Judaism
What is the holy book of Judaism and what is the Talmud?
The Torah; the Talmud is the written record of Jewish oral law with explanations and interpretations of that law.
How did the Ten Commandments originate and what are they?
When the Hebrews were in the Sinai Peninsula, Moses went to Mt. Sinai to pray.
The Bible says that he spoke with God
When Moses came down the mountain, he had two stone tablets, now known as the Ten Commandments
The Ten Commandments formed the basis for a new covenant between God and Hebrew people.
Describe the Nile River
Longest in the world, over 4000 miles
Begins on the equator at Lake Victoria
Flows almost due north
Discharges into the Mediterranean Sea
Floods annually, depositing silt
Flows south to north
Delta = triangular area of marshland formed by silt deposits
What did Egyptians build instead of temples and what where they used for?
Obelisks;
Usually built in pairs
Over 70 feet tall
Decorated with writings telling of great achievements
Ancient Egyptians believed if a person did not have their name written down somewhere before their death, then they would disappear.
Who is Abraham and where did he migrate?
God chose Abraham to be the “father” of the Hebrew people.
Abraham was a shepherd in the city of Ur in Mesopotamia
Around 1800 B.C., Abraham and his family moved to Canaan
How did Moses' death affect the Hebrews?
After the death of Moses, they returned to Canaan
They changed from a nomadic lifestyle to a settled society of farmers and city dwellers.
Describe the organization of Egyptian history
HINT: kingdoms and such
Archaic Period (3100 - 2660 B.C.E.)
Old Kingdom (2700 - 2200 B.C.E)
Period of weak pharaohs
Middle Kingdom (2050 - 1800 B.C.E.)
Ends with the Invasion (?) of the Hyksos
New Kingdom (1550 – 1070 B.C.E)
Era of Prosperity and Expansion
Describe Amenhotep and his life
He and his wife Nefertiti found new religion based on single God.
Aton- The sun disk god
Amenhotep changed his name to Akhenaten (meaning spirit of Aton)
Moves capital out of Thebes to show break from the past
PROBLEMS:
Neglects the state for implementing a new faith
Lose territory--- priests get angry
After death, Egypt returns to polytheism
Where did the Hebrews migrate to and how where they treated there?
Egypt; at first, the Hebrews were given a place of honor in Egyptian society, however, they were later forced into slavery
How did the Hebrews organize themselves after they arrived at Canaan?
They were organized in 12 tribes
In times of crisis, the tribes would unite to fight a common enemy.
Describe Egyptian social hierarchy
Pharaoh
Viziers and high priests
Royal overseers
District governors
Scribes
Artisans
Farmers and laborers
Describe the Old Kingdom in depth
GOVERNMENT:
Strong central authority in the Pharaoh
Theocracy: Pharaoh considered divine
Delegated many responsibilities to bureaucracy.
Vizier = chief minister who supervised day-to-day business & head of large bureaucracy
ACHIEVEMENTS:
Pyramids at Giza
Tombs for eternity
Pharaohs started building when they took the throne
Old Kingdom also called “Pyramid Age”
DECLINE:
Power Struggles * Crop Failures * $$ Pyramids
Who is Moses and what is his story?
At the time of Moses’ birth, the Egyptian pharaoh felt threatened by the number of Hebrews in Egypt.
The Pharaoh ordered that all Hebrew male babies be killed
Moses’ mother hid him on the banks of the Nile and he was found and raised by an Egyptian princess
How did Judaism come to be?
The Hebrews fought with the Philistines to gain more territory
Eventually only one of the 12 tribes was left - the Tribe of Judah
Hebrews came to be known as Jews and their religion Judaism
What were the natural protectors of ancient Egypt?
North: Mediterranean Sea
South: Cataracts on the Nile
East: The Eastern Desert
West: The Western Desert (Sahara)
Describe the Middle Kingdom in depth
Turbulent period to start – but becomes a Golden Age of wealth
Pharaoh becomes a “shepherd” of his people and feels responsible for their welfare.
Period of expansion
ACHIEVEMENTS:
Large drainage project creates new arable land
Built Canals & Irrigation Ditches
Army occupies Nubia to the south
Traders have more contact with other civilizations
DECLINE:
Traditional Account:
The Hyksos (“foreign people”)- a Semitic group from Palestine- invaded Egypt
Bronze Weapons & Horse Drawn Chariots
Hyksos rule Egypt for 110 years
Hyksos adopt Egyptian customs, beliefs, names
Egyptians gained the skills of the Hyksos and turned against them.
However . . .
New scientific discoveries suggest that the Hyksos were part of an immigrant community that rebelled against the pharaoh
What is the Exodus and who was the leader of it?
Between 1300 and 1200 B.C., the Hebrews fled Egypt.
They remember this event every year during the festival of Passover
The man who led the Hebrews out of slavery was Moses
Name the three kings of Israel and describe them.
King Saul:
Saul was chosen because of his military successes
He was most effective in preventing the Philistines (enemy civilization) from conquering them
While a good leader, he is portrayed largely as a tragic man in the Bible
King David:
King Saul was succeeded by his son-in-law, David
David was an extremely popular leader
He united the Hebrews
Established Jerusalem as the capital
Founded a dynasty
King Solomon:
King David was succeeded by his son, Solomon
Solomon was the most powerful of the three kings
The temple became the permanent home for the Ark of the Covenant (which contained Moses’ tablets)
The Temple included bronze pillars and a main hall richly decorated with brass and gold.
Who was the first pharaoh and what were his beliefs/accomplishments?
Menes;
Menes heads north to conquer lower Egypt.
Capital City: Memphis.
First Dynasty in Egyptian history
Concept of Divine Kingship Firmly Established
Practice of Taking Royal Servants to the Grave
Describe the New Kingdom in depth
New leader- Ahmose- drives out Hyksos
Strong pharaohs- Militaristic & Bureaucratic
Hatshepsut = female pharaoh who encouraged trade
Ramses II = most powerful
ACHIEVEMENTS:
Large, expanded empire (reaches Euphrates River)
More contact with other civilizations (trade)
First known peace treaty with Hittites
Builds up city of Thebes with obelisks and statues
DECLINE:
RAMSES:
Rules Egypt for 67 years
Believed to be the Biblical Pharaoh that tormented Moses
After his death in 1237 Egypt begins a decline
In 945 Libyans and Kushites take control of Nile Valley