“Jewish worlds from Cyrus the Great to Muhammad” 

The course explores the evolution of Jewish life in the Ancient Word starting from the Persian period throughout the Muslim conquest. It traces the development of Jewish communities in the Near East and the Mediterranean world, and deals with the political, social, economic, cultural and religious aspects of their relationship to their surrounding cultures. Special attention will be given to the following subjects: the rise of the Hasmonean kingdom; Jewish life in the Roman Empire; the definition of Judaism in view of the rise of Christianity in Late Antiquity and the passage to a monotheistic world with the advent of Islam. Assignments include weekly reading and discussions, as well as a conclusive paper in the end of the semester.