HIS208Y1

History of the Jewish People

This course explores the origins of the Jewish people, beginning with the Bible and ending in the 21st Century. We will follow the development of Jewish social and cultural life across the Muslim and Christian worlds and discuss how Jews adapted to the constraints and opportunities provided by the non-Jewish majority. We will also learn about key Jewish books and concepts, including the Talmud, Kabbalah (Jewish mysticism), Halakhah (Jewish law), and Jewish philosophy. Finally, we will investigate the Jewish movements that arose in response to the challenges of modernity and new ideologies.