Ancient Middle East and Egypt

Section 5: Roots of Judaism

The Ancient Israelites Shape a Unique Belief System

The Israelites were monotheistic. They recorded history and laws in

the Torah and the Talmud.

According to the Torah, Abraham is the father of the Israelites.

He and his family migrated to Canaan about 2000 B.C.

Later, Moses led the Israelites from Egypt, where they had been

slaves.

David united the twelve tribes of Israel, and his son Solomon built

the capital of Jerusalem. In 722 B.C., the Assyrians conquered

Israel, and later the Babylonians captured the land of Judah.

Many Israelites were exiled to Babylon.

Judaism Teaches About Law and Morality

Israelite society was

patriarchal and ordered.

Jews followed the Ten

Commandments

handed down to Moses.

Prophets emerged who

urged people to follow a

code of ethics.

Beginning with the

Babylonian Captivity,

Jews spread out into

different parts of the

world in a migration

known as the Diaspora.

Ancient Middle East and Egypt

Comparisons of Three Monotheistic Religions