• c. 2000-587 BCE – Ancient Israelite Religion
• c. 1050-930 BCE – United Monarchy
• 922 BCE – United Monarchy divides into Israel and Judah
• 722 BCE – Israel conquered by the Assyrian Empire
• 586 BCE – First Temple destroyed by Babylonians
• 538 BCE – Cyrus the Great allows Jews to return to Jerusalem
• 167-160 BCE – Maccabean Rebellion
• 63 BCE – Rome conquers Jerusalem
• 70 CE – Romans destroy second temple
• c. 200 CE – Mishnah compiled
• 1948 CE – Israel is granted independent statehood.

The historical overview of Judaism is divided into four overlapping time periods:

Foundations of Jewish Historical Identity: 1400 BCE to 70 CE

• Ancient Hebrews/Israelite
• Temple at Jerusalem and the United Monarchy, King David
• Division of Kingdom into Judah and Israel
• Destruction of the first temple, King Cyrus
• Destruction of the second temple

Diaspora and Exegesis: beginning c. 70 CE

• Judaism in the diaspora
• Importance of rabbi, Jewish texts
• Midrash and exegesis

Medieval Judaism: c. 500 to 1500 CE

• Maimonides’ rational approach to Judaism
• The Kabbalah and Jewish mysticism

Modern Judaism: c. 1500 to present

• Reform and orthodox Judaism
• Holocaust and the establishment of the country of Israel