Essential Questions: How did the migrating Hebrews found a homeland? How did Judaism affect Hebrew culture?
I. The Origins of Judaism
A. The Hebrews
1. Ancestors of the modern Jews who lived in Canaan (present day Israel)
a. According to the Bible, the founder of the Hebrew people was Abraham
2. The Exodus
a. Because of drought and famine, descendants of Abraham left Canaan had went to Egypt
-When the Egyptians expelled the Hyksos in 1700 B.C., they enslaved the Hebrews
for 400 years
b. The Hebrews were led out of slavery by the great leader Moses
3. The Ten Commandments
a. As the Bible tells it, Moses received the Ten Commandments from God
-These commandments were the moral laws of the Hebrew god Yahweh
-When the Hebrews agreed to follow these laws, they entered into a covenant or
solemn agreement with god
b. Moses announced that Canaan was the land promised to his ancestors
and proceeded to lead his people there
-After wondering in the desert for many years, the Hebrews finally reached the
promised land (Canaan)
4. The Founding of Israel
a. Establishing a homeland in Canaan was difficult
-People known as Canaanites and Philistines resisted the
Hebrews and fought hard to keep their lands
B. The Development of Judaism
1. The Old Testament contains scriptures relating to Hebrew history, laws, poetry,
and religious instruction
2. Law and Ethics
a. The first five books of the Old Testament are known as the Torah
-It contains the Hebrew code of laws - which includes the Ten Commandments -
and reflected the belief that all people deserve to be treated
with kindness and respect
3. Religion
a. At first, the Hebrews worshiped Yahweh as their only god
-They believed Yahweh protected and provided for them
-Yahweh was divine and a god to fear
b. This relationship slowly changed
-The Hebrews came to believe that people had a choice between good and evil
-Yahweh held the people responsible for their choices
c. Because the Hebrew religion emphasizes ethics or proper conduct, it is often called
ethical monotheism.
-The Jewish system of ethics carried over into Christianity
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Middle East (The Rise of Islam)
Essential Question: What are the central beliefs of Islam? How did the spread of Islam transpire?
I. The Beginnings of Islam
A. Islam originated with the prophet Muhammad in the 620's A.D.
1. Muhammad was born in the city of Mecca in 570 A.D.
B. Two Important cities located on the Arabian Peninsula (see map)
1. Mecca was on a caravan route running north across the desert
a. Through trade, Arabs in the towns met and were influenced by people
from many different cultures
b. The merchants of Mecca were against Muhammad�s teachings
2. Medina or �City of the Prophet�
a. In 622 A.D., Muhammad and his followers left Mecca and
settled in the town of Medina (Hijrah)
b. After the move, Muhammad gained followers in greater numbers
C. Islam began to spread from Southwestern Asia west toward Africa and Europe (Spain)
II. The Faith of Islam
A. Islam is a corrected version of Judaism and Christianity
B. Islam is a monotheistic religion
C. Islam accepted earlier prophets and revelations
1. Moses, Abraham and Jesus
D. The holy book of Islam is the Quran or Koran
1. This was God�s word to Muhammad
a. The book includes rules and instructions for right living
-This is a sacred guide for all people
-The Koran was first written in Arabic
III. Religious Practices
A. Five Pillars of Faith
1. There is only one true God (Allah)
2. Prayers five times a day
3. Fasting during Ramadan
a. Teaches self discipline
4. Alms to the poor
a. Paying a tax to help others in need
5. Pilgrimage to the Mecca
IV. The Spread of Islam
A. Geography influenced the spread of Islam
1. The trade routes between Mecca and Medina
a. This despite deserts and mountains
2. In addition to Africa and Europe, Islam spread into the Fertile Crescent, Iran,
and Central Asia
a. A weak Persian Empire couldn�t prevent the spread of Islam
3. The Arabic language spread Islam because the Koran was written in Arabic