Introduction to Jewish History: From the Bible to Spanish Expulsion (3 cr)
Guadalupe González-Diéguez
JSTU-J 251 #15323 / HIST-H 251 #8820
TR 2:30-3:45
GenEd S&H, GenEd WC, CASE S&H, CASE GCC
This course introduces students to various aspects of Judaism from the Biblical Era to the Middle Ages. Key historical events to be studied include the origins of the ancient Israelites; the composition of the Hebrew Bible; the destruction of the Second Temple; the Jewish encounter with Hellenism; the rise of the Rabbis and Rabbinic Literature; symbiosis and conflict between Jews, Christians, and Muslims in Medieval Europe; and the Spanish Expulsion. As we work our way through these major stages of Jewish history, we also pay close attention to the formation of religious ideas and practices that characterize Jewish life in each period, such as monotheism, covenant, Torah, temple, liturgy, mysticism, and diaspora. Course readings incorporate a large selection of primary texts in translation alongside secondary literature from various introductory-level books. Assignments include exams and short research papers.
