Biblical Archaeology: The archaeology of ancient Israel and Judah

Week 1: Introduction

• What is Archaeology and what is Biblical Archaeology?
• What time periods and areas will the course cover?
• What is the relationship between archaeology and the Bible?
• What is the "toolbox" of the modern archaeologist?
• How does science impact modern biblical archaeology?
• The Bronze Age background of biblical Israel and Judah.

Week 2: The early Iron Age

• Who are the early Israelites?
• How do we define them?
• How, when, and where did the early Israelites appear?
• How does the archaeological evidence for the appearance of early Israel compare to the biblical description?

Week 3: The First Kingdoms? A "United Monarchy" of David and Solomon?

• Was there a "United Monarchy"?
  What does archaeology and the Bible tell us and how does this compare?
• What are the historical and archaeological evidence of this kingdom and these figures?

Week 4: The Northern Kingdom of Israel: ca. 930-722 BCE

• Historical sources on the Israelite Kingdom.
• What is the archaeological evidence of the Israelite Kingdom?
• The end of the Israelite Kingdom.

Week 5: The Southern Kingdom of Judah: ca. 930-586 BCE

• Historical sources on the Judahite Kingdom.
• What is the archaeological evidence of the Judahite Kingdom?
• What is the relationship between the Kingdoms of Judah and Israel
• The end of the Kingdom of Judah.

Week 6: Daily Life and Material Culture of Ancient Judah and Israel

• Social structure in biblical Israel and Judah.
• Urban and rural life in biblical Israel and Judah.
• Food and drink in biblical Israel and Judah.
• Religion and cult in biblical Israel and Judah.
• Death and Burial in biblical Israel and Judah.
• Warfare in biblical Israel and Judah.
• Language, writing, and literacy in biblical Israel and Judah.

Week 7: Neighboring Cultures in the Iron Age II

• Philistines
• Phoenicians
• Transjordanian peoples
• Aram
• Egypt
• Mesopotamia

Week 8: Aftermath of Iron Age Israel and Judah and Course Epilogue

• Judahite exiles in Mesopotamia and Egypt?
• The Persian Period restoration (ca. 500-330 BCE).
• What Archaeology contributes to the understanding of ancient Israel and Judah.
• Insights on the relationship between Archaeology and the Biblical Texts.
• What to do if you want to expand your knowledge and experience in Biblical Archaeology.