Do Now

1
Do Now

• How could a group of people be politically
  unimportant but culturally important?

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The Hebrews
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Hebrew Religion JudaismHebrews Jews

• Founder Abraham
• Abraham lived in the Mesopotamian city of Ur and
  was a shepherd.
• According to the Torah, God told Abraham to move
  his people to Canaan (The Promised Land)
• Torah book containing the records and beliefs
  of Hebrews. (first five books of the Bible/Old
  Testament)

Ur
Canaan
Canaan
Ur
http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fertile_Crescent
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The Hebrews Religion - Judaism

• Monotheistic believed in 1 god.
• They called their god Yahweh and proclaimed he
  was the one and only God.
• God was not a physical being, so no images were
  to be made of him.
• God made covenants with his people.
• Covenant promise made between God and his
  people (typically God promises to protect and
  people promise to follow.)

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Moses

• Famine and drought led to the relocation of the
  Hebrews into Egypt.
• Over time, the Egyptians began to persecute and
  enslave the Hebrews.
• The Hebrews fled Egypt in an event called the
  Exodus. (1300-1200 B.C.)
• Their leader Moses

http//www.wga.hu/art/r/reni/1/moses.jpg
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After the Exodus

• Moses delivers the people from Egypt and its
  pharoah (Ramses II).
• Moses, according to Hebrew tradition, given the
  Ten Commandments.
• After the Jews wander in the desert for forty
  years, Moses dies and Joshua leads the Hebrews
  into the promised land.

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Hebrew History from the Exodus

• Jews organized into 12 tribes.
• Live in Canaan and frequently fight with
  neighbors over land.
• United from time to time under Judges.
• Become very powerful under 3 kings (Saul, David,
  Solomon). (1020-922 B.C.)
• Kingdom divides under Solomon (Israel to North,
  Judah (where both Judaism and Jew comes from) to
  South)

http//www.hyperhistory.com/online_n2/images_n2/ju
dah.gif
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Hebrew History from the Exodus (contd.)

• Israel is conquered by the Assyrians in 722.
• The Babylonians will conquer Judah nearly 140
  years later.
• Israelites are exiled.
• Exile period after Babylonian conquests where
  many Jews are forced to leave Jerusalem and to
  live in Babylon.
• Diaspora the scattering of the Jews after the
  Babylonian Captivity.

http//www.hyperhistory.com/online_n2/images_n2/ju
dah.gif
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Hebrew History (Contd.)
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Reflection

• What makes the Hebrews so important to world
  history?