The history of the world economy - Polyak GB

The collapse of the state. Diaspora

Fighting Israel and Judah, the social movements have weakened the kingdom, and they became the prey of other states. In 734 BC. e. Assyrian king Tiglath-Palassar III captured the northern and north-eastern Palestine, having stolen a large number of inhabitants to Assyria. In 722 BC. e. Assyrian king Sargon II conquered the kingdom of Israel and led to Mesopotamia and Media, more than 27 thousand. Israelis.

In 586 BC. e. Judah fell. Neo-Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar, after eighteen months of siege took the main city of the Jews of Jerusalem, destroyed it and took to Babylon large number of captive Jews (Babylonian captivity). In the Bible, in the fourth book of the kingdoms, says that Nebuchadnezzar "brought all the treasures of the house of the Lord and the treasures of the king's house; and broke in pieces all the vessels of gold which Solomon king of Israel made in the temple of the LORD; And he carried away all Jerusalem, and all the princes, and all the mighty men of valor, and all the craftsmen and smiths ... and artists, and builders, all strong and apt for war, even them the king of Babylon to Babylon. " Thus ended the kingdom of Judah and began a centuries-old Babylonian captivity.

With the fall of the ancient Palestinian states of Israel and Judah sharply accelerated Jewish Diaspora, ie. E. Settlement of Jews outside Palestine. And Israel to fall and Iudii they lived in other countries, mainly small colonies of Syria, Phoenicia and Egypt, created by traders and artisans.

With the massive forced abduction of the Jews in other countries there are large colonies, which gradually turned into the big cities. These cities - economic centers in Babylonia were Negardeya, Nizibis where only Jews lived. Over time, the economic situation of the inhabitants of these cities was so stable that even after the Neo-Babylonian Empire was a part of the Persian Empire and the Jews were granted the right to return to their homeland, many of them remained in Mesopotamia. Moreover, with the support of the Persian kings Jewish artisans, merchants, doctors and other professionals began to move to live in Elam, Persia, Armenia, Asia Minor, where creating new colonies.

To avoid falling into Assyrian captivity, a large number of Jews, with the consent of the Egyptian pharaohs in need of specialists, moved to Egypt, here forming the community that is home to one million people.

The resettlement of the Jews in Egypt

The resettlement of the Jews in Egypt

The next major stage of the ancient Jewish dispersion falls on the Roman period.

In I a. BC. e. Palestine, like the rest of the Middle East, was captured by Rome and became one of its provinces. The struggle for independence and against economic oppression in Palestine became constant. In 66 AD. e. Judah uprising began, went down in history of Ancient Rome as the Jewish War. The rebels captured the most important cities in the country, including Jerusalem. Were sent to quell the uprising the Roman armies were defeated. However, arrived to reinforce the troops of the Roman siege of Jerusalem. After a five-month siege of the city was taken. Sukkar, the most intransigent of the rebels who liberated slaves and destroy debt instruments by breaking the Roman garrison, captured the mountain fortress of Masada fortress and held it for seven years. Just pulling a large force, and in the rocks creating a platform for the installation of the ram, the Romans smashed the wall and broke into the fortress. But the surviving defenders, including women, have committed suicide. The uprising was suppressed.

Revenge for the defeat of the Romans at the beginning of the uprising, for many years of the siege of Masada, for the fall of the imperial prestige of the small people of action was the destruction of Jerusalem and its temple as the center of national and religious center and the mass deportation of Jews from Palestine prisoners.

Broke out in 133-135 years. new rebellion was suppressed by the Jews and Romans. The Jews were expelled from Jerusalem. Tens of thousands of them as prisoners were deported to Italy, Greece, Galiyu, Spain. It happened the second and most massive forced dispersion of the Jews.

The economic significance of Jewish dispersion for Palestine and other countries

For Palestine scattering was a huge disaster. families were destroyed. In a country which lost the bulk of the workers, and especially professionals, undermined the nation's gene pool. Palestine, the former one of the developed countries of the Mediterranean, was in a deep economic crisis.

Certain influenced by the Jewish diaspora in the economy of the countries in which they were exported. Healthy and skilled slaves to strengthen the economy of these countries. Later, the prisoners were released either free, or more often bathed tribesmen. Thus, in Asia, Africa and Europe have formed a significant Jewish community, which played a role in the economic development of these countries.

The scope, direction and specific diaspora influence on the economy of the country is determined by several factors.

Earth - the main wealth of all peoples and the indigenous population of any country tends not to allow foreigners to inherit it. Therefore, given prisoner and then received free or voluntarily entered the country people were not allowed to buy land suitable for agriculture. As a result, Jewish, and indeed other diaspora in almost all countries, could not engage in agriculture, and had to be included in the process of production of craft products and the provision of various services to the local population (construction, retail, medical and OE) and live in the cities.

The overwhelming majority of the Jewish diaspora has continued to adhere to their religion, and therefore does not mix with the indigenous population is not assimilated and lived in isolation. In the harsh conditions of foreign land, limited in many rights, including iz-za reluctance to take someone else's religion, the Jews were forced to adapt to local conditions, and their changes, to find their economic niche and achieve success in it (otherwise they would not have survived), so how to wait for assistance was nowhere.

Due to the limited scope of application of labor, they had to deal mainly with trade, commerce and intellectual work (doctors, lawyers, teachers, translators, scribes, artists, actors and so on. D.). Generation after generation, they continued to the selected activity. Gain experience and skill handed down. It was the age-old kind of natural selection. They survived more skillful, intelligent, economically active individuals.

After the captivity of the Jews in the countries where they are resettled, they were free people and did not know the later serfdom. Attempts by local feudal lords in the Middle Ages to enslave the Jews ended in failure because of the riots and because of the support of the central authorities, who saw the Jews as the source of their income. Moreover, in many countries the Jewish communities in the struggle acquired the right not only religious, but also in some cases, administrative and legal autonomy (they had their own internal electoral management bodies and the courts).

Professionalism, skill, personal freedom, fast adaptability to changing circumstances served as a basis sufficiently high economic activity and economic impact of the Jewish diaspora, and, consequently, of its revenues. In turn, the authorities of countries in which the Jews lived, they were interested in professionals and tax payers, are often elevated in comparison with taxes levied on the indigenous population.

For the central government Jewish community has been helpful and that of its environment, it took educated, active stewards and officials. While not come from the aristocracy, and not having to support it (even, on the contrary, as the opposition received foreigners), these officials were not involved in palace intrigues and conspiracies. In addition, under the constant supervision of the aristocracy, they had less opportunity to make mistakes, less allowed themselves to private extravagance and waste, and less engaged in embezzlement. Often out of the midst of the Jewish officials out the main stewards of state, ministers and other high officials, who played a major role in the economy. Thus, for the economy of the countries where Jews were relocated, their diaspora has had a positive impact.

In addition to the contribution to the economy of the countries where the Jews were moved, they brought back a new spiritual potential - Christianity.

Even in II. BC. e. in Palestine, in response to the social and economic hardships of the population, any community - Essene commune, where there was no private property, but it was a common work, to live together and the table, equal distribution of work results and the support of disabled members of the community. The Essenes were Jews, but in their philosophical views, ethical standards and new religious rituals were the immediate precursors of Christians. Later part of the Essenes became Christians and preachers of Christianity.

The first Christian communities were established by Jews in Palestine. Forced to share common adversity Jewish Christians, with all the exiles from Palestine, created in new countries their communities and thereby spread to Asia, Europe and Africa, Christianity, which later played a significant role in the economic development of many countries.

The land of Palestine has given the world the greatest historical, literary, journalistic, religious work, the book of books - the Bible, which contains the ancient myths, religious tracts, samples of secular and religious poetry, social and political speech. The Bible - a valuable source on the history and economy of the peoples and states of the Ancient East. The Bible describes the long history of the Jewish people and the ancient Jewish state. History of related states waged a struggle with each other, showing what can be a sad end for the states and peoples who failed to find common interests and united in a common struggle.

Review Questions

1. Tell us about the ancient states of the Eastern Mediterranean.

2. Describe the features of the development of agriculture in this region.

3. Compare the development of crafts and trade in the countries of the Eastern Mediterranean.

4. Tell us about the contribution of the peoples of the Eastern Mediterranean in the formation of scientific knowledge.