Origins  Abraham is considered the father of Judaism  Born around 1800 BCE in Ur in Babylonia  Began to believe in one god instead of the many gods worshipped throughout Mesopotamia *Monotheism!*

Origins  Abraham makes a covenant, or agreement, with God  If Abraham will obey his commands and leave his home and family, God will bless and protect him  Abraham has two children, his son Isaac becomes the first generation in the covenant, Isaac’s grandchildren found the 12 tribes of Israel  God tests Abraham’s devotion

The Covenant  The Hebrews believed they were God’s (Yahweh)chosen people because of the covenant with Abraham  Semi-nomadic lifestyle leads them to settle in Egypt  Enslaved in Egypt and are led out of slavery by Moses  The Exodus

The Search for a Promised Land  Lived in the Fertile Crescent  word Canaan refers to Ancient Palestine  Abraham led the people to Canaan and his descendents led the people to Egypt Canaan 1800 bc Egypt 1650 bc Exodus to Sinai Peninsula Canaan UR

The Ten Commandments  Moses receives the Torah from God  Includes the Ten Commandments  Ten Commandments become the basis for code of ethical behavior...if you will obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my own possession among all peoples; for all the earth is mine, and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation...

Sacred Texts  The Torah  First five books of the Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy) and the rest of the Tanakh  “Old Testament” to Christians  The Talmud  The “oral Torah,” which interprets the Torah

Important figures Prophets are God’s spokespeople Can be male or female, Jewish or non-Jewish Seen throughout the Torah Abraham covenant Moses Exodus, 10 Commandments

Important Figures  Saul  First king of Israel  David  King of Israel, warrior and prophet  Solomon  David’s son, king of Israel  Makes Jerusalem the capital of Israel  Holy Temple on Mount Moriah (Solomon’s Temple)

Important People  David the humble shepherd who defeated Philistine warrior Goliath and later became a strong king Saul, David and Solomon united Hebrews under a new kingdom called Israel.

Important People cont.  Solomon made Jerusalem into an impressive capital  Most powerful In the Bible, Solomon prays to God for an understanding mind, which God grants him. Soon after, the story goes, two women and a baby boy were brought before him. Each woman claimed the baby was hers. After hearing their testimony, Solomon declared “Divide the living boy in two, then give half to one and half to the other. One said, “Please my lord, give her the living boy, certainly do not kill him.” However, the other woman accepted “It shall be neither mine nor yours, divide it” Solomon knew that the woman who would give up the child to save it was the real mother.

Kingdom of Israel  Around 920 BCE: Kingdom splits into Israel in North and Judah in South

End of the Kingdom 722 BCE Israel fell to Assyrians 600 BCE: Temple of Solomon destroyed 586 BCE Judah fell to Babylon King Nebuchadnezzar forced Hebrews into exile. During this time they became known as Jews.

© Students of History -

Polytheistic Incorporated gods of many cultures People show loyalty by honoring Roman gods and the emperor

© Students of History - Excused from worshipping Roman gods Excused from worshipping Roman gods Waiting for messiah (savior) Waiting for messiah (savior) Absorbed many Greek customs Absorbed many Greek customs Want a return to tradition & they revolt against Rome Want a return to tradition & they revolt against Rome

Saduccees - favored cooperation with Romans Saduccees - favored cooperation with Romans Pharisees - Non violent goal of free Judaea Pharisees - Non violent goal of free Judaea Essenes - Awaited the Messiah to save Israel from oppression Essenes - Awaited the Messiah to save Israel from oppression Zealots - Anti-Roman extremists – advocated overthrow of Roman rule Zealots - Anti-Roman extremists – advocated overthrow of Roman rule

Jew from Galilee, preached from about AD 30 – 33 Jew from Galilee, preached from about AD 30 – 33 Believed in Jewish roots Believed in Jewish roots Monotheism Monotheism Ten Commandments Ten Commandments Mosaic law – the Old Testament & Moses Mosaic law – the Old Testament & Moses

© Students of History - Preached a new message than had been heard before Said he was the Messiah and Son of God Salvation was available to all believers His Sermon on the Mount becomes the moral teaching of Christianity

Jewish leaders felt challenged Romans afraid he could lead rebellion Arrested and crucified Followers said he rose and ascended to heaven

Disciples spread teachings to other Jews The Apostle Paul converts, preaches to non-Jews & sets up new churches across the Roman Empire

Attractive to all classes Attractive to all classes Did not discriminate by sex or class Did not discriminate by sex or class Women could participate Women could participate Promise of salvation for all Promise of salvation for all

Organized with bishops leading each area Emperor Constantine converts in 312 The Edict of Milan issued by Constantine in 313 gave freedom of worship to Romans

Issued in 380 AD Made my Emperor Theodosius Made Christianity the state religion of the Roman Empire

The Formation of Protestant Churches in Europe

The Great Schism  Schism means split  Papal court moved to Avignon, France  Stays there 70 years  1378 pope moves back to Rome—no one likes him—so new pope elected- now there are 2 popes  Who do you recognize? Don’t know??  SO…. Elect a 3 rd pope!!  Finally, 1417, schism is fixed and single pope rules

Gregory XI Moves papacy back to Rome Urban VI Italian pope—seen as bad Clement VII Elected as rival pope

Corruption  Simony—paying for offices or positions in church  Indulgences—pardon for sins committed during person’s lifetime Church World:  Popes and priests worldly, lavish lifestyle  Many priest illiterate

Martin Luther: A Monk Gone Bad

95 Theses  List of arguments against indulgences writen by Martin Luther.  Luther posted list on church doors in Wittenberg, spread with aid of printing press  Argued Christians could only be saved through faith

Putting up the Dukes with Pope  Church tries to get Luther to recant (give up his views)  Luther refuses  Pope excommunicates Luther (throws him out of Church)  Luther burns Papal Bull  Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V, summons Luther to diet (court) at Worms A “bulla”

Putting up the Dukes with the Pope  Luther must defend his writings – so goes to Diet  Emperor orders him to recant Luther refuses  “I cannot and will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand.”

Luther Hides but his Ideas Spread  Luther branded outlaw  One of his supporters, a Prince, hides Luther at his castle  Luther is hailed a hero in Germany  His ideas spread to other parts of Europe

Such as Switzerland…Predestination  Another reformer believed salvation came through faith …….. JOHN CALVIN  BUT he argued that God alone decided who would get salvation—this is predestination

Creating a theocracy and model community  Builds community in Geneva, Switzerland  Set up theocracy – church run state  Community stressed hard work, discipline, thrift  Fines for swearing, laughing in church, and dancing

Meanwhile in England... Henry VIII

Desiring a Son  Originally an opponent of Reformation, even called “Defender of the Faith” by Pope  But when wife, Catherine of Aragon, niece of Holy Roman emperor, cannot give Henry a boy, he wants annulment

No Help from the Pope  Pope refuses, does not want to alienate Holy Roman emperor  SO Henry appoints new archbishop who annuls his marriage, and he marries Ann Boleyn

Creating his own Church  Breaks completely with the Catholic Church  Parliament passes Act of Supremacy, making Henry head of a new Church, the Church of England (or Anglican Church)  Takes over Catholic land and makes England a Protestant country