Scribes, Seers, and Sages: The Cultures of Early Judaism
RELI 374
Spring 2011 not offered
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| Certificates: Jewish and Israel Studies |
This seminar will trace the roots of Jewish society in the Mediterranean during the first thousand years of Jewish history. These Jewish communities produced a variety of literatures, including the Dead Sea Scrolls, apocalyptic and apocryphal texts, Greco-Jewish philosophy, drama, and poetry, as well as the classics of the Rabbinic tradition. By investigating this literature along with ancient archives, inscriptions, and Jewish art and architecture, this course demonstrates the richness and diversity of the Jewish experience and explores the institutions and experiences that bound Jews scattered throughout the Mediterranean together as a collective. Special attention will be paid to the formation of Jewish identity in the context of imperial cultures, the efflorescence of Jewish literary and cultural expression in the Hellenistic Diaspora, the boundaries of Jewish sectarianism, the birth of the ancient synagogue, and the evolution of Rabbinic Judaism. |
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Essential Capabilities:
Intercultural Literacy, Interpretation
Students will be exposed to a variety of ancient texts from Jewish, Christian and Pagan traditions and develop critical tools for interpreting them in their historical context.
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
HA RELI |
| Course Format: Seminar | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: (RELI) |
Major Readings:
J. Charlesworth, OLD TESTAMENT PSEUDEPIGRAPHA (Anchor Bible)
G. Vermes, COMPLETE DEAD SEA SCROLLS IN ENGLISH (Penguin Classics)
P. Schafer THE HISTORY OF THE JEWS IN THE GRECO-ROMAN WORLD" (Rutledge)
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Examinations and Assignments:
One final exam, three short papers, and a 12-15 page research paper. |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
This course fulfills the "Thematic Approach" OR "Historical Traditions" requirement for the Religion department major. |
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