Boer Nation: Boerenkrijgslied

Boer Nation Boerenkrijgslied https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPJXPp5TsQQ Boer Battle Song (Bach Choir) "Above video contains original visual material from the Boer War" Boers sang this song Before Every Battle with the British Colonial capitalist forces Boer War 1899-1902 Dutch victory song which Boers inherited from their European forefathers originally called:  'Merck toch hoe sterck' Boers adapted lyrics & called song:  'Boerenkrijgslied' ie 'Boer Battle Song' Sung for first time in 1622 by the inhabitants of besieged town Bergen op Zoom when it was victoriously relieved from the Spanish invaders by Dutch forces in a battle during the Eighty Year War (1568 - 1648) Netherlands v. Spain first whites landed at Cape of Good hope 8th April 1652 Boers descendants of European Calvanist dissenters who arrived in Africa in search of freedom BRITISH CAPITALIST DESTROYERS First wave of British came: 1820 British capitalist concentration camps killed almost 28,000 Boer civilians about quarter of all those held captive by the British almost one-sixth of the entire Boer population British capitalist land clearance policy British capitalist program of decertification British capitalist program of burning Boer farms to the ground, slaughter of animals British Capitalist Empire was vast number of troops that could be raised, trained & sent to Africa was almost limitless Boers lost x7 more of their women and children than their men when fighting British Capitalist Armed blacks worked with British army to kill, rape & put Boers into British capitalist concentration camps Anglo-Boer War British capitalist soldiers armed black servants and raped 35% of the Boer women in the Boer Republics [Dr Wilhalem Vallentin, 1902] British capitalist officers in Pretoria would take young Boer girls (as young as 10 & 11) from Irene British Capitalist Concentration Camp to use Boer girls as sex slaves 15% of the Boer population died in the British capitalist concentration camps Most of the Boer civilians who died in the British capitalist concentration camps were children under the age of 16 Half the total population of Boer children of the republics died in the British capitalist concentration camps The British capitalist troops destroyed the Boers in 1902 Boers lost their independence ever since, the British capitalists controlled their diamond & gold mines  British capitalist administration implemented Apartheid the Cape Afrikaners wrote it into law & gave black territories Different tribes settled in South Africa (white and black) and settled in open land British capitalist troops conquered them British capitalists stole everyone's land British imperialists still in control PM Hendrik Verwoerd was not a friend of the Boer nation he was there to amalgamate everything into the one economic sphere PM D.F. Malan was also a traitor to the Boer nation PM Hans Strijom was a supporter of Boers / believe strongly he was killed  / due to discussing restoration of Boer republics / likely poisoned Source THE AFRIKANER, THE BOER NATION & THE ONGOING WHITE GENOCIDE IN SOUTH AFRICA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33cLwPKGkhc Very nice ... Klipwerf Boereorkes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p95gTY_kzsQ

Anatolian Hittite & Byzantine Eagles Meet Hurrian Music & Antioch Dabke, Meet Christianity, Trade & Anat, Goddess of War

Hittite & Byzantine Eagles Hurrian Music & Antioch Dabke, Meet Christianity, Trade & Anat, Goddess of War  Hittite | Byzantine Eagles GIF Double-headed eagle -- Hittite origin (land of Hatti) -- Anatolia (now known as Turkey, in Asia Minor) see: Sphinx gate of Hattusha 14th c. BC depicts:  ruler standing on two-headed eagle clasping 2 hares -- site at remains of large Hittite structure -- a royal necropolis of 13 tombs dating c. 2500 BC -- (in what is now Turkish Alaca Hüyük), Boğazköy) Double-headed eagle -- re-appears High Middle Ages, c. 10th Century or 11th Century -- notably used by Byzantine Empire -- representations also:  France, Bulgaria, Spain (then Islamic) -- from 13th Century widespread use:     -- Seljuk Sultanate of Rum     -- Mamluk Egypt (Mamluk = slave-soldier)     -- Holy Roman Empire     -- Serbia     -- Russia (evolved into triple-headed eagle) -- 'polycephaly' = more than single head -- bicephalic / dicephalic = 2 heads -- tricephalic = 3 heads -- mythological beasts depicted Ancient Near East -- today:  Middle East -- ie Mesopotamia (Anatolia, Syria, Iraq) -- + Levant + ancient Egypt     -- Sumer (indig. Sumer, Akkadian assim. / then Assyria & Babylonia     -- Egypt     -- Elam - Susa / absorbed into Assyrian emp. / then Iranian Persians     -- Akkad - location unknown /several proposals     -- Babylonia (Iraq)     -- Canaan - Levant     -- Hittite Empire (Anatolia)     -- neo-Assyrian Empire (Middle East, capital in Iraq)     -- Urartu, bib. Kingdom of Ararat (Armenia)     -- neo-Babylonian Empire     -- Medes -- intensive year-round agriculture -- first urban settlements -- centralised govt / empires -- organised religion -- organised warfare -- first writing & law codes -- deeply influenced by spiritual beliefs -- believed that divine action influenced all mundane matters -- believed in divination (predict future) -- Omens & records of major events inscribed http://hubert-herald.nl/TwoHeadedEagle.htm http://www.britannica.com/place/Alaca-Huyuk https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Near_East https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double-headed_eagle This is a lovely page http://hubert-herald.nl/TwoHeadedEagle.htm  Anatolian -- was branch of Indo-European -- Hittite: separate Anatolian branch of Indo-European family -- likely Anatolians reached Near East from north     -- via Balkans or Caucasus, 3rd millennium BC -- Anatolians + Tokharians = first wave Indo=Europeans migrating -- from Eurasian steppe -- they subjugated & later blended with indigenous Semitic tribes -- had wagons (but likely pre war-chariots era) -- earliest mention:  Assyrian mercantile texts 19thC. Kanesh -- Kaneš = known to Hittites as Neša (occasionally:  Anisa) -- Hattic, Hittite & Hurrian city -- contained large colonised merchant quarter (Karum) Old Assyrian Empire -- site of earliest traces of Hittite language -- ie earliest attestation of any Indo-European language -- dated to 20th Century BC -- native term for Hittite language:  nešili / language of 'Neša' https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Anatolians http://modrodnovery.com/the-scythians-and-thracians-slavic-roots-in-late-antiquity/ Other of interest:   -- Hittite cosmology two versions:     -- Hurrian myth (pre-dating invasion)     -- other Semitic (Babylonian) cult *article says 'second' (presumably Babylonian) -- has hallmarks of Indo-European cosmology -- concept of dying god introduced *Find this a bit confusing:  why would Babylonian have hall-marks of Indo-European?  Or, do I misunderstand? -- Hittite religion described as strikingly similar -- to Scytho-Slavic practice -- divination by observing the flight patterns of birds -- voice of the goddess 'Bird Mother Sva' (Book of Veles) -- healing rituals were conducted by transferring sickness -- ritually adorned animal sent forth bearing the disease -- staple among eastern European folk magicians -- ancient shamanic roots -- Hittites, like the Scythians and Slavs,  -- understood their gods to be great ancestors -- Hittite kings were not viewed as god incarnate (unlike Egyptians) -- ** ascended to such status only after death  ** -- cremations took place on raised scaffolding -- libations poured before pyre -- this is signature of Indo-European origin -- Hittites = myth of Thunder God who marries Sun Goddess -- unique to pre-Kurgan, indigenous European cultures -- remains of this mythos now only in northern Slavic & Finno-Ugric cultures of Baltic coast -- Hittites called capital Hattusha:  'the land of the seven streams' -- proto-Slavs came from land: 'seven rivers beyond the sea' -- poss. reference to Anatolia, which borders Ukraine -- Ukraine land of Slavic ethno-genesis -- reason to believe that the Kurds are the descendants -- of eastward diaspora of Hatti ruling class that founded the Hittite Empire -- Hatti may have mixed with other Indo-European tribes (east & west) -- namely:  Mitanni class that ruled Hurians -- & the Luwians, who arrived from Balkans -- Luwians had dying god via cult of Cybele & Attis -- Mittani worshiped early Vedic pantheon (later Avestan, Mithra) also dying god -- ‘Kaveh the Blacksmith’ is Kurd hero versus Assyrian Empire -- Modern Zoroastrians & Pagan Kurds honour Kaveh victory -- Kaveh legend was co-opted by the Persian nobility -- to lend credibility to new Zoroastrian religion -- myth may have even older roots -- Hasameli, Hittite god of metalworkers and craftsmen -- Pagan Kurd Jashn-e-mehregan celebration of Kaveh victory -- coincides with Slavic harvest days (August 5 & September 22) -- hails victory of Perun over Veles -- first autumn rain the blood of the Cosmic Serpent (Veles) -- spilled by a Divine Warrior (Perun) -- pagan Slavs built ritual bonfires top mountains & hills -- summer solstice -- epic climb & triumphant decent of Zagros by Kaveh mirrors -- cyclical dualism present in Slavic religion -- Slavs built altars to deity atop mountains & hills -- &  to chthonic diety near caves, rivers & town squares -- Slavic Croats, or Hrvati -- descendants of the Arachosian (Persian Harahvaiti) Scythians -- Zagreb - poss. derived from:  Zagros -- considerable Indo-Iranian ancestry (DNA) -- east-to-west circular trajectory of Hittite-Mitanni-Median-Scythian-Slavic continuum -- out of Anatolia in unbroken line - unlikely -- exiled Hatti & Mitanni ruling classes -- formed the foundation of proto Indo-Iranian language family -- some may have merged with Armenians & Georgians -- who occupied the Caucus region since the 12th century BC -- Slav Svarog, celestial god of fire & metallurgy Scythian likely -- elevation of altar indicates celestial nature -- blood-fed sword indicates patron of warriors -- periodic burning of altar indicates the primacy of fire -- Slavs worshipped poly-cephalic gods  -- bore two, three- sometimes 7 aspects -- Svarog:  both fit warrior (by day) & lame smith (by night) -- see:  two heads of Vedic Agni -- Hittite Hasameli & Kurdish Kaveh associated:  war & forge -- Slavs viewed their gods as great ancestors -- chthonic nymph goddess ties Slavic, Kurdish, Greek, Scythian, Median and Hittite lore together -- Hittites worshipped the androgynous underworld God/Goddess Lelwanni, or the pourer -- Medians & Persians honoured Aredvi Sura Anahita -- known in Armenia as the 'Virgin-Mother of Mithra' -- Scythian cult of Argimpasa presided by female oracle-priestess -- likeness linked to Greek nymph & Kurdish goddess Shamaran -- 'King of the snakes' / gender ambiguity -- Slavic Goddess Mat Siri Zemlja depicted with phallus -- like Cybele or Isis -- snakes are sacred to her -- Kurdish Shamaran goddess, snake depictions -- dragons are bringers of storm clouds in Slavic religion -- goddess Dodola of South Slavs, is pourer who ends drought -- not unique:  concept all over world source http://modrodnovery.com/the-scythians-and-thracians-slavic-roots-in-late-antiquity/ Music - Hurrian https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viMbnj_Ei2A&index=21&list=PLnOSH5j1sQh9AKl6-xab0tbGm-GyNM_h9 3,400 year old Hurrian Hymn. c.1400 BCE discovered in Ugarit (now Ras Shamra) - sea port ancient northern Canaan (now modern Syria) written in Cuneiform script   source http://www.israel-a-history-of.com/ugarit.html While discovered in modern day Syria, the Hurrians were not Syrian Hurrians were from modern day Anatolia Fragmentary Hurrian Hymn on clay tablets = dedicated to Nikkal, wife of the moon god SOURCE | Michael Levy (above & here) Ur Kasdim -- identified by some as Urkesh -- Urkesh, capital of Hurrian kingdom (now Syria, north-east) -- birthplace of Jewish patriarch Abraham -- not definitive / multiple other locations suggested https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ur_Ka%C5%9Bdim Dabke https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E106M4VuP9U Antioch (now in Turkey:  Antakaya, Hatay Province) -- once Akkadian -- then Amorite -- then succession of Hittites -- then neo-Hittite 'Hattena' -- then Assyrians -- then Uraartu (now Armenians) -- then Persians -- centre of Hellenistic Seleucid empire -- home to 4 Greek cities of Syrian tetrapolis -- important regional centre of Roman Empire -- 638 CE:  conquered by the Rashidun Caliphate -- 969 CE:  Antioch recaptured by Byzantine Empire -- 1084 CE:  captured by Suleiman I, Sultan of Rum    (later Anatolian Seljuks) -- 1086 CE:  passed to Sultan of Aleppo (ruler of Syrian Seljuks) -- 1098  CE:  captured by Crusaders -- became centre of Principality of Antioch -- 1268 CE:  Hatay captured from Crusaders by Mameluks https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hatay_Province   Antioch Syrian Antioch -- ancient Greek-Roman City -- eastern site of Orontes River -- Antioch founded near end 4th Century BC -- by Seleucus I Nicator (general of Alexander the Great) -- strategic re trade:     -- spice trade     -- Silk Road     -- Persian Royal Road -- rivalled Alexandria -- main centre of Hellenistic Judaism -- end of Second Temple period (2nd Temple destroyed 70 AD) -- Antioch is the cradle of Christianity -- pivotal role in emergence of:     -- Hellenistic Judaism     -- early Christianity -- name 'Christian' first emerged in Antioch Antioch:  Hellenistic Judaism & early Christianity http://www.forumancientcoins.com/Articles/the_travels_of_paul.htm -- declined in significance Middle Ages -- due to:     -- warfare     -- repeated earthquakes     -- change in trade routes (after Mongol conquests) -- settlement of Meroe pre-dated Antioch -- shrine to Semitic goddess Anat / 'Persian Artemis' -- Anat is a violent war-goddess -- virgin sister-lover of great god:  Ba'al Hadad -- Ba'al son of Dagan, sometimes son of El -- fierce, wild and furious warrior in battle, -- wading knee-deep in blood     -- striking off heads     -- cutting off hands     -- binding heads to her torso     -- binding hands in her sash -- linked to Judaeans & Canaanites -- Book of Zohar:  Anat among     the holiest of angelic powers  under the name of Anathiel -- Anat revived as woman's name by Zionists https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antioch https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anat -- Hurrians spoke Hurro-Urartian, called Hurrian -- lived Anatolia & Northern Mesopotamia -- largest most influential multi-ethnic kingdom:  Mitannni -- Mitanni (poss. Indo-Europeans) ruling class over Hurians -- Indo-European speaking Hittite Emp. Anatolia,     large Hurrian population -- significant Hurrian influence on Hittite mythology -- Hurrian & Urartian languages -- related to North Caucasian languages -- present-day Armenians = amalgam of Hurrians & Urartians -- Hurrian, language isolate - not related to Semitic    or Indo-European -- 2000 BCE:  adopted Assyrian Akkadian cuneiform script -- Mitanni closely associated with horses -- 'Ishuwa' town meant 'horse land' -- Hattusha texts re Hurrian training of horses -- terminology re horses:  Indo-Aryan loan-words Išuwa / Ishuwa -- ancient Hittite name for neighbouring Anatolian kingdom -- later Luwian neo-Hittite state -- state:  Kammanu (c. 1200 BC - 712 BC) -- proto-Armenian speaking -- main city:  Melid -- city conquered by Hittites 14th Century BC -- Melid was base of Hittite king:  Suppiluliuma I -- on way to sack Mitanni capital Wassukanni -- Wassukanni location unknown https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melid -- Kikkuli -- author of a chariot horse training text -- written in Hittite, c. 1400 BC -- Hittite power was their charioteers   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kikkuli -- 13th century BCE all of the Hurrian states vanquished -- Hittites civilisation was greatly influenced by the Hurrians -- knowledge of Hurrian culture from cuneiform tablets -- found at Hittite capital:  Hattusha -- in addition to other sources -- Hurrian culture significant impact on religion of Hittites -- Hittite syncretism: merger of Old Hittite & Hurrian religions -- note:  Kushuh (Kušuh) MOON GOD -- Kušuh symbols:  SUN & CRESCENT MOON, on iconography -- Hurrian settlements (in now):  Turkey, Syria, Iraq -- heart of Hurrian world:  modern border Syria & Turkey  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurrians HITTITE EMPIRE | DOCUMENTARY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2mu2Atduas At the moment, I'm more in the mood for this up-tempo dabke music. Really enjoyable playing with images, reading history and listening to music.  Wish I could go faster than I'm capable of going.

Gregorian Chants

-------/\/\/ Gregorian Chant LINK Audio | Gloria Plain Song / Gregorian Chant Timeline BACKGROUND: End of Antiquity (Greco-Roman) Roman Republic Roman Empire Roman Empire carries on traditions established by Greeks NEW CULT ON THE BLOCK: Rise of Christianity First Century CE new religious cult:  figure Jew & Roman subject Yehoshua of Nazareth (aka 'Jesus') teachings focus on: 1.  one god 2.  equality between social classes [comment:  sounds like the current 'oneness' or universality ideology and indoctrination underpinning the international law US-led Western power-grab; establishment of supranational institutions; intrusions on national sovereignty AND intrusions on individuality & choice, in the name of enshrining the rights of various minorities (which always involves obligations on the fettered majority, versus onus on the minority to adapt to the majority); & the entirety of the 'humanitarian' ideology, with its in-step drive alongside capitalism, towards globalisation and centralised control of the planet by ruling capitalist elites.   Now there seems to be a secular god:  it is an outward 'god' of capitalism (its Messiah), & that god is 'man', the labourer, the debt-slave and the consumer.  The oneness/unity and equality spin sounds a lot like Marxism, only they're not looking at economic equality (just dictating a socially Marxist regime, that's not dispossessing the capitalists -- it's dispossessing the people).   And it's a god that demands 'safe spaces' ... LOL ...  If capitalism is the modern-age Messiah, if man is the modern god, then there is also a 'holy spirit' (and that is money/profits/ global markets etc) ... so it's a HOLY TRINITY and profit/money is the Holy Spirit, or something like that.] -- dangerous to Roman power structure [comment:  modern-day secular version of this religion is not at all dangerous to the US-led capitalists who believe they have a right to 'global markets'.  However, it is dangerous to everyone else.   The Capitalist Empire which indoctrinates & pushes for a universal 'love-in', fits in with the agenda pushing for a vast one world human cattle market of producers and consumers, with gradual dismemberment of sovereign nation states and individual peoples as individual peoples with their own identities, cultures and values/moral choices. ] -- in Greece prior to Rome & in Rome, religion polytheistic -- (worship more than one god, system of many gods) -- Roman emperors were also treated as gods themselves -- Christian idea of one god & non-violence  -- was dangerous to polytheistic power structure of Rome -- how would Rome maintain armies and defend borders [comment: Today's threat is: secular capitalist powers outwardly worshipping (ie exploiting) the 'humanitarian' sole 'god', having established various supranational authorities and structures that usurp power from the people of free nations; the use of international law to do much the same; plus failure of states to maintain INDEPENDENT, armed & fully combat ready national armies. Any nation that is incapable of defending itself with military force will cease to exist as a nation, by relying on the continued goodwill and continued existence of others (which comes with obligations that can be exploited & may not always be in national interests). The Christians preaching 'pacifism' but killing in the name of their ideology & torturing heretics etc, makes a mockery of the 'pacifism' preaching ... but the entire package is a mockery, including all the propaganda 'saints' and 'miracles'  ... What a fraud.] -- first three centuries:  persecution of Christians -- Emperor Constantine issues Edict of Milan, 3rd C. -- legalising & protecting Christianity -- under Roman laws, free to worship any god, -- as long as also worshipped the Roman gods & Roman emperors -- due to religious freedom in Rome, Christianity flourished -- Christianity then grew beyond critical mass able to be thwarted -- Christianity arose from cult to religion -- 60 years after Edict of Milan, Emperor Theodosius I -- makes Christianity official Roman state religion -- later, fall of Rome and continued rise of Christianity -- result:  beginning of period of severe unrest, war & famine -- world order cultivated through centuries Greco-Roman -- culture was soon replaced by tribalism and civil war -- eastern part of Roman empire held out better -- the Byzantine empire = abt. 5th C. to 1453 CE -- (capital, Constantinople) fell to Ottoman Turks -- eastern Roman empire gave rise to traditions of -- the Greek & Russian Orthodox churches -- eastern half of Empire, rise of Gregorian chant -- Christians of both the eastern & western portions -- of Roman Empire inherited the Jewish tradition of chanting scripture -- Jews would congregate & chant on specific days -- Jews would chant from Tehillim (ie 'praises' / aka 'Book of Psalms (C.)) -- Jews would chant from Ketuvim -- Tehillim -- first book of the Ketuvim ('Writings') (third section of Hebrew bible) -- 'psalms' = Gk. for 'psalmoi' ('instrumental music') -- many psalms / tehillim are linked to King David    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psalms -- Christians share the 'old testament' with Jusaism /sing or intone tehillim -- to 'intone' is to sing from one note -- singing of songs from bible was referred to as psalmedy -- early Christians would meet for communal meals & worship -- at these meals, they would sing hymns & psalms (ie tehillim) -- large, rectangular spaces for gatherings known as 'basilicas' -- early Christians (eg Saint Augustine) -- recognised music's power to influence -- character & mood, similar to Greek convention of ethos -- Augustine & others considered music's power to influence mood -- to best be used for worshipping god -- therefore, non-spiritual music (esp. instrumental music) was deemed sinful -- for this reason, nearly all next 1,000 years of European music is acapella -- ie. all unaccompanied singing with no instruments -- Christianity developed a monastic tradition of intense, isolated worship -- and heavy prayer -- monastic monks developed a system for singing the psalm (tehillim) verses -- & for singing the hymns -- / the difference between the two:     -- psalms (tehillim) = derived from bible     -- hymns have extra biblical sources -- many newly written texts and prayers -- are both songs of praise -- which eventually coalesced into a repertoire -- of chants & bible readings, known as a 'liturgy' -- the songs they sang are defined as 'plain song' -- at least five distinct liturgical repertoires (aka 'dialects') of plain song:     -- Ambrosian (Milanese)     -- Gaelican     -- Mozarabic (Arabised Iberians, Spain - Moorish rule, Christian)     -- Old Roman     -- Gregorian     [ see also:  Andalusi Romance]    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mozarabs -- the Old Roman dialect (ie chant) was standardised eventually throughout Christendom -- this repertoire of plain song is known as 'Gregorian chant' -- Pope Gregory I (aka Saint Gregory the Great), the namesake of this musical material -- Pope Gregory I:  ruled as pope from 590 CE to 604 CE -- he lived centuries before the REDISCOVERY of musical notation -- notational systems developing following Antiquity were long forgotten by his time -- for following reason, Gregorian liturgical dialect came to dominate: legend of Saint Gregory:  created as propaganda, in favour of Roman liturgy over others -- legend:  'holy spirit', permutation of the Christian god -- took the form of a dove and dictated the form of the Roman repertoire -- to Saint Gregory -- the propaganda worked:  all the competing chanting -- repertoires were eventually suppressed -- manner of suppression, borne of political alliance between the Franks -- peoples of modern France and Germany, & the Roman popes abt. 752 CE -- formed between the King of the Franks Pepin the First -- & leader of church, Pope Stephen II -- mutually beneficial deal:     -- church needed protection from hostile northern tribes (Lombards)     -- Frankish kings needed formal recognition of hereditary rights to         consolidate their power -- results of alliance successful:     -- Lombards expelled from (now) northern Italy     -- Rome recognised Pepin as official ruler of Frankish lands -- King Pepin actively imported Roman liturgy for official use -- Pepin's son, Charlemagne, completely conquered the Lombards -- and even more actively imported the Roman liturgy -- arriving triumphant into Rome as protector of papacy -- Charlemagne was crowned first Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire -- on Christmas Day of 800 CE -- inception of Holy Roman Empire makes [five (5)] separate permutations of Rome     1.  Roman Republic     2.  Roman Empire     3.  Western Roman Empire - Rome     4.  Eastern Roman Empire - Constantinople (Byzantine empire)     5.  Holy Roman Empire -- Gregorian chant is derived from the OLD ROMAN CHANT DIALECT -- because it evolved in capital city of Christendom (Rome) -- newly inaugurated season of peace led to:  Carolingian Renaissance -- ie. period of philosophical & cultural flourishing in what is today:     France, Germany & Italy -- [propaganda] + political stability = Gregorian chant thrives *comment:  Christendom would have surely entered Greece first?  *comment:  I have added the split east/west Roman empire (above), making it x5 permutations (rather than the four mentioned) above a summary of audio by Brian Jump Audio | Brian Jump Dark Ages retrogression (govt & social, illiteracy rampant, knowledge & philosophy forgotten) --  for:  1,000 years 5th to 15th Century CE Transition from Antiquity to Middle Ages Emperor Theodosius I Theodosius the Great (Flavius Theodosius) issues decree, establishing Christianity official religion of Rome ended state sponsorship for traditional Roman gods introduced a period of prosecution & punishment for non-Christians -- religious turmoil that resulted, contributed to religious instability already evident in civil war and border conflicts with northern barbarians (the Goths) On death of Theodosius, two sons split empire: -- eastern Empire:  Constantinople -- western Empire:  Rome Rome was in freefall, but Christianity was ascending     Gregorian Chant is derived from the old Roman chant dialect, having evolved in the capital city of Christendom  -------/\/\/ LINK | Audio | Dies Mei COMMENT This was really interesting: religion, history & music in one package. Might have to come back to checking some of these links. No time now. Civilisation is only a very thin veneer.  I'm betting there will be another 'fall of Rome' and civilisation will be lost for hundreds of years (if there's survivors after nukes war). *Religion is (a) tradition (b) social control, c) political control, manipulation & opportunism, and (d) one of the means of large common interest groups (values, tradition, heritage etc) organising themselves socially, politically, administratively, culturally etc., a way of maintaining group cohesion/unity; it is a way of asserting political power as a group -- a strategy of having group (leader) interests met; and it is probably a social strategy, which goes back to organisation of large human groups generally.  That's all I can think of, just off the top of my head. I find religion very interesting, as religion is entwined with history, sociology and politics (plus art, music and so much more).  Religion is politics. I think.  LOL  It certainly has an impact -- eg. Pope whoever-his-assumed-pope-name is currently making pronouncements on immigration to USA, and thus undoubtedly attempting to influence domestic US policies (while pushing for much the same in Europe).  These people have no business leading the gullible to vote against their own interests.  But that would most likely be in keeping with the historic role of these Christian religious frauds:  ie screw the masses. I cannot understand why European Christians do not return to the ancient religions of their European ancestors:  at least it would be authentic. NOTE:  if early Christianity quickly reached a 'critical mass' in the Roman Empire, that  could not be repelled by the Roman state, what does that tell Europeans about the potential for the demise of Europe when the 'critical mass' of non-indigenous peoples & non-Western values/ideology/religion/customs is approached etc. Europe will be finished.