THE HEBREWS AnnaClaire Bientz, Jessica Ngyuen, Angela Tran, Amelia Blake

YEARS / LOCATION 2000 BCE – 500 BCE Israel is located on the Western edge of the Assyrian Empire. Crossroads  links Anatolia, Egypt, Arabia and Mesopotamia.

RELIGION Beginnings of Judaism Hebrew Bible = the Old Testament Abraham  Issac  Jacob  Joseph Saul  David  Solomon Moses led Israelites out of slavery & received the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai. During the 40 years in the desert, they believe in one all-powerful god ( Yahweh ). After “ diaspora ”, Jews rebuilt the Temple and wrote the Deuteronomic Code. Beliefs / Customs  Rigid rules Couldn’t eat pork or shellfish Ritual baths – spiritual purity Sabbath

TERMS Hebrew Bible – this is what we know as the Old Testament; written in Semitic language; tells the story of the family of Abraham Apiru – derogatory term applied to outcasts, bandits, and other marginal groups; may have been a name for the Hebrew slaves in Egypt Moses  Ten Commandments  Mount Sinai Yahweh – the name of the one, all-powerful god that they worshipped Saul  David  Solomon First Temple – was built during Solomon’s rule to strengthen the gap between religious and secular authority Monotheism – belief in one god Diaspora – the scattering of the Jews after Israel was conquered

ECONOMICS Sailed around the Red Sea to get gold, ivory, jewels, sandalwood, and exotic animals There were very few natural resources Traded with Red Sea area, south Arabia (present day Yemen), Horn of Africa (present day Somalia) Census was issued to help with collecting taxes

IMPORTANT PEOPLE Israelites (Nomadic Pastoralists) settle down and lean toward an agricultural way of life Abraham travelled with herders. There was friction and hostility between the herders and the farmers. Abraham’s son Isaac and then his grandson Jacob became the leader of herders Jacob’s son Joseph was sold into slavery in Egypt, but soon became a high official in the Pharaoh’s court. Israelites eventually migrated into Egypt when there was a drought. Moses led the Israelites out of captivity – Ten Plagues Joshua (Moses’s successor) led them to the promised land, Canaan, destroyed Canaanite cities in the process. They split into twelve tribes (based on the descendants of Jacob and Joseph) Each was lead by one or more chiefs Saul, first king of Israel David, second king, musician, warrior, and politician Solomon, marked high point of monarchy; alliances and trade with near and distant lands-Red Sea area; built the First Temple, which became economically and politically powerful, place for sacrifice and tithes

INTELLECTUAL ENDEAVORS The temple priests were a powerful and wealthy class they would get a part of the annual harvest in return for sacrificing animals to Yahweh Hebrew Bible Texts were written by priests who controlled the temple in Jerusalem Built the Temple Drafted the Deuteronomic Code of law and conduct

TECHNOLOGY Cisterns carved into nonporous rock to hold rainwater Construction of leveled terraces on the slopes – they expanded the cultivatable area

SOCIETY People are referred to as Israelites They started as nomads settling in agricultural areas, sometimes traded, raided farms and villages, but eventually they settled down and developed a unified state. Jerusalem was valued because it was the center of all the religious and political happenings Also big on trade: gold, ivory, jewels, sandalwood and exotic animals The noble class was highest, then priests due to the fact religion was so important, then common people Lived with their extended families and eldest male was leader of the house They relied mostly on trade and agriculture Women provided vital goods/services to help the family so they were respected and had influence with husbands. They still couldn’t divorce, own property and could be put to death fi caught cheating on husband

POLITICS At first they had tribes who were loosely control by judges but eventually kings came into power They made the people pay taxes, ruled over pretty much every aspect of living (military, politics, religion) There was a large gap between the rich and the poor Their political structure was a monarchy