The course is concerned with the political and cultural history of ancient Israel and the Hebrew people from origin stories set in the pre-monarchic period to early Roman Palestine. Israel is the land that bequeathed the Bible, the Jewish people, and hosted the birth of Christianity. Much of its history witnessed hostile interactions with imperial forces, from Babylon to Rome. While the focus is on key people, events, and essential chronology, the course also addresses critical questions concerning the use of sources (primary among which is the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament); differences between ancient history-writing and modern history-writing; and the assumptions and methods involved in reconstructing historical events.