THE EMERGENCE OF MONOTHEISM IN MESOPOTAMIA

Learning Target: How did Judaism impact world religion?

Do-Now:

Sit with your group and grab your learning target notebooks!

(Organized by group.) Answer the following questions:

Why were the Early River Valleys considered complex civilizations?

How can we learn about government and religion from historic artifacts?

Homework: Finish Judaism handout.

EARLY ARTIFACTS REFERENCING THE ISRAELITES

• Coin found in Mesopotamia, believed to be depicting Yahweh.

• Believed to date back to 1208 BCE, the Merneptah Stele emerging from ancient

Egypt, represents the earliest textual reference to the Israelites, referring to them as a

nomadic group.

JUDAISM

Directions: Answer the questions below based on the

reading.

• What surprised you?

• Compare Judaism with the religions of Egypt and

Mesopotamia (Animism).

• Why is Judaism considered to be a significant turning

point (change) in world religion?

• What changed, challenged, or confirmed what you

already knew?

TIMELINE OF JEWISH MIGRATIONS

• 586 B.C.: Babylonian armies captured Judea and destroyed the great temple and

forced many Israelites into exile in Babylon. During this period, known as Babylonian

Captivity, the Israelites became known as the Jews.

• Years later, Cyrus (Persian Empire) conquered Babylon and freed the Jews from

captivity. A smaller version of Solomon’s temple was rebuilt. Others continued to live

under Persian rule.

• According to the Book of Genesis, famine forced many Israelites to migrate to Egypt

where they were eventually enslaved.

• Moses led the Israelites in their exodus from Egypt to Canaan, the land they believed

god had promised them.

• Eventually, the Roman Empire took over Judea and attacked Jerusalem. The temple was

destroyed. These events led to the Jewish diaspora.

JudaismFounder: Abraham Place of Origin: Middle East

Sacred Texts • The Tanakh which includes the Torah; Jews believe

this is the word of God. (The five books in the Torah

are shared with the Christian bible, known as the

Old Testament.)

• The Talmud: book of Jewish lawMajor Beliefs and

Teachings• Belief in one god, Yahweh, who created everything.

• Moses is the chief of the prophets. (Prophet: person

who god speaks to.)

• Ten Commandments: code of ethics for Jews to live

by.

• God will reward the good and punish the bad.

• God will send a Messiah (savior) to them one day. Ultimate Goals Serve God by studying the Torah and living by its

teachings. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJbg_cXYFyM

THE ISRAELITES: NOMADIC PEOPLE

Directions: Answer the questions below based on

the text.

• Compare the Ten Commandments with

Hammurabi’s Code.

• Do any other religions follow the Ten

Commandments? Explain.

I. I am the Lord your God…You shall have no other gods besides me.

II. You shall not make for yourself a sculptured image.III. You shall not swear falsely by the name of the Lord your God.IV. Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.V. Honor your father and your mother…VI. You shall not murder.VII. You shall not commit adultery.VIII. You shall not steal.IX. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.X. You shall not covet…anything that is your neighbor’s.

JEWISH DIASPORA

Directions: Answer the questions below based on

the reading and your knowledge of social studies.

Use the quote for questions 3-5.

• What was the Jewish Diaspora?

• Describe the effects that the Diaspora had on the

Jewish people (their culture and religion).