Part 1
Punic Wars
Punic wars are the term coined by the historians about the war fought by Rome and the Carthage in 264-146 BC. The result of the Punic Wars is the dominance of the Romans to the large area of the Western Mediterranean basin (Backman, 182). Punic wars have been referenced to the Carthage ancestries since the word Punic comes Latin term “Punicus” which is associated with the Carthaginian Empire. The main reason for the emergence of the Punic wars is the Roman Expansion. which created the conflict between them and the Carthaginian Empire. In the first War, the Carthaginian Empire has a strong naval power but the long war resulted to their destabilization. The Romans have succeeded during the second and the third Punic wars. They also took over a large area of the Carthaginian Empire and became a powerful group in the Mediterranean basin.
The significance of the Punic War could be recognized for the expansion of the Roman Empire. The wars resulted to the expansion of the Roman territories in the major places such as Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica and especially Africa (Backman, 182). It is a crucial period in the history in which the victorious empire could control or govern the development of the early European nations. Europe could be a different place if the result of the Punic war is the opposite.
Romanization
Romanization could be defined as the process of integration and assimilation of the Roman cultures to the different groups and empires in the early Europe during and after the expansion of the Roman Empire. According to Clifford Backman in his book ‘The Worlds of Medieval Europe’, Romanization is the unity of the Roman territories in the concept of “Roman Religion, administration, architecture, and urban design, literature and art” (Backman, 12). The most common knowledge about the Romanization is the conversion of the various writing system to the Roman linguistics and script. It could be recognized in the history since most of the writings during the Roman Empire were written in the Roman Language. Since most of the territories they acquired belong to the barbaric groups, Romanization is also associated to the process of civilizing the uncivilized (Backman & Axen, 70).
The major significance of the process of Romanization is the acceleration and progress of arts and literature (Backman, 171). The Romanization paves way to the development of major urban literature and arts. It has greatly affected the early Europe. In addition, the process of Romanization also provides the intellectualization of the Roman Language and Roman system of script. It replaces the tribal laws and system of knowledge which also helps in the expansion of the Roman Empire.
Nile River
Nile River is the longest running river in the world which is located in the northern part of Africa. The Modern Nile River is shared internationally by 11 African countries such as Egypt, Rwanda and Sudan. In the history of the Early Western nation, Nile River is a critical part for the expansion of social and cultural groups as well as the major source of water of the early nations. The Nile River also provides life and transportation for the Egyptian civilization even during the Stone Age. According to most of the historians, the Egyptian civilization emerged through the help and benefits of the Nile River. The Early Egyptian civilization relies on agriculture and the Nile River became their major source of water for their irrigation system (Backman, 104).
The Nile River is also significant for the expansion of the Muslim religion throughout the southern Europe as well as most of the Middle- East Asian Region. It created a trade port between the Egyptians and the Muslims. The Muslims have benefits from the Nile River such as transportation and market. In general, the Nile River is a significant geographical entity which helps in shaping the social, political and economic structures for the modern Muslim and African Nations (Backman, 104).
Plato
Plato is a mathematician and a great philosopher who lives in the Classical age of Greece. He has been one of the most influential figures in the concept of philosophy which shapes the early western civilization. Plato was a student of Socrates which also one of the people who established the Academy. Academy is the school founder Plato in the Athens in 385 BC to provide the existing and accepted philosophical ideas and concepts during their time (Backman, 152). Plato also helped in establishing the early Science used in the Western civilizations. One of his major works is the Dialogue, which could be used in the large areas of knowledge such as ethics, rhetoric, philosophy, logic and religion. It provides a rational and irrational type of thinking during the classical Greek age.
The significance of Plato in the history could be observed in the development of the early religion and beliefs during the progress of the Western culture. One of the examples is that the early Christianity was influenced by the teachings and principles of Plato. Plato also influenced the notion of leadership, love and other social aspects in building or developing the major societies in the early western communities. Plato is also often called the father of the modern western philosophy (Backman, 152). In general, Plato played a major role in developing the intellectual entity of the Western civilizations.
Solomon
King Solomon was the second king of the early Kingdom of Israel. He is an ancient King who ruled Israel during the 10th century BC. He was the son and successor of the first King of Israel who was King David. The Kingdom they developed was part of the modern day Israel, Syria, Jordan and Palestine. King Solomon was responsible for the expansion of the Kingdom of Israel through wars and expansion of culture and beliefs. He also expanded the kingdom through the marriage relatives of the local chieftains which developed a concrete and strong community during the ancient civilization. King Solomon also strengthens the early Kingdom of Israel by building city walls and garrison to protect them from the other invaders and empires (Backman, 224).
The significance of King Solomon could be recognized from the development of the early religious beliefs and principles. King Solomon was responsible for the building of Holy temples in Jerusalem, which became a shrine for Judaic God. The Israelites worship the temples which developed the early religion of Judaism. The temples of Solomon have no archaeological remains although the site of the Temples remains to be one of the holiest places for Christianity and Judaism (Backman, 224).
Part 2.
The Effect of the Two Diasporas (The Babylonian and the Roman) on the Development of Judaism
Jewish community was dispersed by the Assyrian King Nebuchadnezzar when they conquered the Judah kingdom which deported the Jews to Babylonia. According to the Backman in his book ‘The Cultures of the West’, Jewish diaspora is the “exile or scattering of the Hebrews after the Assyrians brutally conquered the Kingdom of Israel in 721 BCE and the Chaldaeans (or Neo-Babylonians) conquered Judah in 587 BCE” (Backman, 83). According to Backman, together with the other historians, the two Diasporas which are created namely by the Babylonian and the Romans influenced the development of the Judaism during the early Western civilizations. Judaism is the way of life of the Jewish people and also refers to as their basic religion. The two major Diasporas have influenced the alteration and emergence of a new interpretation of Judaism for the Jewish people.
The Jews lived in the basic principles of Judaism, which is based from the stories of the Bible. According to the Book ‘Cultures of the West’ by Clifford Backman, the covenant is “The special promise God made to the Jews, symbolized by Moses's leading of the Hebrews out of bondage in Egypt and into the Promised Land; in return, the Jews agreed to live by the Torah” (Backman, 74). Since the Jewish people believed in the concept of the covenant, the Diasporas will eventually influence the developments of their beliefs especially in their religion which is the Judaism. One of the major influences of the Diasporas on the Judaism is the separation of the population of the Jewish people. The result of the separation is the emergence of different interpretations and beliefs on the way of life or the religious teachings of Judaism (Backman, 84).
The Babylonian Diaspora is referred to as the dispersion of the Jews during the 597-586 BC. It was due to the expansion of the Babylonian empires which resulted to the destruction of the temple of Solomon in Israel. The dispersion of the Jewish people resulted into the three major groups which live in Babylon, in Judaea, and in Egypt. After the permission of the Persian Conqueror Cyrus the Great, some of the Jewish people returned to Judaea while the others remained in Egypt. One of the major effects of the Babylonian Diaspora is the weak influence of Judaism in any parts of the Society. Jews have been a minority for all the communities or areas which they lived such as in Egypt and in Judaea. In this case, Judaism also became a minority religion in these areas. Judaism did not expand, and only a few Jewish communities retained the original teachings of Judaism (Backman, 84).
The Jewish community and the religion of Judaism maybe a separate entity but the low population of the Jewish people in any community also resulted to the weak influence of the religion to their inhabited areas. In general, the Jewish community could live even if they did not live in Israel but the religion of Judaism could not develop without the Jewish people. Jewish identity is the basis of the religion of Judaism. Its culture and principles are based on the way of life of the people of the Jewish community. According to the Jewish traditional law, a Jew is a person who is born with a Jewish mother or converted to the religion of Judaism. However, minority groups are often segregated and marginalized during the early Western civilizations. Thus, the Babylonian Diaspora resulted to the slow development or expansion of the beliefs and principles of Judaism (Backman, 85).
Another major dispersion of the Jewish people has occurred during the Expansion of the Roman Empire. It happened during the revolt of the 1st century which resulted to the destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. During these Revolts, Judaea has become a part of the Roman Empire which made some of the Jewish people to become slaves. The Jews fought against the Roman Empire but lost during the war. They were prohibited to stay in Judaea, that made the Jewish community disperse to the other parts of the world. The Revolt or the Siege of Jerusalem also resulted to the change of the name of Judea to Syria Palestine (Backman & Axen, 70).
One of the major results of the Roman Diaspora is the diminishing culture and literature of the Judaism. Judaism was influenced by the Hellenistic period of the classical Greeks before the Romans invaded Israel. However, most of the traditional beliefs of the religion of Judaism has lost and altered due to the Romanization or the influence of the Roman Culture. The acculturation, assimilation and integration of the Jewish beliefs such as Judaism resulted to the alteration of their way of life. Judaism was only accepted as a legitimate religion by the Roman Empire during the fourth century. The traditional Jewish prayers and teachings are made in the temples in Israel. However, their expulsion has altered their beliefs and forced them to establish their teachings within their community (Backman & Axen, 70).
Another major effect of the Diasporas especially the Roman Diaspora is the development of new principles and ideas for the religion of Judaism. Practices and interpretations that have been passed through generations are the bases of the emergence of new types of Judaism such as the Rabbinic Judaism. The Rabbinic Judaism was developed during the 6th century in accordance to the Romanization and the influence of the Roman culture. It was also created due to the destruction of the Second Temple in Israel. The Rabbinic Judaism is the one that survived and commonly known as the Judaism in the modern times. The Rabbinic Judaism is also created from the codification of the Talmud, which was developed in the Early Babylonia. The Rabbinic Judaism was based on the belief that the Oral Torah of God was given to Moses to be delivered to the Jewish people (Backman & Axen, 70).
The Rabbinic Judaism emerged to erase their memories of the past. It was based on the idea that they should adjust to new realities due to the major Diasporas. Even though their temples were destroyed, they continue to worship and turn towards the development of their religion. The two major Diasporas also resulted to the emergence of more relevant teachings about their social condition. They developed teachings for social justice, taking care of their people and values for social development. It may alter some of their traditional teachings, but they focused on the idea that they should develop their religion according to the benefit of their people (Backman, 104).
The Two major Diasporas have altered the development of the religion of Judaism. The major effect of the Babylonian Diaspora could be recognized in the Jewish Community, which results to the risk of religious discrimination and marginalization. On the other hand, the major effect of the Roman Diaspora is the integration of the religious beliefs of Judaism into more socially advantageous since their people need it more than the temples in Israel. The Jewish Community have suffered pain and suffering from their dispersion and expulsion to their holy land in Judaea. It could also be recognized in the modern times. However, its effect on the development of Judaism also alters the way of life of the Jewish community all over the world.
Work Cited:
Backman, C. The Cultures of the West: A History, Volume 1: To 1750. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 2013. Print.
Backman, C. The Worlds of Medieval Europe. Oxford University Press. 2003. Print.
Backman, C. & Axen, C. Sources for The Cultures of the West: Volume 1: To 1750. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 2013. Print.
