The Origins of Western Civilization
E N D
Presentation Transcript
Unit 4 The Beginnings of Western Civilization
Preface • The Hebrews appeared in SW Asia around 2000 years ago. • Eventually, they established the kingdom of Israel. • Their lives were controlled by their religion: Judaism. • Today Hebrews are called Jews. • Israel was destroyed and the Jews scattered throughout the world. • Through their culture and religion they maintain an identity as Jews.
The Mediterranean Import • Western Civilization originates over 2000 years ago in the eastern Mediterranean region. • The Greeks and Hebrews, along with the Christians later, developed most of the ideas and traditions of the Western Tradition.
Particular Contributions • Judaism is a monotheistic (one god) faith. • Judaism introduces personal and communal morality. (Right versus Wrong) • The Greeks introduced democracy. • Greek philosophers developed science and mathematics. • Greek art and literature is stilled highly respected and was copied by many cultures.
Hebrews & Judaism Chapter 8 The Early Hebrews
Introduction • The early Hebrews were nomadic, similar to hunter gatherers. • They were a wandering people. • They believe their history began with a search for a new home.
Herders Develop Judaism • Hebrews appear around 2000 BC. • They were herders. • Their culture influenced Western Civilization. • Early Hebrew history is based on archaeology and Hebrew scribes’ writings. • Judaism is the Hebrew religion. • Scribes’ accounts included history and laws. • These accounts became the Hebrew Bible. • The Christian Bible incorporates the Hebrew Bible.
Abraham • Abraham is the father of the Hebrews. • Hebrew history begins with Abraham. • God told Abraham to leave Mesopotamia. • He was to take his family west and create a new home. • God promised to lead Abraham to a new home (land) and make his descendants a mighty nation. (Promised Land)
Canaan • Abraham leaves Mesopotamia and settles in Canaan. • Canaan is on the Mediterranean Sea. • Canaan includes Jerusalem. • Canaan later becomes Palestine. • After many years some Hebrews leave and emigrate to Egypt. (Famine? Driven out?)
Hebrews in Egypt • Hebrews prospered in Egypt. • Their population grew large. • The Pharaoh feared a Hebrew take over. • His solution was to make all Hebrews slaves. • (Is this the first instance of slavery in Africa we have studied?)
Moses • In the 1200’s BC, God told Moses to lead the Hebrews out of Egypt. • Moses demanded that Pharaoh let the Hebrews go. • Pharaoh refused. • Soon after a series of plagues (disasters) struck Egypt. • Pharaoh then agreed to free the Hebrews.
The Exodus • Moses led the Hebrews out of Egypt. • The Hebrews saw their release from slavery as God’s protection and stewardship. • They believed God loved them and they were his chosen people. • The exodus is a symbol for all enslaved people.
Mt. Sinai • The Hebrews wandered for many years. • They reached Mt. Sinai. • Moses went up to the mountain top and God gave him the 10 Commandments. • These 10 rules are the basis of Western Morality. • They also forged Hebrew society.
The Ten Commandments • They required Hebrews to worship only God. • They had to value human life, self-control and justice. • They were required to value the family unit, honesty and marriage fidelity. • They were required to respect property rights, avoid envy and forbid lying. • Murder was forbidden. What is murder?
The Return to Canaan • After 40 years of wandering the Hebrews returned to Canaan. • Of course, Canaan had occupants. • The Hebrews attacked and conquered Canaan and settled. • They became known as the Israelites. • Initially the Israelites lived in small scattered villages without a central government. • Each village had a judge/leader who enforced the law and settled disputes.
The Philistines • In the mid 1000’s the Philistines invaded the Israelites territory. • The Israelites banned together under a single leader: Saul. • Saul became the first king of Israel. • Saul was a moderately successful general but a weak king. • He failed to unify all of the Israelites. • He faced much opposition to his rule.
King David • David had been a servant in Saul’s palace. • Saul grew unhappy with David and banished him. • David spent years in the desert. • There, he gathered support from local people. • Saul died and David became king. • David was a beloved king. • David defeated the Philistines and fought many successful wars against other Canaanite peoples. • David captured Jerusalem and made it the capital of Israel.
King Solomon • Around 965 BC, David’s son Solomon became king. • Solomon was a great king. • He expanded Israel and became allied with Egypt and Phoenicia. • Trade made Israel rich. • Solomon built a great temple in Jerusalem. • The temple became the administrative center and the symbol of Judaism.
Two Kingdoms • Around 930 BC Solomon died. • Civil war broke out over who should be king. • Israel split into two kingdoms: Israel and Judah. • Jews lived in Judah. • These two kingdoms lasted a few hundred years.
Both Kingdoms Conquered • Around 772 BC Assyria conquered Israel. • Later the Chaldeans conquered Judah. • Hebrew/Jewish people were scattered. • The scattering of the Jews outside of Canaan/Palestine is called a Diaspora.
Solomon’s Temple Destroyed • In 566 BC, the Chaldeans conquered Jerusalem and destroyed Solomon’s Temple. • Thousands of Jews were taken to Babylon to be slaves. • This era is called the Babylonian Captivity. • It lasted 50 years.
Persia Conquers Chaldea • Around 530 BC, the Persians conquer Chaldea and allow the Jews to return to Jerusalem. • However, many Jews chose not to go to Jerusalem. • Instead the travelled to other parts of the Persian Empire. • The Jews that returned to Jerusalem rebuilt Solomon’s Temple (2nd Temple). • The Jews were Persian subjects until Persia was conquered around 330 BC.
Maccabeus • Around 160 BC, Judas Maccabeus led a successful rebellion and the Jews ruled their own kingdom for 100 years. • But in 63 BC the Romans conquered the Jews.
The Jews under The Romans • They expanded the 2nd Temple. • Rabbis clarified Jewish teachings to make Judaism more understandable. • A school to teach Judaism opened in Jerusalem. • Nonetheless, many Jews did not want to be Roman subjects, but rather independent.
Hebrew Women • Women had few rights. • Men dominated government and society. • Women were to be obedient to fathers and husbands. • Women could not inherit property unless she was brother-less. • Some women were leaders like Queen Esther, Miriam (Moses’ sister), Ruth and Judge Deborah. • Women in the Bible are models for other women’s behavior.
Jewish Beliefs & Texts Chapter 8
Preface • Judaism requires that Jew be fair to everyone in their community. • Judaism unified Jews even as they existed as a Diaspora. • Jewish beliefs and practices were sometimes contrary to the beliefs of others and that sometimes caused conflict.
Religion is the Foundation • Jewish culture is based on Jewish religious beliefs. • Central values are God, obedience, education and justice.
Belief in God • Yahweh is God. • Judaism is monotheistic, believing in one god. • Jews believe they are the chosen people of God. • Jews believe they have a special relationship with God that began with Abraham and Moses.
Belief in Education • Jews value education. • They believe all Jews must be taught their faith. • Older boys received special attention in that they were educated in Judaism by professional teachers.
Belief in Justice • Justice in this case is defined as kindness and fairness in dealing with others, even strangers and criminals. • Jews are required to give aid to those in need like the poor, the sick and the orphaned. • Jews are expected to be fair in their business dealings.
Belief in Righteousness • Judaism requires Jews to behave properly even surrounded by those who do not. • Righteous behavior exceeds ritual and ceremony in importance.
Belief in Obedience and Law • Jews are to be obedient to the law. • Jews believe the laws were given by God. • The Ten Commandments are the most important laws. • Jews believe Moses recorded a system of laws Yahweh told him to obey. • These laws are called the Mosaic law.
Mosaic Law • Mosaic law governs Jewish daily life. • It governs prayer and holidays. • For example, Jews are forbidden to work on the Sabbath, the seventh day. • The Sabbath is the day of rest in honor of God resting on the seventh day after he created the world. • Jews designate Saturday as the Sabbath.
Dietary Laws • Mosaic law contains restrictions on what foods Jews may consume and how their food can be prepared. • Jews are forbidden to eat pork or shellfish. • Meat must be ceremonially slaughtered and appropriately prepared. • Acceptable foods are designated as being Kosher.
The Three Sects of Judaism • Orthodox Jews strictly adhere to Mosaic law. • Reformed Jews choose to follow only some of the laws of Judaism. • Conservative Jews fall between the Orthodox and the Reformed Jews with regard to adherence to Mosaic law.
Jewish Texts • The laws and principles of Judaism are contained in sacred texts and commentaries known as the Torah, The Hebrew Bible and the Commentaries (Talmud).
Torah • Most of Jewish law is contained in five books known as the Torah, the most sacred Judaic text. • Beyond laws, the Torah contains the history of the Jews up to the death of Moses.
Synagogue • A Jewish house of worship is a synagogue. • Every synagogue has at least one Torah. • Readings from the Torah are central to Judaic religious services. • People do not touch the Torah they use special pointers to mark their place as they read.
The Hebrew Bible • The Hebrew Bible (The Tanach) is comprised of the Torah (the first five books) and then eight books with the messages of the Prophets. • Prophets who are believed to receive messages from God that are to be taught to mankind. • The last part of the Tanach is a collection of 11 books. • These books contain poetry, songs, stories and lessons and history.
Book of Daniel • During the Babylonian Captivity the prophet Daniel displeased the Babylonian king. • The king placed Daniel in a den of lions and Daniel began to pray to God. • The lions did not attack Daniel. • Jews tell this story as an example of the power of faith.
Proverbs • These are brief statements of wisdom. • Many are attributed to Judaic leaders like Solomon. • “A good name should be chosen over great riches.” • Meaning it is better in the eyes of God to be seen as a good person rather than a wealthy one.
Book of Psalms • These are songs of praise to be raised in worship of Yahweh. • One of the most famous psalms is #23. • The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want…
Commentaries • Some Jewish laws are hard to understand. • Scholars have spent centuries writing commentaries to explain them. • The Talmud contains many of these commentaries. • The Talmud was written between 200 AD and 600 AD. • Many Jews consider the Talmud second only to the Tanach.
Dead Sea Scrolls • These writings by ancient Jews ere written 2,0000 years ago. • They were discovered in 1947. It took decades to uncover al the scrolls. • The scrolls contained prayers, letters, commentaries and Bible passages. • The scrolls shed light on the lives and beliefs of ancient Jews.
Judaism Influences Later Cultures • Judaism has affected the development of Western Civilization. • Christianity, the world’s largest religion, was founded by a Jew, Jesus and His teachings reflected His Jewish roots. • Judaism influenced Islam in that Muslims believe they, like Jews, are descendants of Abraham. • The Ten Commandments are the moral basis for Western Civilization. • People are to be honest and value the family and human life.
Judaism Over Time Chapter 8
Preface • Judaism united the Jewish people. • The conquest of Israel by the Romans put great stress on Jewish society. • In 60 AD Rome had ruled Israel for over 100 years. • Romans respected Romanitas, their culture, not Judaic culture. • This fact angered many Jews.
Revolt • Many Jews thought that if they could successfully rebel against Rome they could recreate the kingdom of Israel. • Zealots were the most rebellious of the Jews seeking rebellion. • They believed Jews were only obedient and responsible to God (themselves?) and certainly not Rome. • They refused to obey Roman officials. • Zealots urged Jews to rise up against Rome. • In 66 AD, the Jews revolted.
Defeat • The Jews lost. • The four year battle wrought great damage. • Jerusalem was laid waste (ruined). • The Second Temple was burned in 70 AD. • After that most Jews surrendered. • 1000 zealots took refuge in the mountain fortress Masada.
