Ellie's+Research+Notes

 Research Summary


Source: Reich, Bernard. A Brief History of Israel, P.3-11. New York: Facts on Files, 2005 • First king was Saul – Bridged the period of loose tribal organization and formed a monarchy. • Second King was David – Warrior, successfully brought north and south together. • David turned Israel into a major military power. • David conquered mountain areas and neighboring areas. • David defeated the Philistines. • David formed network alliances. • Took control of West Jordan River. • Conquered Jerusalem. • Kingdom passed to son and successor Solomon. • King Solomon created treaties with neighboring territories. • Solomon created tranquility in Israel. • When Solomon died, north refused to recognize his son Rehoboam as new king. • Country divided into two territories: Israel (north) and Judah (south). • Israel prospered more because it had a larger population. • Israel lasted more that 200 years with 19 kings. • Judah lasted 400 years under kings with lineage to David. ===  === Picture Source Source: “Israelite” Early Civilizations, 1999, P.10. EBSCO History Reference Center. April 11, 2009. • Judah included the tribes Judah, Simeon, Benjamin, Aaronite Kohanim, Levites and Nethinim. • Israel had Reuben, Dan, Nahtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Ephraim, Both parts of Manasseh and some of Levites. • Jeroboam attempted to establish rival centers of warship to Jerusalem with lay priest. • This caused the north Levites to abandon Israel and join Judah. • Israel conquered by Assyrians and its people exiled. • Judah also conquered by Babylonians.

Source: “Judaism” Encyclopedia Britanica, 2009. Encyclopedia Britanica Online. April 12, 2009 • Assyrian King that conquered the Israelites was King Tiglath-Pilesar. • Drove the tribes Reuben Gad and Manasseh in Gilead out of the desert out posts of Jetur, Naphish and Nohad. • People of these tribes were exiled to the Harbor river system. • Captured territory of Naphtali and the city of Janoah in Ephraim. • Assyrian governor was place over the region of Naphtali. • Sargon II captured remainder of the Northern Kingdom. • Sargon II captured capital city Samaria. • 27,290 of the people from Samaria resettled with the Israelites in the Harbor. • Sargon took some captives to Assyrian capital Nineveh. • 597 BCE the Babylonian king Nebuchanezzer conquered Jerusalem. • Exiled 3,023 Jews to Babylon. • He also exiled many of the non-Jewish workers. • Conquered the southern kingdom in 586 BCE. • Destroyed the temple and left Jerusalem in ruins. • Although he conquered the Kingdom he Allowed Gedaliah to rule as a Jewish Governor. • Gedaliah was later assonated by members of the royal family (descendants of David) • Nebuchadnezzar exiled 745 more Jews to Babylon because of this.

Climate and Geographical Factors
Source: Reich, Bernard. A Brief History of Israel, P.3-11. New York: Facts on Files, 2005 • Between Nile and Euphrates river valleys • At first they didn’t re capture mountain areas of coastal areas. • Owned the land west of Jordan River • Created new towns. • Lots of different types of land. • Mountains, plains, desert, and fertile. • Mediterranean in west, Dead Sea in the east. • In south there are often flash floods. • Mostly a very dry climate. • In west coastal are the climate is more like the Mediterranean region. • Rocky and mountainous in southeast.

Socio-Political Structures
Source: “Judaism” Encyclopedia Britanica, 2009. Encyclopedia Britanica Online. April 12, 2009 • Went from loose tribal organization to a Monarchy. • Successfully brought the tribes together. • North and south became one kingdom. • Jerusalem became the capital city • United the 12 tribes. • Jerusalem = religious and political heart of Israel. • Solomon reinforced politically motivated marriage • Israel held 10 of the tribes after divide • Israel Capital was Samaria • Judah had two and part of another tribe. • Judah capital was Jerusalem

Source: Ernest Lussier. “Daily Life in Ancient Israel.” Catholic Culture, 2009. Accesed April 27, 2009 from the Ebsco History Reference Center. • Governed by religious convent including ten commandments • Kings had power as representatives of Yahweh (God). • When there was no king, the priests would lead. • Family Customs were similar to those of the Babylonians and Hurro-Semite. • Religion is same as modern day Judaism.

Transportation and Weaponry
Source: “Israelite” Early Civilizations, 1999, P.10. EBSCO History Reference Center. April 11, 2009. • Powerful army • Traveled mainly on foot. • Used donkeys, camels, and horses for heavy loads. • Horses/chariots were reserved wealthy. Mostly used for weaponry. • Solomon had a fleet of ships at Ezion-gerber port. • Used Brass and iron for weapons.

Source: James Moyer. “Weapons and Warfare” Exploring the Historical Books 2003, Accessed April 27 2009 from the Ebsco History Reference Center. • Three Types of weapons; short range, medium range and long range. • Short range was a thing used in hand-to-hand combat such as swords, daggers, and spears. • Medium range were thing that could be thrown at enemies that weren’t far away such as some lighter spears and Javelins. • Long range could be fired at enemies further away: sling (used to hurl stones) and the bow and arrow. • Armor included helmets, coats of mail, scale armor, breastplate for body and greaves to cover shins. • Foot soldier carried a shield for unprotected parts of the body. • Used Iron Chariots. Picture Source

Agriculture and The Economy
Source: Reich, Bernard. A Brief History of Israel, P.3-11. New York: Facts on Files, 2005 • Farmers and herders. • Established control over regional trade. • Solomon expanded foreign trade. • Domestic animals were sheep goats cattle and donkeys • Poultry and eggs came later. • Solomon promoted economic progress. • Solomon developed copper mining and metal smelting industries. • Alliances allowed for the import of gold, silver, ivory, woods ect.

Source: Ernest Lussier. “Daily Life in Ancient Israel.” Catholic Culture, 2009. Accesed April 27, 2009 from the Ebsco History Reference Center. • Brass and Iron were used for farm tools • Farmed grains, wine, olives (staple crop); lentils, chickpeas, cucumbers, melons, figs, dates and pomegranates. • Most Israelites were farmers. • Fishing along the Mediterranean and Sea of Galilee. Picture Source

Art, Literature and Music
Source: “Israelite” Early Civilizations, 1999, P.10. EBSCO History Reference Center. April 11, 2009. • Built royal palace and temple in Jerusalem. • Early Hebrew written in Hieroglyphics, picture writing and on clay tablets. • Twenty-two-letter alphabet, written from right to left, papyrus or parchment, reed pen. • Before laws/stories were written down they were passed by word of mouth, written down during exile (Torah). • Wrote down history and composed poetry. • Believed that Yahweh had no form so did not show him in are • Pictures and statues of people and animals. • Pottery vessels and oil lamps. • Wooden furniture • Wool and linen clothe. • Brass and Iron were used to make musical instruments • Solomon built first temple. • First temple had Cyprus and Cedar wood, gold and gem lined walls. Picture Source Source: Ernest Lussier. “Daily Life in Ancient Israel.” Catholic Culture, 2009. Accesed April 27, 2009 from the Ebsco History Reference Center. • Clothing made of Linen or wool. • Loincloth, tunic coming to the ankles and tight around the neck, mantle or outer garment for cold weather, nights on journeys and storms. • Upper class wore a sort of undershirt. • Women and men wore very similar clothing. • Crude shoes, pieces of hide drawn together with thongs or cord. • No right or left shoes. • Square cloth used as a veil to protect from the sun or wrapped as a turban. • Men had long hair a beards abhorred baldness. • Women had long hair and practiced artificial hair curling Picture Source