Why was Judaism unique when Started?

Jews were monotheists—they believed in and worshipped only one god. This stands out to historians because monotheism was relatively unique in the ancient world. Most ancient societies were polytheistic—they believed in and worshiped multiple gods.

What was a major impact of Judaism?

Judaism marked the beginning of a revolutionary idea that laid the groundwork for social reform: humans have the ability and therefore the responsibility to stop injustices in the world. The Jews were the first to decide that it was their responsibility as the Chosen People to fight against inequality in the world.

What is the nature of religion Judaism?

The Jewish tradition places the responsibility for the well-being of the environment on humans while asserting the dependence of humans on their physical environment. The Jewish tradition, however, does not worship the natural world for its own sake, and does not accept what is given as the end of human life.

How did the Jewish community change in the 20th century?

Demographically, the community was stagnant. It had not grown appreciably since 1960, comprised a smaller percentage of America’s total population than it had in 1920, and seemed likely to witness an actual decline in numbers in the decades ahead.

What are the major periods of Jewish history?

In any event, the history of Judaism can be divided into the following major periods: biblical Judaism (c. 20th–4th century bce), Hellenistic Judaism (4th century bce–2nd century ce), Rabbinic Judaism (2nd–18th century ce), and modern Judaism (c. 1750 to the present).

How did the 20th century change the world?

Following the 19th century, 20th-century events changed the world in unprecedented ways. The World Wars sparked tension between countries and led to the creation of atomic bombs, the Cold War led to the Space Race and creation of space-based rockets, and the World Wide Web was created.

What are the major events of the 20th century?

1 Events in the 20th century 1.1 The world at the beginning of the century. 1.2 World War I 1.2.1 “The war to end all wars”: World War I (1914–1918) 1.2.2 The Russian Revolution and Communism. 1.3 Between the wars 1.3.1 Economic depression. 1.3.2 The rise of dictatorship.