   South   Australia   in   1836,   New Zealand   in   1840,   Port   Phillip   District   in   1834   (later   becoming   the   colony   of   Victoria   in   1851)   and   Queensland   in   1859.   The   Northern   Territory   was   founded in 1863 as part of South Australia. As a result, the New South Wales became the largest colony on the surface of the earth. For    the    systematic    colonization    of    New    Zealand,    a    separate    company    named    “New    Zealand    Company”    was    established    during    1839    in    London. Subsequently the company established many settlements including Wellington, Nelson, New Plymouth and Wanganui. The   Australian   continent   (included   the   current   islands   of   New   Zealand)   was   originally   inhabited   by   over   250   Native   Nations   and   tribes,   each   had   its   own language   and   a   few   had   multiple,   thus   over   250   languages   existed.   After   its   colonization,   90   per   cent   population   of   the   Aborigines   lost   their   lives   within few   decades   while   defending   their   motherland;   they   were   tortured,   displaced,   driven   out   of   their   homes,   terrorized,   killed,   poisoned   and   massacred. After   massacre,   dead   bodies   were   burnt   to   ashes   so   as   to   conceal   the   number   of   casualties.   The   epidemic   diseases,   brought   by   the   British   migrants   also played havoc with millions of lives. To   occupy   the   Australian   lands   for   British   migrants,   the   Aboriginal   peoples   were   forcibly   removed   from   their   settlements;   to   demoralize   the   indigenous nations,   their   women   were   freely   raped;   martial   laws   were   imposed;   general   massacres   were   made   a   regular   practice   to   eliminate   instantly   the   entire nations of the Aboriginals. Some examples are as follows: In   1824,   martial   law   was   declared   around   Bathurst,   New   South   Wales,   to   wipe   out   the   Aboriginal   people.   In   between   1828   –   1832   again   martial   law   was imposed   by   the   British   agents   for   the   genocide   of   the   Tasmanian   Aborigines.   In   May   1830,   the   first   official   'punishment   raid'   on   Aboriginal   people   in Western Australia took place; men, women and children were mercilessly massacred. During   1833   –   34   “Convincing   Ground   Massacre”   was   one   of   the   largest   massacres   in   Victoria.   On   January   26,   1838,   “Waterloo   Creek   Massacre”   was carried   against   the   Kamilaroi   people.   The   “Faithful   Massacre”   and   the   “Hunting   Ground   Killings”   were   carried   out   to   bring   the   lands   under   British   rule.   In 1838,   “Myall   Creek   Massacre”   was   carried   against   the   Aboriginals   living   around   Inverell   (Northern   Tablelands).   During   the   “Murdering   Gully   Massacre” Tarnbeere   Gundidj   clan   of   the   Djargurd   Wurrung   people   were   wiped   out   in   1839.   Again   on   March   8,   1840,   following   the   “Whyte   Brothers   Massacre”-   men, women   and   children   of   Jardwadjali   tribe   were   killed.   During   the   “Massacre   of   the   Yeeman”   carried   on   October   26,   1857   so   as   to   exterminate   the   Yeeman tribe; many of the killings were carried out in public. To   revenge   the   murder   of   two   policemen,   “Flying   Foam   Massacre”   was   carried   during   1868   to   wipe   out   Yaburara   people.   Again   for   the   killing   of   two   white men,   “Barrow   Creek   Massacre”   was   carried   against   Kaytetye   people   during   1874.   They   were   hunted   and   killed   through   large   police   parties.   In   1876,   a group   of   Aboriginals   refused   to   vacate   their   homes   from   the   Central   Queensland   areas   for   the   settlements   of   the   European   migrants.   Subsequently “Goulbolba Hill Massacre” was carried; most of the men, women and children were shot dead or forcibly herded into the nearby lake for drowning. During   1880   –   90,   several   massacres   were   carried   out   in   Arnhem   Land   Region   (Northern   Territory).   In   these   areas,   many   people   were   poisoned   to   death. To   avenge   the   murder   of   one   person,   over   200   Kalkadoon   natives   were   killed   during   1884.   In   the   areas   of   Djara,   Konejandi   and   Walmadjari   Aboriginal people were massacred during 1887. Again in the Kimberley Region, about half of the Kimberley Aboriginal people were decimated during 1890 -1920. An   unrecorded   number   of   the   Mardu   Aboriginals   were   surrounded,   tortured   and   ultimately   massacred   at   Canning   Stock   Route   (Western   Australia) during   1906-7;   their   women   were   beaten   and   raped.   During   the   Gippaland   massacre,   unknown   number   of   the   Aboriginal   people   of   East   Gippsland   and Victoria   were   killed,   following   a   rapid   decline   in   Aboriginal   numbers.   Henry   Meyrick,   one   of   the   British   officials,   wrote   in   a   letter   home   to   his   relatives   in England in 1846:             “The   blacks   (Aborigines)   are   very   quiet   here   now,   poor   wretches.   No   wild   beast   of   the   forest   was   ever   hunted   down   with   such   unsparing   perseverance as   they   are.   Men,   women   and   children   are   shot   whenever   they   can   be   met   with   …   I   have   protested   against   it   at   every   station   I   have   been   in   Gippsland,   in the   strongest   language,   but   these   things   are   kept   very   secret   as   the   penalty   would   certainly   be   hanging   …   For   myself,   if   I   caught   a   black   actually   killing   my sheep,   I   would   shoot   him   with   as   little   remorse   as   I   would   a   wild   dog,   but   no   consideration   on   earth   would   induce   me   to   ride   into   a   camp   and   fire   on them indiscriminately, as is the custom whenever the smoke is seen. They [the Aborigines] will very shortly be extinct.” This   is   how   the   90   per   cent   population   of   the   Aboriginals   disappeared   from   the   Australian   continent;   no   doubt,   the epidemic   diseases   brought   by   the   British   and   the   other   European   migrants   also   played   a   major   role   in   the   genocide   of   the indigenous   people   of   Australia.   However,   as   long   as   the   armed   men   are   available   for   the   purpose   of   conquests   and   they are   allowed   to   kill,   massacre   and   enslave   the   nations,   destroy   their   settlements,   loot   their   wealth   and   resources   for centuries   together,   kidnap   and   rape   freely   their   women   folk,   the   history   would   go   on   repeating   itself   and   we   would   again witness the fall of many nations along with their mother tongues.