The authors of the books and writings of the First and Second Testament lived in world that was geo-political. This podcast introduces the six primary powers that influenced the cultural and social context of the Bible's authors: Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece and Rome. 1 Egypt: Controlled Canaaan before Israel's settlement. Zenith under the Ramessids then steadily declined. Alexander's descendants (Ptolemies) ruled till 63 BCE. Dominated Palestine from 320-198 BCE). 2. Assyria: Expanded during 9th Century BCE. Captured Samaria in 721 BCE. Defeated by Egypt in 660 BCE. finally routed by Babylonians in 612 with the fall of Nineveh. 3. Babylon: Supreme in 18th Century BCE under Hummurabi. Defeated by Assyria but later retained power after 625 BCE, capturing Jerusalem (597 BCE) and destroying its temple (587 BCE). Persians destroy Babylon in 538 BCE. 4. Persia: Powerful under Cyrus' rule (550-529 BCE). Conquered by Alexandria in 330 BCE. 5. Greece: Alexander of Macedonia supreme in 330s. Conquered Palestine in 333. After his death generals took over. 6. Rome: Pompey triumphs over the Greek Seleucids in 62 BCE. Palestine under Roman rule and Titus conquers and destroys Jerusalem in 70 CE.