JUDAISM AND THE PERSIAN EMPIRE

1. EARLY HEBREWS

a. Writingsi. Much of what we know comes from their own

writingsii. Contained their history, law and requirements

for their religioniii. First 5 books form the Torah, the most sacred

text of Judaism

b. Founding Fathersi. Abraham

1. Lived in Ur and was told to leave by God2. God established a covenant with him3. Promised to lead him to the Promised Land and

make his descendents a mighty people

ii. Jacob1. Grandson of Abraham2. Had 12 sons and would form the twelve tribes

of Israel3. His name will be changed to Israel

iii. Moses1. Born an Israelite but raised in the pharaoh’s

palace2. Demanded the Israelites freedom3. Lead the people out of Egypt after the pharaoh

gave permission to leave

c. The Exodusi. It is a major eventii. Passoveriii. After the Exodus the Israelites will wander in

the wilderness for 40 yearsiv. 10 Commandments will be given during this

time to Moses on Mt. Sinai

d. The Promise Landi. Israel had to fight the people that lived there

to gain itii. Had a time of prophets and judges who were

believed to carry messages from God

e. Kings of Israeli. Saul

1. Israel’s 1st king2. Chosen for his military leadership3. Described as jealous and a troubled ruler

ii. David1. Israel’s 2nd king2. Well loved and united the people3. Strong king and military leader4. Gifted poet and musician5. Capital was Jerusalem

iii. Solomon1. Son of David2. Israel’s 3rd king3. Israel reached its height under him4. Praised for his wisdom5. Built a magnificent temple in Jerusalem

f. Division and Conquesti. Divided Kingdom

1. Kingdom was split into 2 after Solomon’s death2. 10 tribes formed the Northern Kingdom called

Israel3. 2 tribes formed the Southern Kingdom called Judah

ii. Fall1. Israel fell to the Assyrians in 772 B.C.2. Judah fell to the Chaldeans in 586 B.C.

a. The temple of Jerusalem was destroyedb. Thousands of Jews were brought to Babylon as

slavesc. Period is known as the Babylonian Captivity and

lasted 50 yearsd. Marked the Diaspora

i. The scattering of the Jews outside of Judah

3. Persians will let the Jews return to Jerusalem and they will rebuild the temple

g. Teachings of Judaismi. Monotheism

1. Believed there is only one God2. This set them apart from the other people in the

region

ii. Justice and Righteousness1. Being just meant treating other people with

kindness and fairness2. Being righteous referred to doing what was

right and proper even if others do nota. This led to their creation of a strong code of ethicsb. Will be carried into Christianity

iii. Obedience to the law1. 10 Commandments

a. Most important laws

2. Mosaic Lawa. Governs how people prayb. When they worshipc. Dietary Law

i. What they could eat

iv. Sacred Text1. Most sacred was the Torah2. Talmud

a. Contains explanations and interpretations of the other sacred texts

2. PERSIAN EMPIRE

a. Persian Leaderi. Cyrus II

1. He united the Persians and the Medes2. He allowed conquered people to retain their own

customs3. He freed the Jewish people and allowed them to

return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple4. Became known as Cyrus the Great

ii. Darius I1. Put down a rebellion during his first year as

king2. He reorganized and strengthened his army3. Created a permanent army

a. He paid themb. The Ten Thousand Immortals

i. Group within the army that served as the king’s bodyguards

4. Surrounded the kingship with ritual and ceremony

5. Called himself either the Great King or the King of Kings

6. Used Satraps (governors) to help him rule his vast empire

7. Strengthened the economy8. Built roads throughout the empire to help

trade9. Many believed that the high point of Persian

culture was reached under him

iii. Xerxes1. Son of Darius2. Tried to invade Greece and failed3. Last strong ruler of ancient Persia

b. Religioni. Zoroastrianism

1. Taught that the world had been created by a god named Ahura Mazda

2. Taught Dualisma. The belief that the world is controlled by two

opposing forces, good and evil3. Believed people had freewill4. Teachings on how people should live are recorded

in the Avesta

c. Persian Achievementsi. Network of roads

1. They linked all parts of the empire2. Longest road was the Royal road which stretched

more than 1500 miles

ii. Art and Architecture1. Best example is the city of Persepolis2. Used animals in their art work