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2

The Ancient Near

East: Peoples and

Empires

CHAPTER OUTLINE AND

FOCUS QUESTIONS

On the Fringes of Civilization

Q What is the significance of the Indo-European-

speaking peoples?

The Hebrews: “The Children of Israel”

Q To what extent did the Israelites establish a united

state, and what became of it? In what ways was the

Jewish faith unique in the ancient Near East, and

how did it evolve over time? Who were the

neighbors of the Israelites, and what was their

significance?

The Assyrian Empire

Q What methods and institutions did the Assyrians

use to amass and maintain their empire?

The Persian Empire

Q What methods and institutions did the Persians

use to amass and maintain their empire, and how

did these methods and institutions differ from

those of the Assyrians?

CRITICAL THINKING

Q What is the relationship between the political

history of the Israelites and the evolution of

their religious beliefs?

CONNECTIONS TO TODAY

Q What similarities and differences do you see

between ancient Israel and the contemporary

state of Israel?

The judgment of Solomon as painted by Raphael in the sixteenth century

Stanza della Segnatura, Vatican Palace, Vatican State//Scala/Art Resource, NY

AROUND 970B.C.E., Solomon came to the throne

of Israel, a small state in western Asia. He was

lacking in military prowess but excelled in many

other ways. Through trade and a series of foreign

alliances, he created a strong, flourishing state. But

he was especially famed for his skill as a judge.

When two women came before him, each claiming

that the same infant was her natural child, Solomon

ordered his servant to cut the child in half and give

half to each woman. The first woman objected:

“Please, my lord, give her the living baby! Don’t kill

him!” The second woman replied, “Neither I nor you

shall have him. Cut him in two!” Then Solomon

27

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