HIST 3308 - Ancient Israel

3 hours

Survey of the Hebrew people’s attempts at early state formation from their origins to the Persian period (ca. 3000 BCE–ca. 500 BCE). Major themes include early incarnations of Israel as a state bordering stronger powers, notions and problems of state formation in the tradition of “Western” thought, the interplay between Jewish monotheism and assimilation with neighboring polytheistic cultures, and how this interrelationship informed Jewish notions of leadership and community. Concentrates on primary sources and on the most influential modern scholarship on Hebrew culture, ancient Israel, and its neighbors; also explores the use of archaeology and other non-literary sources to address the basic issues of the course.

Course specific fees (in addition to tuition and mandatory):
Academic (AF) per hour: $11.10