Hi! Welcome to Jewish Studies 101: Intro to Jewish History. This course serves as both an introduction to Jewish Studies and an introduction to Jewish History. Jewish History is one part of Jewish Studies, and by completing this course, you will not only be able to begin to learn higher levels of Jewish History, but you will also be able to have a foundational understanding of Jewish Studies itself. A foundational understanding of Jewish Studies is essential to having an intelligent conversation about modern Middle-Eastern politics, or in developing an awareness of Jewish people/culture. Even more essentially, having a basic understanding of Jewish History is essential to having a legitimate understanding of Jewish Literature/Text. The Jewish Tradition is characterized as being 100% rooted in and sustained by the study of Jewish Text. Even if you are not interested in Jewish Literature, knowing the basics about Jewish History can still strength your Jewish Identity. It can teach you where you and your family have come from. If you are not Jewish, Jewish History can STILL be valuable, because Jewish History is very much intertwined with the history of Western Civilization. Now, because of Globalization, understanding Jewish History actually reveals that it is also very much intertwined with the history of all of humanity.