Life Of Nehemiah

Nehemiah was a Jewish man who served as a cupbearer to King Artaxerxes of Persia in the 5th century BCE. Living in Babylon, he had a position of great trust and responsibility, but when he heard about the ruined state of Jerusalem, the city of his ancestors, he was deeply distressed. Nehemiah learned that the walls of Jerusalem had been destroyed and its gates burned, leaving the city vulnerable to attacks. His heart broke for his people, and he prayed earnestly to God, asking for help in rebuilding Jerusalem. Moved by his sorrow, King Artaxerxes noticed Nehemiah’s sadness and asked what was troubling him. After praying for guidance, Nehemiah boldly requested the king’s permission to return to Jerusalem and help restore the city. The king agreed and even provided letters for safe passage and supplies to help with the reconstruction. Upon arriving in Jerusalem, Nehemiah surveyed the damaged walls at night and then gathered the Jewish leaders and people to begin rebuilding. Despite facing opposition from neighboring enemies, including Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem, who mocked and tried to stop the work, Nehemiah remained determined. He encouraged the people to keep working and trust in God’s protection. Through his leadership, the walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt in just 52 days, a remarkable achievement that showed both the dedication of the people and the power of God’s help. After the wall was completed, Nehemiah focused on restoring the community’s spiritual life. He led the people in reading and understanding the Scriptures, renewing their covenant with God, and addressing social injustices. Nehemiah’s story is a powerful example of leadership, faith, and perseverance. His dedication to God and his people, along with his commitment to rebuilding Jerusalem, made him a key figure in the Jewish return from exile and a symbol of hope and resilience.

Three Greek Historical Figures 

I learned about three Greek historical figures, one being a philosopher, mathematician, and scientist.First I learned about Socrates. Socrates is famous for his method of questioning, known as the Socratic Method, where he asked people simple yet deep questions to help them think more carefully about their beliefs and actions. He didn’t write down any of his ideas, so most of what we know about him comes from his students, especially Plato. Socrates believed that true wisdom came from understanding how little we know, and he encouraged people to constantly question and seek knowledge. Unfortunately, his ideas upset many people in Athens, and he was put on trial for corrupting the youth. He was sentenced to death, and he accepted his punishment rather than flee, believing in the importance of following the law.

Second, I learned about Pythagoras. Pythagoras, a Greek mathematician and philosopher who lived around 2,500 years ago. He is best known for the Pythagorean Theorem, which explains the relationship between the sides of a right triangle. According to the theorem, the square of the length of the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the squares of the other two sides. Pythagoras believed that numbers were the key to understanding the world and even saw them as the foundation of the universe. He founded a religious and philosophical community that studied mathematics, music, and astronomy, and his teachings influenced later thinkers. Pythagoras believed that everything in life could be explained through numbers and harmony, and his ideas about math and the universe still influence us today.

Finally I learned about Aristotle. Aristotle, one of the most famous figures in ancient Greek history. Aristotle was a student of Plato and a teacher to Alexander the Great. He made many important contributions to science, philosophy, and logic. Aristotle studied animals, plants, and the natural world, and he is considered one of the first to develop a system for classifying living things. He observed how animals and plants grow, change, and interact with each other, laying the groundwork for biology. Aristotle also made important contributions to logic, creating rules for reasoning that are still used in modern science. His work covered many areas, from the stars and planets to the behavior of people, and his ideas shaped much of Western thought for centuries.

The Greek Olympics 

The ancient Greek Olympics were big sports events held to honor Zeus and other gods. It also glorified the skills of men. They started in 776 BCE in a place called Olympia, in Greece. The Olympics were part of a big religious festival for Zeus and were held in a large temple dedicated to Zeus. 

Athletes from different parts of Greece would come to compete. These many athletes came from different city-states like Athens, Sparta, and Corinth. They competed in events like running races, wrestling, boxing, and horse races. One event, called the pentathlon, had five sports: running, jumping, throwing the javelin, and wrestling. The winners of the games were given a crown made of olive leaves, which was a huge honor. The first Olympic event was just a foot race, which was about 192 meters long. As the years passed, more events were added. The athletes competed without clothes, which was meant to celebrate their strength and bodies. Only men could compete in the games, and women weren’t allowed to participate or even watch most of the events. However, women did have their own smaller games called the “Heraea Games” in Olympia, where they ran races. 

The Olympics were important for more than just sports. They were a way to show off strength and skill. Winners became heroes in their hometowns and sometimes got big rewards, like free food for life or statues made for them. The games also helped bring peace between city-states. During the Olympics, all fighting stopped so athletes and visitors could travel safely to Olympia. This was called the Olympic Truce. The Olympics happen every four years and went on for about 1,200 years, until 393 CE when the Roman Emperor stopped them. Although it had ended, it was not forgotten. In 1896, a man named Pierre de Coubertin from France started the modern Olympics, bringing back the idea of the Olympic games and was the inspiration for the Olympics we watch today.