History of the Jewish People
History 282, 282H; JWST 234, 234H

Fall Term 2003

Tues/Thurs: 12:00 - 12:50 p.m.
Francis Scott Key Hall 0106

 

Instructor:

Professor Bernard Cooperman bc40@umail.umd.edu; Taliaferro #2130; 301-405-4271.
Office hours: Tu/Thu 2:00 - 3:00 and by appointment

TAs:

Nicholas Schlosser (FSK #3125; nschlosser@yahoo.com; 301-441-3625)
Daniel Stotland (FSK #3119; dstot@hotmail.com; 301-765-0849)

Required Texts

The New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocrypha (New Revised Standard Version)

Barnavi, Eli. Historical Atlas of the Jewish People (New York: Schocken Press, 1992). This is an excellent reference tool not only for its maps but also for the running chronology it provides.

Shanks, Hershel, ed. Ancient Israel. From Abraham to the Roman Destruction of the Temple Revised and Expanded (New York: Prentice Hall, 1999).

Sperling, S. David. The Original Torah. The Political Intent of the Bible's Writers (New York: New York University Press, 1998)

Marcus, Jacob R. The Jew in the Medieval World (Cincinnati: Hebrew Union College Press, 1990)

A set of articles and primary sources needed for the last three weeks of the course will be available on-line. Check back to this syllabus for further information.

 

NOTE: Textbooks for the course are also available from the reserves desk on the main floor of McKeldin Library (next to circulation). To get the special call number for books on reserve, access the library catalogue using Internet Explorer (IE), click on McKeldin Course Reserves, and search under the instructor's name. Who said life was easy?

Recommended

One of each of the following books should be part of your permanent library and should be kept on your desk or on a bookshelf where they are handy. Buy the best ones you can. They will stand you in good stead for the rest of your life. Remember that careers are made by your command of language and broken by your lack of it. Give yourself all the help you can get.

A writing/style guide. This will guide you in researching, writing, and proof-reading your papers for the course. There are dozens of these guides on the market. Diana Hacker, A Pocket Style Manual, 3rd ed. (Bedford/St. Martin's, 2000) is a very good one. We have asked the bookstores to order Mary Lynn Rampolla, A Pocket Guide to Writing in History, 4th ed. (Beford/St. Martin's, 2004) for your convenience.

A dictionary. Preferably an etymological one that gives the roots of words. The "spell checker" that comes with many word processors is NOT a dictionary and is not sufficient. As a UMd student, you have on-line access to the Oxford English Dictionary through the database collection at the library.

A thesaurus. There are many available, including computerized ones which are especially handy when you are using a word processor. The thesaurus built into your word processor is probably not good enough.

A usage manual. This is a handy volume which combines features of dictionaires and style manuals with lots of other information you always wanted to know. A good usage manual will tell you which form of a word is preferable ("insubstantial" or "unsubstantial"), what the fine difference is between two, almost identical words ("intellectual" and "intelligent"), when a word is best avoided ("I worked relatively hard today" only begs the question: "relative to what?), and when to use a grammatical or syntactic form. My personal favorite is H. W. Fowler, Fowler’s Modern English Usage (Oxford, 1996), but the recent Penguin Dictionary of American English Usage and Style by Paul M. Lovinger (2002) has the advantage of focusing on American usage.

Course Calendar

Tues., Sept. 2 Introduction: Issues in Jewish History

The nature of historical research; specific problems of Jewish historiography

The Biblical Period

Thurs., Sept. 4 The Patriarchal Age. The Bible as an Historical Source

The social background of the Patriarchs; archaeology and the Bible; archives of Mari and Nuzi; Martin Noth and the "history of traditions"

Oxford Bible: Book of Genesis, chapters 11-50.

Shanks, Ancient Israel: Chapt. 1: McCarter/Hendel, "The Patriarchal Age", pp. 1–32.

Tues., Sept. 9 The Exodus, Conquest & the Formation of the People

The archaeological record and the tribes; differing accounts in Joshua and Judges 1; the indigenous population; the rule of the Judges; a shared historical mythology; kingship and the house of David c. 1000 BCE

Oxford Bible: Book of Joshua, chapters 1-12 and 23-24; Book of Judges, chapters 1 and 19-21.

Barnavi: pp. 4-11

Shanks, Ancient Israel: Chapt. 2: Sarna/Shanks, "Israel in Egypt", pp. 33-54. Pay special attention to pp. 38 and 46.

Thurs., Sept. 11 The Divided Monarchy

Two kingdoms; religion and politics in the North; King Hezekiah, religion in the South under the influence of Isaiah; Jehoiakim and Jeremiah; Zedekiah

Oxford Bible, 1Samuel chapters 8-12; 2Samuel chapters 1-7; 1Kings, chapter 11-12.

Barnavi: 14-25

Shanks, Ancient Israel: Chapt. 5: Horn/McCarter, "The Divided Monarchy", pp. 129-200.Pay special attention to pp. 129-131, 133-136, 143-147, 171-184, 188-190, 197-200.

Tues., Sept. 16 The Rise of Biblical Religion

Layers of biblical text; the biblical account of the development of the religion; the 'Josian reform' (622 BCE) and Deuteronomy; monotheism; covenant; law; prophecy; centralization of the cult; the devaluation of sacrifice

Oxford Bible, Deuteronomy, chapters 12 & 16; 2Kings, chapters 22-23; 2Chronicles, chapter 34.

David S. Sperling, The Original Torah. The Political Intent of the Bible's Writers (New York University Press, 2003). Reading Questions

Thurs., Sept. 18 Class lost because of storm.

Tues., Sept. 23 The Babylonian Exile and Return

The gradual transfer of population to the East; life in Babylonia; the nature of Judaism in the East; temples outside of Judea? Ezra; the Persian period

Oxford Bible, 2 Kings 24 & 25:7-21; Jeremiah, chapters 29:5-7, 39:1-10 and 52:1-6; Psalms 137; Daniel 6:11

Shanks, Ancient Israel: Chapt. 6: Purvis/Meyers, "Exile and Return", pp. 201–230. The entire chapter is only 28 pages long and should be read in its entirety. Pay special attention to pp. 205-225. Study Questions

ASSIGNMENT #1 DUE - Please submit two copies of the paper. Note that we will accept the paper without loss of grade up until the end of class on Thursday, Sept. 25.

The Hellenistic Period To the End of the Second Temple

Thurs., Sept. 25 The Spread of Hellenism in the East

Alexander the Great 356-323 BCE; Hellenism; changed importance of Judea; the debate among historians over the impact of Hellenism on Jewish culture (Bickerman; Tcherikower); Ecclesiastes; Ecclesiasticus (Ben-Sira); Book of Jubilees; Song of Songs; Passover Haggada

Barnavi: 34-35; 44-47

Shanks, Ancient Israel: Chapt. 7: Levine, "The Age of Hellenism", pp. 231-264.

Oxford Bible, Ecclesiasticus, or the Wisdom of Jesus, Son of Sirach, Prologue and chapter 1

 

Tues., Sept. 30 Mid-Term #1 Study Guide

Thurs., Oct. 2 The Hellenistic Diaspora and Judea to 70 C.E.

Hasmoneans: The Nature of their Rebellion and Rule

Barnavi: 36-41

Oxford Bible, The First Book of Maccabees and Daniel, chapters 8 and 11.

Martin S. Jaffee, Early Judaism, pp. 34-41. (available on-line)

Tues., Oct. 7 Sectarian Judaisms and Breakaway Communities.

Sadducees and Pharisees; The Essenes and the Social Message of Qumran; Early Christians; The emergence of "rabbinic Judaism" and its relation to Hellenism; Mythologies and realities of Roman conquest; Herod (37—4 BCE); building; pagans and Jews in Judea; attitudes of the Jews towards Rome; Julius Caesar and diaspora Jewry

Barnavi: 42-43; 48–55.

Reading: Martin S. Jaffee, Early Judaism: Chapter 4.

Oxford Bible, "Gospel According to Mark": New Testament, pp. 56-92; "The Acts of the Apostles": Chapter 28:17 to the end, and "The Letter of Paul to the Romans": Chapters 2-4.

Thurs., Oct. 9 Roman Domination and Jewish Rebellions

Class and other Tensions among the Jews; Causes of the Revolt; Titus and the Destruction of the Second Temple

Barnavi: 130-149

Shanks, Ancient Israel: Chapt. 8: Cohen/Satlow, "Roman Domination", pp. 265-298. Pay special attention to pp. 265-267, 269- 294, and 296-298. Study Questions

The Talmudic Era Through the 6th Century C.E.

Tues., Oct. 14 Talmudic Era

Historians' debate over periodization; tremendous restructuring of the faith and people; centrality of the land of Israel; patriarchate; rebellions under Trajan and Hadrian; Rabbi Akiva and other scholars; R. Judah the Prince and the Mishna; Amoraim; comparison of the two Talmuds; recent scholarship

Reading: Barnavi: 56-59; 62-67

Thurs., Oct. 16 Emergence of Rabbinic Judaism

Shift to a book-centered religion; Torah and halakha; role of the synagogue; martyrology; messianism and the emergence of Christianity

Reading: Martin S. Jaffee, Early Judaism: Chapter 6.

Tues., Oct. 21 Review

Thurs., Oct. 23 Second Mid-Term

The Medieval Period From the Spread of Islam to the 16th Century

Tues., Oct. 28 In the Christian World: Impact of Christianity in the West; the Shift to Charters; Inevitable Tensions; Blood libel; Crusades; Black Death; Host Desecration; Expulsions; Impact of Protestant Reformation; Burning of the Talmud and the Ghetto

Ben-Sasson, H.H. "The Status and Economic Structure of Jewish Communities 1096-1348" from A History of the Jewish People. (online through McKeldin's electronic reserves).

Barnavi: 68-71; 78-79; 94-95; 104-111; 118-119.

Marcus, #6: 31-37; #9: 49-55; #19-34: 113-194

Video: The Disputation. Available in Hornbake Library. Non-Print Media

Thurs., Oct. 30 (cont.)

Tues., Nov. 4 (cont.)

Thurs., Nov. 6 In the World of Islam.People of the Book; Dhimmi Status; Tax Laws and Changing Economic Function

Tues., Nov. 11 (cont.)

Thurs., Nov. 13 (cont.)

Barnavi: 74-77; 80-93

Marcus, #3: 14-21.

Norman A. Stillman, The Jews of Arab Lands: A History and Source Book, pp. 40-94.(Available on-line.)



Tues., Nov. 18 Self-Government and Religious Authority

Image of Self-rule; Exilarchs and Ge'onim; Karaism and the Challenge to Authority; Communal Organization in Christian Europe

Marcus, #38: 209-213; #47: 262-269.

ASSIGNMENT #2 DUE

Thurs., Nov. 20 Medieval Jewish Thought and Spirituality in Islamic & Christian Contexts

Halakha; Philosophy and Theology; Polemic; Saadia Gaon; Judah ha-Levi; Moses Maimonides; Poetry and Grammar; Biblical Interpretation; Kabbalah (Jewish Mysticism)

Tues., Nov. 25 (cont.)

Thurs., Nov. 27 (cont.)

Marcus, #39: 214-218; #52: 289-294; #57: 323-329; #59-63: 335-358; #74-75: 412-419.

Tues., Dec. 2 The End of the Medieval Era. Expulsions and their Impact.


Thurs., Dec. 4 Early Modern Jewries: Ottoman, Polish and Italian; Converso Patterns

Barnavi: 120-121; 130-149.

Map Quiz in class

Tues., Dec. 9 Messianic Movements

Stephen Sharot, Messianism, Mysticism, and Magic, chapter 7: "The Sabbatian Movement," pp. 86­114

Thurs., Dec. 11 Review

Wed., Dec. 17 Review in FSKey Rm. 0106. 2:00-3:00 pm.

Thurs., Dec. 18 Final Exam Jiminez 0105 3:00-5:00 pm.OR

Friday., Dec. 19 Final Exam 1:30-3:30

Class Requirements

  1. Attendance at all classes and discussion sections is mandatory.

  2. Lectures assume that you have already read the assigned readings for that day or week. Quizzes in section and class will be based, for the most part, on the assigned readings. You may be called upon in any lecture to discuss or outline the relevant reading. Enjoy.

  3. Quizzes will be given, in section, almost every week. There will also be at least one "surprise" quiz given in lecture. No make-up quizzes will be given to any students who arrive late or who do not attend the section in which a quiz is given. Only your top ten quiz grades will count.

  4. Assignment #1: a 3-5 page analysis of an issue in biblical religion based on S. David Sperling, The Original Torah. The exact assignment will be handed out in class. Your paper is due in class September 23. Please submit two copies.

  5. Assignment #2: a 4-5 page analysis of an important aspect of Jewish history and/or thought between the destruction of the Second Temple and the end of the seventeenth century. Your paper must be based on at least two scholarly articles or one scholarly book, but you are also asked to find at least one web site dealing with your subject and assess its usefulness for scholarly research. Special library sessions will be scheduled to introduce students to the various bibliographic tools available on campus. Your analysis should define a central issue, outline the position taken by the author(s) under review, describe the sources, and evaluate the argument. More detailed instructions will be handed out in class. Due in class, Thursday, November 13.

  6. Mid-Term Exams are based on the material in the lectures and readings. The first exam will cover material given Sept. 2-Sep. 23. The second exam will cover material given Sept. 30-Oct. 21. The final exam will consist of two parts: a set of questions like those on the mid-terms covering the material given from Oct. 28 to the end of term; and a set of cumulative questions which require review of the entire course. The cumulative questions on the final will be drawn in part from a set given to students for home study.

  7. The course grade will be constructed as follows:

  8. Professor Cooperman and the teaching assistants will have posted office hours for meetings with any student. If these office hours do not meet your schedule, please feel free to make an appointment for some other time.

 

Additional Resources

There are a number of videos in the library collection which are relevant to the topics covered in this course. You are urged to view these as a convenient method of putting the lectures into context. For example, the library owns a copy of the PBS series "Heritage: Civilization and the Jews." Four of the nine programs address the time period covered by this course. Students are urged to watch all four programs.

Program I - A People is Born (3500 B.C.E. - 6th century B.C.E.)

Program II - The Power of the Word (6th cent. B.C.E. - 2nd cent. C.E.)

Program III - The Shaping of Traditions (1st - 9th centuries C.E.)

Program IV - The Crucible of Europe (9th - 15th centuries C.E.)