1. Chapter 2 – Section 3: Day 3
The Israelites

2. The Israelites The Israelites
Main Idea: The Israelites had lasting influence through their religious beliefs rather than from military power.
The Israelites lived south of the Phoenicians and were a minor factor in politics.
The Israelites were monotheistic and their religion, Judaism, influenced Christianity and Islam.
Around 970 B.C., King Solomon established an empire in the land known today as Israel. The capital was Jerusalem.

3. The Israelites
After Solomon’s death in 930 B.C., the Israelite empire was divided:
The Kingdom of Israel was located in the north. The Assyrians conquered the ten northern tribes of the Kingdom of Israel in 721 B.C.
The Kingdom of Judah was to the south. The Chaldeans defeated the Assyrians and the two tribes of the Kingdom of Judah in 586 B.C.
The religion of the Jews was unique among religions of Egypt and western Asia. Despite being conquered by other states, the Jewish people would not accept the gods of their conquerors.