Chapter 13

In this two-part lesson, students compare two very different ways of building a civilization—by force or by faith. Through the story of Sargon of Akkad, they explore how the first empire in history rose through conquest, power, and control, only to collapse soon after its founder’s death. Then, through Genesis and The History of the Ancient World, they trace how Abraham’s covenant with God established a new kind of community—one held together not by armies or tribute, but by shared belief and promise. Students will consider what makes a society endure: power, prosperity, or faith.