History of the Jews from the Ancients to the Middle Ages

The story of Judaism, its religion, culture and civilization, is shown in more than 240 illustrations. It is a history of the Jewish faith from the time of Abraham and the 12 tribes through the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem to the Diaspora and the Golden Age of Spain. It presents all the major festivals of the year, such as Yom Kippur, Purim, Hanukkah and Passover, plus the observances and traditions of the Shabbat. This beautifully illustrated book is an excellent introduction to the rich and influential story of the Jewish people. It contains a timeline from the ancient Hebrews of 2000BC through to the medieval period. The opening section covers the biblical account of how Abraham and his descendants formed nomads into 12 Israelite tribes with a belief in one God and a distinct moral code. The book describes the Exile to Babylon, the Dispersal and the Diaspora, the rise of Christianity, and Judaism's relationship with Islam. This in-depth account will be of special interest to anyone wanting to discover the history, philosophy and traditions of Judaism.