This course explores the history and literature of Israelite religion and early Judaism, from circa 538 BCE to 200 CE, with a focus on the development of Judaism in the richly pluralistic context of the Greco-Roman world and its relationship to early Christianity. We will consider evidence of Jewish communities in Egypt, Syria, and Palestine through a range of archaeological remains and religious expressions, including Hebrew scriptures, historical accounts, philosophical treatises, apocalyptic visions, and ancient Jewish novels. The goal of the course is to learn to think critically about religion and origins, religious pluralism, and the encounter between polytheistic and monotheistic traditions, while also developing skills in historical analysis, textual interpretation, and writing. In addition, this course counts toward Bibliographic Research in Writing (BRW) requirements.
- Teacher: Daniel Kimmel