Course Description
01:506:271 Jewish History: Ancient and Medieval
- Academic Credits: 3
- SAS Core: HST
- Mode of Instruction: Lecture
Syllabus: pdf Spring 2022 (169 KB)
Syllabus Disclaimer: The information on this syllabus is subject to change. For up-to-date course information, please refer to the syllabus on your course site (Sakai, Canvas, etc.) on the first day of class.
- Cross-listed Course: 01:563:201 ; 01:685:208
Credit will not be given for both this course and the cross-listed courses.
Course Description
This course explores Jewish life from its earliest beginnings in the second millennium BCE through the expulsion of the Jews from Western Europe in the late Middle Ages. Tracing the evolution of one of the world’s oldest cultures in a global context, it examines how Jewish traditions developed in conversation with neighboring traditions; the diversity of Jewish societies, beliefs, and practices; and the influence of Judaism on Christianity, Islam, and the contemporary world. This course also introduces students to Jewish historiography, examining how scholars and communities have constructed the Jewish past and the ways these narratives shape Jewish identity.
