(1) They introduced monotheism to Western Civilization and are the basis to Christianity and Islam. The old testament is the most accurate historical document of the ancient world where we discover the Hittites mentioned as the "Hethites" a descendent of Jewish heritage. The old testament also maps out the ancient world which has led to the discovery of countless other accounts and civilizations.
(2) They built the Pyramids of Egypt and the Temple of Solomon.
(3) They introduced consepts of Laws bestowed on the habits of diet and lifestyle. Different than just social taboos, Jewish law was introduced to the Egyptians and Greeks for health and hygiene. The Jews considered it a crime to kill a newborn infant which in those times was obsurd not to kill weak children.
Joshua, successor to Moses, led successive campaigns against the Canaanite kings. King Jabin (Javin) was defeated in northern Galilee by the 12th century BC. Deborah was the first Jewish woman judge, had Joshua act against Barak which the Israelites were victorious over.
After defeating the land of Canaan, the Hebrews receive a new name: "Israelites." The first leaders of the Israelites are the Prophets, the most uniform Israelite figure that united the various tribes.
In Samuel's day, the most formidable enemies were the Philistines (almost certainly the "peoples of the sea" according to Egyptian documents). The Sea Peoples may have well been from the Minoan Civilization of Crete. The Philistines held the coastal mountainous strip from what is today Gaza Strip to Jaffa. In one battle, the Philistines captured the Ark of the Covenant from the Israelites. Joshua use to carry the Ark in battle. It allegedly brought the Philistines nothing but harm. Their chief god, Dagon, portrayed as an image fell flat before the Ark when it was brought into town. The Israelite victory at Mizpeh gave Samuel the Ark.
The Golden Age was represented at the time of David and Solomon. David chosen by Samuel, was the first embodiment of the Messianic concept in Judiasm: one of his descendats would return to save the Jews in their hour of need.
Jerusalem and its eastern suburb Zion were inhabited by the Jebusites of the Canaanites before David's conquest. It features a natural defensible mountain stronghold but was also the neutral area between the northern and southern 12 Tribes of Israel. A sort of "federal district" shared between the tribes.
Solomon forged alliances with King Hiram of Phoenicia. He had thousands of wives and great dealings with his neighbors whom like the Queen of Sheba paid their respects to him in his land.
The fall of Israel began when King Omri gave his son Ahab for marriage to Jezebel, the daughter of the king of Tyre. Tiglath-Pileser III, the Assyrian king, captured both Babylon and in 10 years Israel at Samaria. Under King Josiah, the kingdom of Judah was spared from Assyria for not helping Israel. Josiah revived Judiasm more than David and Solomon combined. He renovated the Great Temple found the manuscripts to the "five books of Moses" or "the book of the Law" the first written version of the book of Deuteronomy.
BC 2000 Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob settled in the land of Canaan in Egypt. Shechem, Succoth, Luz (Bethel), Ai, Ephrath, Mamre, Hebron, Gerar and Beersheba encompased the beginning Jewish settlements.
BC 1800-1500 Jewish settlements in the land of Goshen (or Lower Egypt), Jews build the Egyptian cities Raamses and Pithom through forced labor.
BC 513 Independent Jewish Kingdom of Mahoza led by Mar Zutra set up in Persia where he and his father were crucified by the Persians.
The Ancient Israelites traded gold, silver, ivory, apes and peacocks with Arabia, eastern Africa and India trade routes. They inherited terrace farming techniques from the Lycians and traded goods with far stretching regions including the Trojans, Phrygians, Hittites, Mitanni, Assyrians, Medians, Persians, Babylonians, Abyssinians, Phoenicians, Greeks, and Egyptians.
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I have much more information, but this should be a great start.
