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Alongside the Canaanites, the Babylonians are one of the earliest civilizations where people with olive skin, thick hair, and strong features were present. This is relevant because many people argue that “black” people weren’t actually in the bible, but according to research many of the earliest individuals in the Bible, starting with Adam, presented with color.

Modern Day Babylon/Iraq, evidence that God’s detestation for Babylon still stands, more about God’s opinion towards Babylon can be found in the book of Revelation.

Egypt

After Alexander The Great dies in Babylon, Egypt is taken by Ptolemy I Soter which created a new dynasty that was ruled for 300 years. Alexandria becomes the capital and Egypt climaxes from 323 - 30 BC. The rulers of the Egypt were pagan, they believed in the Egyptian Gods and mythology. The Egyptians are most known for their collection of knowledge around the world, The Library of Alexandria, The Mouselon which is the original creation of a university, The Lighthouse of Pharos, and the The Great Synagogue of Alexandria — which is the center of Jewish learning.

The Egyptians are really important because they are the intersection of many countries during this period, Greek rationalism and Egyptian mysticism were fused together. The Egyptians took some of their teachings from Romans, which in the end Cleopatra VII became the downfall of the Egyptian empire when she betrayed herself by laying down Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. In the bible, God did not like the paganism that the Egyptians were practicing. Even after the death of Pharaoh the Egyptians were given multiple chances to change their ways.

Persia

Persia is founded by Cyrus the Great in approximately 559 BC, in Isaiah 45 God refers to Cyrus as being his shepherd. God favored Persia, however, the Kings that were placed in charge were not in steady practice of being a believer of God which lead to Persia’s downfall because many of them continued the teaching of Zoroatrianism. Persia experienced six different Kings they were: Cyrus The Great, Cambyses II, Darius The Great, Xerxes I, Artaxerxes I, and Darius III. Darius III was defeated by Alexander the Great which lead to the fall of the Persian empire.

This is a famous structure that once stood, it was known as Persepolis

Greece

Greece existed for a long time, dating back to 800 BC which was the earliest creation of City-State (Polis). Greece can be credited for being extremely creative with influence on culture. Most famously, God detested Greece because of Greek mythology.

800-500 BC is the era of Homer, Hesiod, and the Olympic Games. 500-323 BC, marks the time period of Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, and Alexander which defines the Western civilization. In the bible, God makes it clear that he does not agree with any of those philosophers or their ways. And, as such, Greece fell.

Rome

Rome existed from 753 - 509 BC. Rome was established by Romulus and Remus who are the twin sons of Mars, the god of war. The Roman Republic from 509-27 BC becomes the inspiration for modern day democracy. The republic falls from 133-27 BC with the last leader being Julius Caesar who was a general that was assassinated in 44 BC. Rome is the place where Jesus is born, but prior to his birth God ordained for Rome to have issues because they believed in Roman Gods which were pagan.

The above video talks about all of the idolatry that the Canaanites were into, they taught those who were in their society to hate God and they practiced sacrificing children. The Canaanites did not believe that God was fair and they lived on Earth with hate in their heart.

According to Isabel Wilkerson, when someone is born into their value and status of a particular society they are not able to change it (this ascribed value is fixed), it is enduring, and self perpetuating. Meaning, individuals who are born into their place in a given society have no choice but to deal with their circumstances as best as they can because no matter what they do - they will forever be “in their place.” Another example she uses in her book relates to the Jews who were victims of the Nazis during the holocaust, it was clear that genocide occurred because they were supposed to “stay in their place” in Germany.

Wilkerson’s book was the winner of the Pulitzer Prize and has been featured among the New York Times because she explains how caste has been discussed among other scholars, one being Martin Luther King Jr.

Caste is really important to understand as it relates to the evolution of African Americans because Isabel described black Americans as being victims of race issues due to being born beneath Caucasian Americans.

Allison Davis also wrote about caste in her book, Deep South: A Social Anthropological Study of Case and Class (Southern Classics), where she detailed the Jim Crow South in detail. This was originally published in 1941 when Allison Davis, Burleigh B. Gardner, and Mary R. Gardner lived among people of color in Natchez, Mississippi. They detailed the racial division, the tenant-landlord relationships of the people who resided there, the way local government was established, and the economic system. In this book, they are highlighting key interviews and witnesses of people who can not help that they are born into these circumstances in Mississippi.