If the wire from battery to starter terminal didn't turn the engine over then you have a problem with power supply to or from the starter....
Make sure the battery terminals are secure.
Try the key...
Connect a jump lead from the negative battery terminal to a metal part of the engine.
Try the key..
Now with the jump lead still connected try the wire to the starter trick again.....
Hopefully you will have some form of life with one of these things.....
Let us know how you get on and what if any noises occur or if any thing else happens.