Course Description
The Roman period was pivotal in the history of Judaism. From the long reign of the pro-Roman king Herod the Great, through three revolts that shook the empire to its foundations, to the rise of the rabbinic movement, this course explores the transformation of Judaism and the everyday lives of Jews.
Athena Title
Jews in the Roman Empire
Pre or Corequisite
One course in CLAS or RELI or HIST or INTL or POLS or ENGL or LING
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student Learning Outcomes
- At the end of the course, students will be able to recall and describe the main events in Jewish history, from Herod the Great through the fourth century CE.
- At the end of the course, students will be able to identify and contextualize the main written sources for Judaism in this period, including historiography, legal sources, and apocalyptic literature.
- At the end of the course, students will be able to use these sources to construct hypotheses and arguments about Jewish history, and to critique arguments in textbooks and other secondary material.
- At the end of the course, students will be able to deploy basic teamwork skills, including role assignments, documentation, and conflict resolution.
Topical Outline
- Herod the friendly king
- Jewish communities and the rise of Christianity
- The great revolt
- Babatha and the bar-Kochba revolt
- Messianic literature and Jewish culture
- The Mishnah and the rise of rabbinic Judaism
