The History of the Jewish People in the Land of Israel

What do we know about the ancient Israelites? When did the ancient Israelites become the Jews? How did the emergence of other religions and the movement of peoples across the Middle East into the Land of Israel affect the Jewish people? How did Jews maintain their connection to the Land of Israel in the diaspora? How did World War I, World War II, and the Cold War impact the history of Israel? How did the modern state of Israel form? Why has there been ongoing conflict between Israel and the Arabs?

To answer these questions CEI offers educators a teacher-friendly curriculum tracing the history of the Jewish people in the land of Israel from ancient to modern times. This state social studies-aligned curriculum situates Jewish history in the larger context of Middle Eastern and World History. Students learn how geography and the development of religious, cultural, and political movements from ancient to modern times have created a complex society. Lesson plans utilize a wide- range of primary sources, maps, and videos.

The curriculum includes the following lessons:

  • The Historical Roots of Israel in Ancient History
  • Medieval Jewish Life and the Land of Israel
  • Zionism: The Movement for Jewish Self-Determination
  • The Reestablishment of Jewish Sovereignty in the Land of Israel
  • The Arab-Israeli Conflict During the Cold War
  • The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

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