Unit name | Religion and History of Ancient Israel |
---|---|
Unit code | THRS20219 |
Credit points | 20 |
Level of study | I/5 |
Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
Unit director | Dr. Lindsey Davidson |
Open unit status | Not open |
Pre-requisites |
None |
Co-requisites |
None |
School/department | Department of Religion and Theology |
Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
How did ancient Israelite religion develop into Judaism? What does the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament/Tanakh tell us about the historical and literary landscapes of ancient Israel and Judea?
The unit introduces the historical and literary context of the Hebrew Bible in the context of ancient Israel and Judea c.1000-100 BCE. Students will be introduced to the content and challenges of the Hebrew Bible in English translation, encountering its many genres: narrative, prophecy, poetry, history, law, and wisdom. The unit explores the history of ancient Israel and Judea and critical debates in modern biblical scholarship as a basis for understanding of the Hebrew Bible. Historical and literary context will provide an appreciation of the rich cultural heritage of the Bible as a profound witness to the complexity of human experience and articulations of the divine. This approach provides a strong foundation in the historical and literary study of the Bible, applicable to further studies in Judeo-Christian traditions.
This unit aims to provide an in-depth understanding of:
It also aims to develop:
Students will practise their oral presentation skills by giving a 10-minute individual or 15-minute group presentation.
On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1x two-hour lectures per week, and 1x one-hour seminar per week.
One 1000-word summative annotated bibliography (20%) [ILOs 1, 3].
One 3000-word summative word essay (80%) [ILOs 1–4].