JudaismHistory_Ancient

About the Lesson

Grade Level: 6-12

Using archeology, texts, and current research, this free lesson explores ancient Israelite society in the context of ancient Mesopotamian and Egyptian civilizations. Focusing on the daily life, religion, and the law, students will be able to develop a fuller picture of the Israelites’ role in the ancient world and the development of Judaism as we know it today.

These lessons are ideal for teachers of Ancient Civilization, World History, and World Religions.

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to:

  • Understand ancient Israelite history from the Bronze age up through the early centuries of the Common Era
  • Understand life in ancient Israel – daily life, religion, laws, and worldview
  • Make connections between ancient Israel and other ancient cultures

Daily Life in Ancient Israel Learning Activity

In this interactive learning activity, students will examine daily life in an ancient Israel home. Learn about what homes in ancient Israel were made of, how ancient Israelites cooked meals, and more.

Students will use the accompanying PDF below to guide their exploration of the digital page on Thinglink.

Materials

Ancient Legal Parallels Exercise

One of the earliest and most well known set of laws was compiled by King Hammurabi—Hammurabi’s Code—in the 18th century BCE in Mesopotamia. While ancient Israel’s laws were compiled much later, probably in the 7th-6th century BCE, they were likely influenced by Hammurabi’s Code.

In this exercise, students will watch a short video and compare excerpts from Hammurabi’s Code with laws from the Hebrew Bible – Judaism’s sacred text.

Materials

Ancient Cosmologies Learning Activity

Cosmology is a term that refers to the study of the structure and origins of the universe. From ancient writings and artifacts, we’ve discovered that ancient people imagined a very different universe than we do today.

In this interactive learning activity on Thinglink and accompanying PDF, students will consider ways in which ancient Israelites and Egyptians understood the world in which they lived.

Materials

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