Magda Teter-Professor of History Faculty Photo

Magda Teter

Professor
of History

Director of Jewish and Israel Studies Program

Wesleyan University

Allbritton 203

Middletown, CT 06459

Tel: 860.685.5356

Fax: 860.685.2078

mteter_at_wesleyan.edu

Office Hours: Wednesday 10:30-12, Thursday 9-11, or by appointment (please email for an appointment)


History Department

Home Full CV Jewish Studies at Wesleyan Early Modern Workshop
Jewish House Mahzor
HIST247: JEWISH HISTORY: From "Biblical Israel" to Diaspora Jews
 
The course will explore the history of Jews from biblical times to the eve of modernity, the transformations from "biblical Israelites" to "Jews". It will address stereotypes and presuppositions of Jewish life and history, including -- what the historian Salo W. Baron dubbed --  the "lachrymose concept of Jewish history" - Jewish history as history of suffering. The course will illuminate experience of Jews whose lives, and deaths, demonstrate that they were active actors, rather than just passive victims, of historical events. The readings will consist mostly of historical sources on Jewish culture, politics, economic activities, social and legal status, and the Jews' relations with non-Jews - Christians and Muslims. It is a lecture course, but student participation is expected.
 
*This course is a gateway course to Jewish and Israel Studies Certificate, Middle Eastern Studies Certificate*
*It counts as the pre-industrial requirement for History majors, and is counted toward the Medieval Studies Major.*

Course Requirements            Course Readings

SCHEDULE

1.  Mon. 09/06 Introduction

2.  Wed. 09/08 The Bible and the "Biblical Period"

  • D. Biale "Mediterranean Origins" in Cultures of the Jews
  • Bible: Genesis ch 1-28; Kings II ch. 8:7-ch. 10
  • Ronald Hendel, "Israel among the Nations: Biblical Culture in the Ancient Near East" in David Biale, Cultures of the Jews
  • Timeline
  • Additional optional readings on E-RESERVES: Philip Davies In Search of Ancient Israel; chapter 1-2, pp. 11-46;
  • 3.  Mon. 09/13 The Bible and Its Interpretations:

    FIRST PAPER ASSIGNED

    8. Wed. 09/29 Roman Legacy: Roman Church and Empire. 

    • Jacob Marcus Jew in the Medieval World: Section I ?State and the Jew? chapters 1-2; Section II ?Church and the Jew?, chapters 19-20;
    • Medieval Sourcebook: Justinian: Novella 146: On Jews
    • Oded Irshai, "Confronting A Christian Empire" in Biale, Cultures of the Jews
    • Additional reading: Peters Europe and the Middle Ages, 54-73.

    9.Mon. 10/04 EndNote/Library Resources Session, The class will take place in PAC 100 (off the lab in the connector between the PAC building and the Olin Library)

    10. Wed. 10/06 Church and the Jews I: The Church Fathers. 

    FIRST PAPER DRAFT DUE on WEDNESDAY 10/06 by 5 PM

    WEEK 6 [START READING FOR WED]: 

    11. Mon. 10/11 From Biblical Israel to Diaspora Jews: Jewish Settlements

    Jews under Islam:

    12. Wed.  10/13 Emergence of Islam and the Jews' Legal Status 

    • Mark Cohen Under Crescent and Cross chapters: Introduction, ch.  1, 2, 4;
    • the Qur'an Suras: 1-5, 17, 24, 26, 56, 63, 68, 75, 112, 114; 
    • Ben-Sasson History of the Jewish People, 403-406.
    • Additional reading: Peters, Europe and the Middle Ages, 93-104

    Mon. 10/18 NO CLASS FALL BREAK

    13. Wed. 10/20 Messianic, Sectarian" Movements, and the Consolidation of Rabbinic Judaism 

    14. Mon. 10/25 Jewish Culture and Intellectual Traditions  

    • Stillman: Part Two, ch.  2 pp.  171-189, 208-211-229; 233-246; 
    • Jacob Marcus Jew in the Medieval World chapters 57,58,59, 62, 63-I, 75;
    • Judaism in practice pp. 186-190;
    • Jewish Poetry
    • Additional Readings: Ben-Sasson History of the Jewish People, 421-432; 439-458.

    TAKE HOME MIDTERM EXAM AVAILABLE  Wed. 10/27, DUE FRIDAY 10/29 by 3 PM

    Jews under Christian Rule

    15. Wed. 10/27 Legal Status:  Protection and Vulnerability. 

    • Mark Cohen Under Crescent and Cross ch.3;
    • Jacob Marcus The Jew in the Medieval World ch. 7,8;
    • Robert Chazan Church, State and Jew, part II, chapter 5 "Local Charters," chapter 6 "General charters";
    • Optional: Peters, Europe and the Middle Ages, 196-211, 271-301.
    Back To Top

    16. Mon. 11/01 Church and the Jews II: Papal Attitudes. 

    17.   Wed. 11/03  The Crusades and the Aftermath 

    • Eidelberg, The Jews and the Crusaders, 21-72, 99-115, 117-133;
    • On E-RESERVES: Y. Yerushalmi Zakhor ch.2.
    • Optional: Peters, Europe and the Middle Ages, 225-229.
    • BY NOW YOU SHOULD HAVE DISCUSSED YOUR TEXT OF CHOICE WITH ME

    Back To Top

    18. Mon.  11/08 Jews and Christians: Mutual Knowledge and Attitudes:

    19. Wed. 11/10  Church and the Jews III: Friars, the Popes and the Jews ? New Anti-Judaism.

    THURSDAY, 11/11 DRAFTS OF FINAL PAPERS PAPERS DUE BY 4 PM 

    20. Mon. 11/15  Jews in Medieval Economy 

    21. Wed. 11/17 Age of Expulsions: France and England. 

    • Marcus Jew in the Medieval World ch.5;
    • Chazan Church, State and Jew, ch. 22: all documents except the last one.

    22.  Mon. 11/22 Medieval Jewish Community and Culture: Communal Organization and Rabbinic Culture. 

    Wed.  11/24 NO CLASS THANKSGIVING RECESS

    23. Mon.  11/29 Medieval Jewish Community and Culture III:  Jewish Family and Rituals

    24. Wed. 12/01 Between Ashkenaz and Sepharad: the Maimonidean Controversy

    • Marcus Jew in the Medieval World , ch. 39

     FINAL  PAPERS DUE.

    25.  Mon. 12/06 Rise and Decline of Iberian Jewry

    26. Wed. 12/08 From Biblical Israelites to Diaspora Jews: A Reassessment

    TAKE HOME FINAL EXAM POSTED on MOODLE on the FIRST DAY OF THE EXAM PERIOD.  DUE ON MOODLE ON THE DAY OF THE REGISTRAR'S SCHEDULED EXAM.