1. Judaism & Christianity
Chapter 25, Section 3

2. The Middle East is the birthplace of three major religions
The Middle East is the birthplace of three major religions. What are they?
Judaism
Christianity
Islam
Refer to textbook, starting on p. 563.

3. What were the main religious beliefs of the ancient Hebrews. (see p
God made a covenant with Moses.
Hebrews accepted God as ruler of Heaven and Earth.
God made the Hebrews the chosen people.

4. Where did the Hebrews initially live in the Middle East?
In about 1800 BC, they were driven from Canaan to Egypt.
They were enslaved in Egypt.
Moses led them out of Egypt to the Sinai Peninsula.
Later, they set up a small state in Canaan.
See p. 558

5. How did the Hebrews eventually come to be called Jews?
After Judea, the name given to their land.
Jewish religious and cultural beliefs still influence the world today.

6. In about what year did they form the Kingdom of Israel?
After the Hebrews emerged from the Sinai Peninsula, where did they migrate to?
The Fertile Crescent
In about what year did they form the Kingdom of Israel?
About 1025 BC.
Ancient Israel was located in Canaan between Egypt and what?
Mesopotamia
Fertile Crescent. In about 1025 BC, they formed the kingdom of Israel. Ancient Israel was located in Canaan, between Egypt and Mesopotamia.

7. As a result of its location between Egypt & Mesopotamia, Israel was often threatened by invaders. Who were Israel’s two greatest kings who fought off these invaders?
David and Solomon
David and Solomon

8. What are David and Solomon most known for?
David was a skilled general. He unified Israel and made it a power in the Middle East.
Solomon (David’s son) was noted for his wisdom, and his reign was marked by peace.
David was a skilled general. He unified Israel and made it a power in the Middle East. Solomon (David’s son) was noted for his wisdom, and his reign was marked by peace.

9. How did Solomon transform Jerusalem?
He built palaces and a great temple dedicated to God. The outer walls were made of stone, but the inner walls were made of wood covered with gold.
Built palaces and a great temple dedicated to God. Outer walls of stone, but inner walls made of wood covered with gold.
9th period

10. How did Solomon pay for his building projects and what happened as a result of it?
He taxed the people heavily. Discontent grew, and after Solomon’s death in 930 BC, revolts weakened the kingdom.
Foreign rulers conquered Israel and the Hebrews were forced into exile.
Taxed the people heavily. Discontent grew, and after Solomon’s death in 930 BC, revolts weakened the kingdom. Hebrews forced into exile.

11. What happened after the Persians conquered the Fertile Crescent in 500 BC?
They allowed the Hebrews to return to Israel, who were then ruled by one foreign peoples after another. After the Persians, then the Greeks and Romans.
Allowed the Hebrews to return to Israel. They were ruled by one foreign peoples after another. After Persians, then Greeks and Romans.

12. In 70 AD, the Jews revolted against Roman rule
In 70 AD, the Jews revolted against Roman rule. What happened as a result?
In a savage war, many Jews were killed. Romans forced the survivors out of Palestine.
Savage war, many Jews were killed. Romans forced the survivors out of Palestine.

13. What is the scattering of Jews throughout the world called?
The diaspora
It continued until the modern state of Israel was created in 1948.
The existence of Israel continues to be a point of serious conflict in the Middle East.
2nd period

14. What were some of the major teachings of Judaism?
Monotheistic
Importance of law - Ten Commandments are religious and ethical laws. Like Hammurabi’s Code, the laws of the Torah outlined standards for everyday life.
Noted for its ethical world view - that people and rulers should lead moral lives.
What was (is) the name of their sacred book?
The Torah
Monotheistic. Torah. Importance of law - Ten Commandments are religious and ethical laws. Like Hammurabi’s Code, the laws of the Torah outlined standards for everyday life. (slavery as an example)
Noted for its ethical world view - that people and rulers should lead moral lives.

15. Who were the Jewish religious teachers, and what did they preach?
Prophets. Reminded Jews of their duties and warned of God’s anger and punishment if they strayed. Insisted rulers must obey God’s laws.
Judaism taught that individuals were responsible for their actions.
Prophets. Reminded Jews of their duties and warned of God’s anger and punishment if they strayed. Insisted rulers must obey God’s laws.
Judaism taught that individuals were responsible for their actions.
Influenced by Zoroaster - had to choose between good and evil.

16. What were some of the key events surrounding the rise of Christianity?
Birth of Jesus during Roman rule. Born in Bethlehem, small town near Jerusalem.
Became a preacher when he was 30, teaching the poor about God’s goodness and mercy.
Prophets had predicted a messiah; Jesus was it. Some Jews believed, but others did not. Jesus taught respect for Roman law, but refused to accept emperor as God.
He upheld the Ten Commandments, but stressed love for God and compassion for other people.
Used parables to teach simple moral lessons.
Birth of Jesus during Roman rule. His life is recorded in the Gospels. Born in Bethlehem, small town near Jerusalem. He learned carpentry and studied with rabbis.
Became a preacher when he was 30, teaching the poor about God’s goodness and mercy.
Attracted many disciples.
Prophets had predicted a messiah; Jesus was it. Some Jews believed, but others did not. Saw Jesus as a troublemaker who opposed traditional laws.
Jesus taught respect for Roman law, but refused to accept emperor as God.
Jesus crucified in 33 AD,
He upheld the Ten Commandments, but stressed love for God and compassion for other people.
Used parables to teach simple moral lessons.

17. How did Christianity spread beyond the Middle East?
Jesus’ teachings collected in the New Testament.
Followers became known as Christians, from the Greek word Christos, meaning “anointed.”
Missionaries Peter and Paul spread Jesus’ word around the Roman world.

18. How did the Romans persecute Christians and what was the result of these persecutions?
Romans were suspicious of Christians because they refused to worship Roman gods.
Thousands of Christians became martyrs (people who suffer or die for their beliefs).
Persecutions caused Christianity to grow, not collapse.
In 313 AD, Roman emperor Constantine converted to Christianity. By 395 AD, Christianity was the official religion of the Roman empire.

19. How was the Christian Church formalized over time?
At first, the highest Church officials were bishops.
Eventually, the bishop of Rome took on the title of pope and became the head of the Church.

20. How did the Church split between the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church?
Roman Empire was divided in 395 AD and eastern half became the Byzantine Empire.
Byzantine emperor refused to recognize the pope in Rome.
This caused the split, with the Eastern Orthodox Church centered in Constantinople.
In 1965, Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras I of Constantinople lifted mutual excommunications dating from the eleventh century, and in 1995, Pope John Paul II and Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople concelebrated the Eucharist together. John Paul II, the first Slavic pope, made the reconciliation of Eastern and Western Christendom a special theme of his pontificate.
8th period-done