Chapter 2:Ancient Israel, Empires, and Zoroastrianism (Lecture Notes)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from the lecture notes on Israel, empires, and Zoroastrianism.

Solomon

970–930 BCE Israelite king famed for wisdom, justice (legend of judging the baby), and building projects including the Temple in Jerusalem.

Temple in Jerusalem

Solomon's temple; symbolic center of Jewish worship and the kingdom of Israel.

Hebrews / Children of Israel

Semitic-speaking people tracing origins to Abraham; their history and religion are recorded in the Hebrew Bible.

Abraham

Patriarch who migrated from Mesopotamia to Canaan and is identified as the founder of the Israelites’ lineage.

Canaan

Region in the Levant where the Hebrews settled before and during the early Israelite era.

Exodus

Biblical account of the Israelites’ departure from Egypt led by Moses.

Twelve Tribes

Organizational divisions of the Israelites—descendants of Jacob’s twelve sons.

United Kingdom of Israel

Biblical period when Israel was a single monarchy under Saul, David, and Solomon.

Saul

First king of Israel; ruled before David and faced conflicts with the Philistines.

David

Second king of Israel; reunited the Israelites and established control over Canaan, including Jerusalem.

Jerusalem

Capital city associated with the united kingdom and later the capital of Judah; site of the Temple.

Northern Kingdom of Israel

Israel after the split; comprised ten northern tribes with Samaria as its capital.

Samaria

Capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel; captured/destroyed by Assyrians in 722–721 BCE.

Judah

Southern kingdom after the split; comprised two tribes with Jerusalem as capital.

Philistines

Coastal peoples in Canaan who clashed with the Israelites and settled along the coast.

Phoenicians

Semitic-speaking traders along the Mediterranean coast; great seafarers and transmitters of writing.

Byblos

Phoenician city; major center for papyrus trade and a key Phoenician port.

Tyre

Phoenician coastal city; important trade and maritime power.

Sidon

Phoenician harbor city; part of Phoenician commercial network.

Alphabet (Phoenician)

Phoenician writing system of 22 signs that influenced later Greek and Latin alphabets.

Diaspora

Jewish scattering outside of Israel after the Babylonian exile.

Assyrian Empire

Powerful Near Eastern empire that destroyed Samaria (Israel) and dominated Mesopotamia and surrounding regions.

Nineveh

Assyrian capital; major center of power and administration.

Tiglath-Pileser III

Assyrian king (744–727 BCE) who centralized power and expanded empire.

Shalmaneser III

Assyrian king who conducted western campaigns and expanded control.”

Sargon II

Assyrian king who completed campaigns in the west and centralized governance.”},{

Ashurbanipal

Last great Assyrian king; built a famous library at Nineveh and presided over the empire at its height.

Neo-Babylonian Empire

Chaldean-led revival of Babylonian power that destroyed Judah and exiled its people, led by Nebuchadnezzar II.

Nebuchadnezzar II

Chaldean king who destroyed Jerusalem (586 BCE) and rebuilt Babylon into a splendid capital.

Ishtar Gate

Famous Babylonian gate adorned with reliefs; symbol of the city’s grandeur.

Hanging Gardens

Nebuchadnezzar II’s legendary wonder, described as an impressive multilevel garden.”},{

Nabonidus

Last king of the Chaldean dynasty; neglect of the cult of Marduk contributed to dissent against Babylon.

Cyrus the Great

Founder of the Persian Empire; conquered Babylon, allowed Jews to return to Jerusalem, promoted religious tolerance.

Babylon

Key city in Mesopotamia; capital of the Neo-Babylonian and earlier Chaldean empires.

Cambyses II

Persian king who conquered Egypt, expanding the Persian Empire’s western reach.

Darius I

Persian Great King (r. 521–486 BCE); organized empire into satrapies and built the Royal Road.

Satrapy

A Persian province governed by a satrap (provincial governor).

Satrap

Provincial Persian governor; often a member of the king’s circle and sometimes hereditary.

Royal Road

Imperial Persian highway from Sardis to Susa facilitating rapid communication.

Persepolis

New eastern capital of the Persian Empire built by Darius; ceremonial and administrative center.

Susa

Principal capital of the Persian Empire; major administrative and political center.

Zoroastrianism

Persian religion founded by Zoroaster emphasizing the struggle between good and evil and moral choice.

Ahuramazda

The Wise Lord; the supreme god in Zoroastrianism.

Ahriman

The spirit of lies and evil in Zoroastrian dualism, opposing Ahuramazda.

Zend Avesta

Sacred scriptures of Zoroastrianism including the Yasna and other texts.

Yasna

Section of the Zend Avesta containing some of Zoroaster’s hymns.

Gathas

Hymns within the Yasna; core ancient writings of Zoroaster.

Magi

Priestly caste in Persian religion; early spreaders of Zoroastrian ideas.

Cyrus’s Edict (Return of Jews)

Decree allowing Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple.

Covenant

Israelite contract with Yahweh requiring obedience to His law in exchange for protection.

Law (Torah)**

Mosaic legal code within the Pentateuch; governs worship, morality, and community life.

Prophets

Religious leaders who warned about covenant violations and urged justice and obedience.

Amos

ninth-century BCE prophet who warned of Israel’s fall to Assyria and urged social justice.

Isaiah

Prophet who predicted Judah’s fall and articulated universalist hopes for peace.

Monotheism

Belief in a single, supreme God—emphasized by Yahweh worship after exile.

Yahweh

The God of Israel; creator and ruler of the world, demanding obedience.

Babylonian exile

Period of Jewish captivity in Babylon following the destruction of Jerusalem.

Ten Lost Tribes

The dispersed northern Israelite tribes after Assyrian conquest; identities faded.