History timeline 1820-1829

1820: George III dies. George IV becomes King of England
    Cato Street Conspiracy
    Missouri Compromise
    James Monroe re-elected

1821: Several countries declare independence from Spain

1822: Chios Massacre

1823: Monroe Doctrine

1824: Lafayette tours U.S.
    Presidential Election thrown into the House of Representatives

1825: U.S. House of Representatives selects John Quincy Adams as President
    Erie Canal opens

1826: Most property requirements for voting removed in U.S.

1827: B&O Railroad opens (first railroad in U.S.)
    Freedom's Journal begins
    Greek War of Independence ends

1828: London Protocol creates modern Greece
    Andrew Jackson wins presidential election

1829: Catholic Relief Act
    Russo-Turkish War ends
    Petticoat Affair (1829-31)

History Shorts: Constantinople sacked (1204)

In 1203, Western Europeans traveled to the Middle East to try and capture Jerusalem. They stopped at Constantinople along the way and decided to lay siege. Eastern and Western Christianity were at odds over doctrine and cultural differences. The Byzantines massacred Catholics a couple decades earlier adding incentive to the Crusader strike. They captured and sacked the city for plunder and revenge. The incident severely weakened the Byzantine Empire allowing the Muslims to gain a firmer foothold in the region. It is considered one the nails in the Byzantine coffin.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBx8BDJdzf

History Shorts: The great church schism (1054)

The East-West schism in 1054 split the Catholic Church into Greek and Latin branches. The church broke along cultural, linguistic, geographical, political, and theological lines. The two sides did not understand one another and vied for control. The split reflected the schism that occurred five centuries earlier when Rome fell and Constantinople remained a major power. The major issues included whether leavened or unleavened bread was appropriate for the Eucharist, papal authority, and Constantinople's rights within the church. The breach remains to this day, led to each side excommunicating one another, the massacre of Latins in 1182, the Crusader sack of Constantinople in 1204, and nearly 1,000 years of mutual distrust. In the 20th century, Pope Paul IV and Pope John Paul II worked with their counterparts to heal the rifts caused in 1054.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQj0HpMdw74

Gregory becomes Pope (590)

It was the height of the Dark Ages. Gregory the Great was the most prolific writer among the Popes up to this time. He created the modern mass, wrote music, and re-energized missionary work. Gregory also was a solid diplomat, humanitarian, and created Gregorian chant. All in the midst of the Dark Ages!

Bio:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzyO0PSi1xA

History Shorts: Council of Nicea (325 A.D.)

The Trinitarian issue threatened to rip the early Catholic Church apart. At issue was god’s nature. Some believed in the trinity while others believed it smacked of polytheism.  The Emperor Constantine called a conference to settle the dispute. The Trinitarians won leading the emperor to enforce the decree. The council also created the first portion of the Nicean Creed, calculated Easter’s date, and settled some early canon.

This clip is a dramatization of events:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBszFV90ZSE

History Shorts: The Edict of Milan (313 A.D.)

After Constantine won the Battle of Milvian Bridge, he assigned his victory to the Christian god. In response, he legalized Christianity, ended Diocletian's persecutions, and included incentives for the faithful. By the end of the century, church and state became one. Two hundred years later, the church became the only organization in Western Europe capable of preserving civilization and record keeping.
The first link is a student project. The second is from the Catholic Church.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5XeVWEFSO4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqLBeCmyaKY

Christmas vs. Mithras

Why is Christmas celebrated on December 25 when we do not know the exact date of Jesus' birth? Public Relations!

The early Christians did not celebrate Christmas. However, some religions and cults did have winter festivals and holidays around the winter solstice. As a result, the early church was worried about losing followers to the cults.

One of the competitors was the Cult of Mithra. The Mithradic Cult was a growing Persian religion that celebrated at the winter solstice. They'd have a party and sacrifice a bull to their god.

Early Church officials then decided to have their own celebration around the solstice and decided Christ's birthday would be the focus.

Merry Christmas! ho-ho-ho