Fleming, Smith. 4 points. Survey of the importance of the Dead Sea Scrolls for the history of early Judaism and Christianity. Reading and discussion of English translations of the major texts. Attempts to place the Dead Sea sect in the perspective of contemporary Judaism. Surveys the history of the land of Israel with special attention to its inhabitants and other various cultures from prehistoric times to the modern state.
Archaeological evidence receives thorough attention.
Comprehensive survey of the history of Jewish communities in Eastern Europe from their inception until World War II, with emphasis on the Jews of Poland, Russia, and Romania. Economic, sociopolitical, and religious aspects of Eastern European Jewry. Topics include ideological foundations, the role of Herzl and the rise of political Zionism, the Balfour Declaration, early Jewish settlement, Zionism as a cultural entity for Diaspora Jewry, the Arab-Zionist encounter, modern Israeli society, and criticism of Zionism. Explores the similarities and differences between the two religions and considers both how they influenced each other and how they refuted and distanced each other. Lipton 4 points.