Religious History

Birth of Abraham

1813 BCE

Abraham is considered by Jewish people as the first patriarch of the Jewish religion, although he plays an important role in all 3 major monotheistic religions. Despite growing up in a monotheistic age, Abraham recognized that there is only one god and listened to his calling even through this was a radical idea at the time.

Birth of Moses

1393 BCE

Moses is born when Jews are enslaved by the Egyptians, during a period it is demanded by the Pharaoh that all male Hebrew infants are to be killed at birth. In an attempt to save him, his mother floats him down the Nile River in a basket. The Pharaoh's daughter finds him crying in the river, takes pity on him, and adopts him. Therefore Moses is raised as an Egyptian Prince. Three incidents are recorded in the Torah prior to his appointment as a prophet, all exhibiting his commitment to justice.

Moses Sees the Burning Bush

1314 BCE

Moses flees Egypt to Midian after killing an Egyptian man for beating a Hebrew slave. One day, working as a shepherd, he sees a bush burning but not consumed by the fire. He approaches the bush and finds that the fire is an angel from God, sent to tell him he must return to Egypt and free his people.

Moses Receives the Ten Commandments

1280 BCE

Months after Exodus, Moses climbs Mount Sinai and receives the Ten Commandments from God. The Ten Commandments are written on two stone tablets given to Moses and are the foundational principles that governed the Israelites lives.

Exodus from Egypt

1280 BCE

After seeing the burning bush, Moses eventually returns to Egypt to free his people. He competes with the Egyptian priests to try and prove his God superior, but the Pharaoh remains unmoved. A series of ten plagues destroy the land, believed to be sent by God, and the Jews escape. However, the Egyptian army chases them, and Moses parts the Red Sea to allow the Jews to escape before closing it on the Egyptian army. The Exodus is celebrated during Passover.

Rule of King Saul

Period: 1030 BCE to 1010 BCE

Saul was the first king in what is now called "The Hebrew Monarchy." The Hebrew people had long help land in what they considered Israel, but previously they were loosely ruled. The rule of Saul united Hebrew tribes into one state, though history shows he acted mainly as a military leader, not as a monarch. No one is sure when Saul became king so accounts vary on how long he ruled- some believe it was only 2 years. Eventually, he disobeyed Yahweh repeatedly, leading him being replaced by David.

Rule of King David

Period: 1010 BCE to 970 BCE

It is said David had been chosen before Saul killed himself as king due to Saul's disobedience. King David was a brilliant military leader and led to the Hebrews defeating the Philistines and building the Hebrew empire. He also succeeded in uniting Israel into a single monarchy. Although Saul had established Jerusalem as the capital city, David built the infrastructure to solidify this. However, many Hebrews were unhappy with the taxes and labor required to build up Jerusalem.

Rule of King Soloman

Period: 967 BCE to 931 BCE

When King David died, his son Solomon became King. His style of rule was more similar to Kings of the Middle East than his successors, and he built large castles and built Jerusalem into a wealthy city. Perhaps most famously, King Solomon built the Holy Temple, also called the First Temple. The temple took seven years to complete and in order to do so, Solomon imposed forced labor on his subjects. Due to this forced labor and other oppression, once Soloman died a group of Hebrew tribes revolted.

Completion of the First Temple

950 BCE

Around 950, the First Temple, also called the Holy Temple, was completed in Jerusalem under the rule of King Solomon. Solomon's father, King David, had wanted to build a temple but had been forbidden to do so due to the battles he had fought. The Temple was incredibly costly to build and Solomon imposed forced labor on his subjects in order to construct it. When completed, the Temple held two slabs of the Ten Commandments within the Ark of the Covenant.

Split of Israel

931 BCE

After the death of King Solomon, ten northern Hebrew tribes refused to be ruled by his son Rehoboam and seceded from the south. This split Israel into two kingdoms: the Northern Kingdom, called Israel, and the Southern Kingdom, called Judah or Judea. The capital of Judah remained Jerusalem and Israel declared Samaria as a new capital.

Assyrians Conquer Israel

722 BCE

The Assyrian Empire conquered the northern Kingdom of Israel and exiled ten Hebrew tribes, many of whom went South to Jerusalem. These tribes merged with other people and because of historical inability to trace exactly where they went, they are called "the ten lost tribes of Israel."

Babylonians take Judea and Destroy First Temple

586 BCE

The Babylonians conquered the Southern Kingdom of Judea, torching the Kingdom, exiling the Jews to Babylonia, and destroying the First Temple. The Ark of the Covenant stored in the Temple was lost in the process and its whereabouts are still unknown.

Persian Empire Conquers Babylonian Empire

539 BCE

After becoming King of Persia in 560 BCE, Cyrus the Great began rapidly expanding the Persian Empire and in 539 conquered the Babylonian Empire. Once Cyrus took over, he allowed the Jews to go back to Israel. The strategic purpose for this was likely because he wanted to rebuild Jerusalem to make it a source of profit for Persia, but it also reinvigorated the Jews and encouraged them to rebuild the Holy Temple.

Holy Temple Rebuilt

520 BCE

Also called the Second Temple, the Jews returning from Babylon began construction on the Second Temple to replace the destroyed First Temple. It was built in the same location as the first but was much smaller than the original.

Alexander the Great Conquers Judea

332 BCE

Alexander the Great was the King of the Hellenistic Kingdom of Macedonia. He conquered the Persian Empire and in turn gained control of Judea.

Jerusalem Under Roman Rule

Period: 230 BCE to 400

During this time period, Jerusalem was under Roman rule, at first with limited authority over the region but evetually the Romans were completely in control over the citizens and geographical area.

Jewish Maccabean Revolt

166 BCE

As part of Alexander the Great's Empire, Israel was under the rule of the Seleucids, who were based in Syria. Under this rule, the Jews were prohibited from practicing Judaism and the Temple was defiled in order to impose a Hellenistic culture. Mattathias and his son Judah of the Maccabees led the Jews in revolt, repurifying the Temple and storming Jerusalem. These events are commemorated on Hannakah yaerly.

Jewish Autonomy Under the Macabees

147 BCE

After more victories against the Seleucids, autonomy was restored to Judea once again under the Maccabee dynasty (also called the Hasmonean family). This was a period similar to the rule of Solomon, with much of Israel politially consolidated and Jewish life flourishing.

Romans Invade Jerusalem

63 BCE

Roman troops led by Pompey take Jerusalem.

Herod Appointed King of Judea

37 BCE

Years after the Romans took Jerusalem they appointed Herod the Great as King. He was given utmost autonomy in Judea's affairs and imposed high taxes on the citizens of Judea, with all of the taxes going back to Rome.

Birth of Jesus

4

Jesus is born in Bethlehem, a city south of Jerusalem in Judea. To Christians, his birth is believed to be a fulfillment of the prophecies of the Old Testament, stating that a messiah would save the Jews from captivity.

Paul the Apostle Born

5

Paul the Apostle, also known as Saint Paul, is born as Saul of Tarsus. Paul is known by some as the second most important actor of Christianity after Jesus himself. Some consider him the founder of Christianity and responsible for the religion's distinction from Judaism.

Crucifixion of Jesus

30

Jesus began his ministry at the age of 30, performing miracles and preaching for three years before he went to Jerusalem. Nobody is sure why he went to Jerusalem, but many think it was to celebrate Passover, as he was Jewish. No matter the reason, he was seen as a threat to the already tense harmony of the Jewish people and the Romans, and so the Jewish court, the Sanhedrin, judged him guilty of blasphemy and sentenced him to death. They then brought him to the Romans who crucified him.

Resurrection of Jesus

30

On the Sunday after his crucifixtion it is said that some of his followers found Jesus' tomb empty, at which time he appeared and spoke to them. He appeared to many of his disiples after this before it was believed he was sent back to heaven. CHristians believe it was God who ressurected him.

Paul the Apostle Converts to Christianity

33

Until Paul the Apostle converted to a believer in Christ, he was a Pharisee- a kind Jew that focused on the importance of oral tradition. Surprisingly, for much of his life, Paul persecuted followers of Christ, despite leaders of the Pharisee sect generally defending the budding religion. It is thought this could have been because he felt that followers of Christ were not being true to Judaism. This was until on his way to Damascus, Paul said God revealed to him that Jesus was his son.

Paul Begins His Missions

42

Paul began his missions around 42 CE, traveling around Asia Minor, Greece and Rome. Much of his work involved converting non-Jews, know as gentiles, to following the teachings of Jesus as well as setting up churches. It is believed by many scholars that without Paul, Christianity would not have become distinct from Judaism at the rate it did. Paul's most obvious influence is in the New Testament, as his letters make up the most influential section after the Gospel.

Death of Paul

64

No one is sure exactly how or why Paul died, and there are conflicting stories. It is generally believed that while on a mission to Jerusalem he was arrested and put on trial in Rome. Some believed he was martyred by beheading, while others beleive he was executed some other way as part of the executions of Christians by Roman emporer Nero.

The Great Fire of Rome

64

In July of 64, under the Roman Emporor Nero's rule, two-thirds of Rome burned to the ground. The fire started the night of the 19th and continued for a total of 9 days, and many temples were burned to ruin along with the rest of the city. Some believe Nero himself started the fire in order to further his political agenda and so he could rebuild the city to his liking, although there is no evidence for this. Nonetheless, Nero blamed the fire on the Christians and executed many for the fire.

The Great Revolt against Rome

70

Ten years after King Herod's death, Judea was under the direct power of Rome. High taxes, suppression of Jewish practices and corrupt religious leaders led to a revolt beginning in 66 CE. One event led to another, cumulating in fed up Jews who revolted and took Jerusalem. The Romans surrounded the city and remained long enough for many inside to starve before storming the city, destroying the Second Temple in the process. It is estimated as many as a million Jews died in the Great Revolt.

The Second Jewish Revolt

135

Also called the Bar-Kokhba Revolt, tensions had long been rising before the Second Revolt. The newest Roman Emperor, Hadrian, had promised the Jews they would be allowed to rebuild the Holy Temple and were allowed to return to Jerusalem. He went back on his promise on a temple and began deporting Jews to North Africa. This and other tension continued with the Romans, and after planning secretly, the Jews revolted. Both sides suffered huge casualities, but Rome won, leading to Jews being exiled.

Jerusalem Rebuilt as Roman City

136

Roman Emperor Hadrian renames Jerusalem "Aelia Capatolina" and rebuilds it as a Roman city. This includes building a pagan temple on the former site of the Holy Temple. Hadrian also banned Jews from dwelling there and renamed Judea "Palaestina" to attempt to quell Jewish identification with the country.

Roman Church Declares Official Gospels

180

By 180 AD, the Roman Church declares that Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John were the only official Gospels.

Mishnah Compiled

200

The Mishnah, the collection of teachings, phrases, and ideas of early Rabbis, was compiled and edited under the leadership of Judah the Prince. The Mishnah is considered to be the first major oral Jewish tradition in that was written down.

Jews Allowed to Become Roman Citizens

212

Roman Emperor Caracalla allowed free Jews living in the Empire to become full Roman Citizens in 212.

Jews Begin to Regain Rights

222

Under the rule of Roman Emperor Alexander Severus, Jews began to regain rights and were given permission to visit Jerusalem.

Edict of Milan

313

The Edict of Milan officially establishes Christian rights within the Roman Empire, allowing the establishment of Christian churches as well as demanding the return of any confiscated property to Christians. It was enacted as an agreement between Roman Emperors Constantine I and Licinius.

First Council of Nicea Convenes

325

The Council of Nicea is convened by the Emperor of the Western Roman Empire, Constantine, in present-day Turkey. The Council convened in an attempt to settle disputes over Christian theology - specifically if Christ was a human being or a fully divine being created by God. It was decided that Christ was both fully human and fully divine and that there was equality among Christ and God. This decision is called the Nicene Creed.

Talmud Compiled

368

The Jerusalem version of Talmud (compared to the Babylon version compiled in 426) was compiled in 368. The Talmud includes the Mishnah and is the central source of Jewish Religious Law and theology.

City of Alexandria Becomes Violent Towards Jews

415

In 415 the Bishop of Alexandria, St. Cyril, encourages violence against Jews in the city and many Greek people follow suit. This causes many Jews to flee and not return.

Romans Issue More Restrictions on Jews

439

In 439 the Romans barred any more Synagogues from being built. They also created a law outlawing Jews from holding important positions dealing with money, making the job market even tougher.

Birth of Muhammad

570

Born in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. He came from a good family and was known for being honest, kind and spiritual.

Muhammad Visited by Jibreel

610

Muhammad was on retreat meditating in a mountain cave near Mecca when he was visited by Jibreel, also called Gabriel. Jibreel informs Muhammad he is the prophet and tells him the first revelations from the Qu'ran. Throughout the rest of his life, Muhammad continued to receive revelations that were recorded and remebered and eventually came to form the Qu'ran.

Persians Capture Jerusalem

614

Persian General Romizanes takes over Jerusalem and allows Jews to run the city. However, in 617 the Persians take this back and forbid Jews from living within a three-mile radius of the city.

The Hijrah to Medina

622

After the revelation in the cave, Muhammad begins to preach what God, called Allah in Islam, revealed to him. The message that Allah is the only god appealed to many and Muhammad soon gained followers. Many in Mecca felt threatened by Muhammad and his followers and persecuted them, causing the Hijrah, or emigration, of Muhammad and his followers to Medina.

Return to Mecca

630

By 630, Muhammad had gained enough followers to return to Mecca and conquer the city. Most citizens peacefully adopt Islam and Muhammad leads the community and became generally accepted as the final prophet.

Death of Muhammad and Appointment of Abu Bakr

632

Muhammad dies after a prolonged sickness, after which his father-in-law and associate Abu Bakr is elected as his successor. Abu Bakr is called the first caliph, which comes from the Arabic word for successor. Abu Bakr takes fast action against communities wanting to break away from Islamic rule and essentially created a large unified Muslim state within two years.

Spread of Islam through Middle East

Period: 632 to 700

Islam spreads throughout the Middle East, beginning with the northern territories, modern-day Syria, Palestine, Lebanon, and Iraq. Later Islam spreads to Egypt, then Spain and India, and making its way through Africa, starting in the North. Much of this spread is done through military conquest, which is considered by many participants to be an act of liberation due to the oppressive nature of the empires before the conquest.

Death of Abu Bakr and Appointment of Umar

634

Abu Bakr died in 634 and Umar ibn al-Khattab is appointed as the second caliph. Umar ibn al-Khattab inherits the large united Muslim state and its army and uses this to spread Islam throughout the Middle East.

Jerusalem Under Islamic Rule

Period: 638 to 974

In 638, Caliph Umar conquers Jerusalem, allowing Jews to return to the city under Islam. The Umayyad Dynasty rules the city from 661-750, after which the Abbasid Dynasty took over.

Death of Umar and Appointment of Uthman

644

Umar died in and his successor was Uthman ibn Affan, considered the third caliph of Sunni Muslims. Uthman's leadership led to the standardization of the text of the Qua'ran.

Death of Uthman and Appointment of Ali

656

Uthman was killed after a mutiny of his troops, and Ali was nominated as his successor, leading to the first major civil war in Islam. Shia Muslims believe he is the rightful successor to Muhammad and is placed at the center of religious belief along with Muhammad and Allah. Sunni Muslims view him as the fourth caliph.

Death of Ali and End of Rule of Four Caliphs

660

Ali was assassinated in 660 while praying at a mosque. His death marked the end of the rule of the four caliphs, known by Sunni Muslims at the "righteous caliphs." Sunni Muslims believe that all four caliphs were righfully guided, where as Shi'a Muslims belive that Ali was the righful successor of Muhhammed and thus Ali gained martyrdom.

Conquest of Spain

711

Muslim troops defeat the tyrannical Visigoth ruler of Spain, Roderick. Later the Muslims conquered most of Spain and Portugal.

Islamic Spain

Period: 711 to 1492

After the conquest of 711, Islamic rule in Spain remained. This was considered a renaissance of sorts for not only Islam but also Judaism and Christianity, with flourishing arts and cultural scenes. Although those who practiced Judaism and Christianity had some restrictions on their religious practices and had to accept Islam as the ruling religion, the three religions managed to coexist.

The Great Schism of 1054

1054

Stemming from a culmination of political and theological issues, the Roman Church (or Western Church) from the Eastern Patriarchy (Western Church) excommunicated each other. Up to this point, there had been a "universal" church. These two churches are now called the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox church, and although now ties are more civil, the split has never been fully healed.

The First Crusade

1096

Stemming from the realization that the Muslim empires had the power to potentially overtake the Western and Eastern Christian world, the Christian church bonded together in an attempt to stop this as well as create Christian Kingdoms in the Holy Land. Multiple troops not lead by a single command attacked Jews, brutally massacring Jews and driving many to suicide who refused to convert. Many crusaders thought of these expeditions as a pilgrimage that would allow them direct entry to heaven.

Crusaders Siege Jerusalem

1099

After capturing the Syrian city of Antioch in 1098, the Crusaders began their journey towards Jerusalem, then occupied by the Egyptian Fatimid Caliphate. The crusaders camped around the city for over a week before the governor surrendered. The crusaders entered the city and slaughtered tens of thousands of Muslim and Jewish citizens.

Edessa Lost to Selijuk Army

1144

After the first Crusade, Jerusalem, Edessa, Antioch, and Tripoli all became Crusader states until around 1130, when Muslim empires began their holy war in retaliation against the Christians. Edessa was lost to the Muslim Seljuk army in 1144.

Second Crusade

1147

The capture of Edessa stunned European Christian leadership and caused them to call for a second crusade. In 1147 the Second Crusade began, led by King Louis VII of France and King Conrad III of Germany. In October, the Turks defeated King Conrad's troops in Dorylaeum, near modern-day Turkey. After this, the remainder of Conrad's troops joined King Louis' and attempted to attack Damascus. The leader of the Syrian city called on a Seljuk general for backup, and the Crusaders were defeated again.

Seljuks Capture Jerusalem

1187

After seizing Cairo and forcing the Crusaders to evacuate, the Seljuks set their sites on Jerusalem. In 1187 the Selijuk army easily defeated the Crusader Kingdom, taking back the city of Jerusalem along with large swaths of nearby land.

Third Crusade

1191

Outrage over the Seljuks capturing Jerusalem led to the Third Crusade, led by Emperor Frederick Barbarossa of Germany, King Philip II of France, and King Richard I of England. In September, King Richard's army defeated the Seljuks in Arsuf, marking the only real battle of the Crusade. This led to Jaffa being recaptured as a Crusaders city.

End of Crusades

1291

After years of smaller crusades aimed at combating anyone seen as a threat to Christian authorities, Acre, one of the only remaining crusader cities, fell to Muslim Mamluks. Many historians consider this the end of the crusades, although Christian authpories did attempt a few smaller scale crusades with less specific goals after 1291.

Ottoman Empire Founded

1299

A leader of Turkish tribes in Anatolia, Osman, founded the Ottoman Empire around 1299. A formal system of government was set up and the Empire expanded.

Constantinople Conquered

1453

In 1453, the Ottoman Empire conquered Constantinople, which was the capital of the Christian Byzantine Empire. This put an end to the already crumbling reign of the Byzantines. The Ottoman Empire renamed the city "Istanbul," which translated means "city of Islam" and made it the capital of the Ottoman Empire.

End of Islamic Spain

1492

The slow collapse of Muslim Spain ultimately ended in Muslims losing power in 1492. Much of this collapse came from the internal struggle and splits within Islam and differences in Islamic states, which led to different Islamic centers falling until the whole Empire collapsed, ending with Granada being conquered by Catholic monarchs.

Peak of the Ottoman Empire

Period: 1520 to 1566

Under the rule of a sultan called Suleiman the Magnificent, the empire expanded and reached its peak power and wealth. During this time, the Ottoman Empire included Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria, Egypt, Hungary, Macedonia, Romania, Jordan, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, some of the Arabian Penninsula and much of the North African coastal strip.

Ottoman Empire Fails to Conquer Vienna

1683

In 1683, the Ottoman Empire made their second and last attempt to conquer Vienna, which failed. This is considered to be the period when the Ottoman Empire's power began to decline, as this is when expansion lost momentum.

End of the Ottoman Empire

Nov 1, 1922

On November 1st, 1922 Turkey was officially declared a republic and the Ottoman Regime was abolished.