Ancient/Medieval Jewish History

Ancient/Medieval Jewish History

Crash Course in Medieval Jewish History

From the Muslim-Arab conquests of the 7th century to the appearance of modern ideas in the 1,000 years later.

Sephardic Jews

The Sephardic Exodus to the Ottoman Empire

How Jews fleeing Spain and Portugal transformed the region.

Quizzes

Ancient and Medieval History Quiz

How much do you know about the main Jewish figures and events, from the Bible to the dawn of modernity?

False Messiahs in Judaism

Many have claimed to be the Jewish Messiah, and the results have often been disastrous.

Are Esther and Mordechai Buried in This Iranian Tomb?

The purported burial site of Purim's Persian queen was a pilgrimage site for Iran's Jews.

A Crash Course in Early Jewish History

From biblical times to the emergence of Rabbinic Judaism.

Maimonides (Rambam) and His Texts

One of the greatest Jewish scholars of all time, he was both a traditionalist and an innovator.

Jews and Finance

The idea that Jews are good with money is one of the oldest Jewish stereotypes. But it's undeniable that Jews are well-represented in finance and business.

Tale of Two Talmuds: Jerusalem and Babylonian

The two versions of the Talmud developed simultaneously in the two major Jewish communities of the rabbinic era.

12 Things To Know About the Temple in Jerusalem

On Tisha B’Av, Jews mourn the destruction of the Temple. But how much do you know about what it was really like?

Ritual Objects in the Jerusalem Temple

Menorah, altar, incense stand, showbread table, and more.

Jewish Ghettos of Pre-Emancipation Europe

In many cities, Jews were forced to live and work in specific areas.

Who Killed Jesus?

From the Gospels to Nostra Aetate, how Jews were accused of deicide.

Who Was Rabbi Akiva?

The second-century sage was the inspiration for many legends and may have died as a martyr.

Who Was Rashi?

The most widely read Jewish Bible commentator, he also wrote a running commentary to the Babylonian Talmud.