MELC 507 A: From Israelites to Jews: the First Six Centuries BCE

Spring 2024
Meeting:
MW 3:30pm - 4:50pm / SAV 166
SLN:
17271
Section Type:
Lecture
Joint Sections:
MELC 307 A , JEW ST 317 A
Instructor:
Syllabus Description (from Canvas):

What happened to the Jews from the destruction of their first temple in 586 BCE to the destruction of their second temple in 70 CE? What can the archive from Elephantine, the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Jewish apocrypha, and the works of Josephus tell us about their transformation from Israelites to Jews? 

We'll follow the Judeans forward in time through the ancient texts they created. Along the way we'll discuss issues of identity formation, sociohistory, and textual studies. If you ever wanted an excuse to dive into the less-known Jewish texts of the late first millennium BCE, this course is for you!

Syllabus draft 3/22/24: SYLLABUS MELC 307 From Israelites to Jews.docx

No prerequisites. MW 3:30-4:50. 3 credits A&H.

This course meets as MELC 307 (undergraduate), JEW ST 317A (undergraduate), and MELC 507 (graduate). It is an elective for Comparative Religion.

Catalog Description:
Traces the Israelites, from the Babylonian destruction of the Jerusalemite Temple (586 BCE) to events following the destruction of the second Temple (first century CE). Focuses on primary historical and literary sources as well as archaeological and artistic evidence. No knowledge of Hebrew or the Bible required.
Credits:
3.0
Status:
Active
Last updated:
October 7, 2024 - 4:15 pm