Chapter 25, Section 3

 The Middle East is the birthplace of three major religions. What are they?

Judaism

Christianity

Islam

 What were the main religious beliefs of the ancient Hebrews? (see p. 563)

God made a covenant with Moses.

Hebrews accepted God as ruler of Heaven and
Earth.

God made the Hebrews the chosen people.

 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.

 How did the Hebrews eventually come to be called Jews?

After Judea, the name given to their land.




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


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


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.

9 th period

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.


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.


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.


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.

2nd period

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.



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


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.

8 th perioddone

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.