Part 2: The Religions of Palestine

An overview of religion in Palestine during the Bronze and Iron ages, followed by a summary of the Mesopotamian religions and Zoroastrianism. An account of the emergence of Judaism and early Jewish history, and examination of the historicity of Old Testament accounts.

The Ptolemaic and Seleucid empires striving for control of Judea, Samaria, and Phoenicia. The revolt of the Maccabees and the emergence of the Hasmonean dynasty. Fighting among various factions for control of Jerusalem. An account of Palestine under Roman rule, including the Palestinian resistance and the destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem. The story of the Bar Kokhba Revolt.

An account of the life and death of Jesus of Nazareth. The development of the Gospels and how they contextualized his life. The birth of the Jerusalem Church and the emergence of Christianity; the influence of Paul on both. An overview of Christology and the shaping of Christian doctrine.

A look at the legend of exile. The spread of Judaism through proselytism and conversion. A summary of the kingdom of Khazaria. An account of the persecution of Jews in Spain and Europe into the sixteenth century.

The origins of Mecca and its rise as a center of trade. An overview of the great powers surrounding Arabia. Muhammad’s origins and early life. Muhammad’s Revelation and the early growth of Islam. Muhammad and his followers move to Madina. An account of the battles of Islam. The end of the Prophet’s life. A summary of Muhammad’s legacy.

Events following the death of the Prophet. The Muslim conquest of Arabia. The fall of Rome and the spread of Islam. A summary of Islamic empires, including the Umayyad dynasty, the Abbasid caliphate, the Ayyubid dynasty, and the Mamluk Empire. A summary of the Crusades. An overview of the Mongols and their impact on the Islamic world.