Southwest Asia… birthplace of the three Abrahamic religions.

Judaism and the Hebrew Tribes

• c. 1400 BCE Torah becomes most sacred book for the Jewish people.

• Jews are persecuted in Egypt, flee to Palestine (Exodus)

• Covenant with Yahweh. Arc of the Covenant and Solomon's Temple.

• Believe that the Messiah has not come yet.

Ancient Palestine

Christianity• Jesus as Messiah. Jerusalem and Bethlehem holy/sacred.

• The Romans come to Palestine.

• Apostles spread the word of Jesus. Romans eventually “believe” and spread Christianity.

• Add the “New Testament” to the Torah/Old Testament becomes “The Bible”

Islam• 610 CE Mohammad receives the word of God from the angel Gabriel. His revelations are eventually compiled to become the Qur’an.

• Allah is the same God as the Christian and Jewish God, in Arabic he is called “Allah”

• Prophet Mohammad is the last in a line of Prophets which include Jesus, Adam, and Moses.

• Five Pillars of Faith.• Sharia: body of Islamic law to regulate

daily living.• Three holiest cities in Islam:

* Mecca, Medina, Jerusalem.• Sects: Sunni and Shi’a (Shiite)

Why was Islam able to spread so quickly?

• No priesthood.• Teaches equality.• “Peoples of the Book” (Christians and Jews) were allowed

to practice freely. • Later, “jihad” or holy war against “non-believers” or

“infidels.”

Think-pair-share

• What commonalities do you see between the three religions? Make a list as a group and be prepared to share one thought.