Scrolls & Stones

A comprehensive journey through Jewish history — from ancient origins to the modern day

Every claim anchored to evidence. Every tradition clearly marked. Where scrolls meet stones, history comes alive.

Verified — Archaeological evidence
Tradition — Biblical/rabbinic narrative
Debated — Scholarly disagreement
Begin the Journey

28 Chapters · 4,000 Years

Part 1

Origins & Patriarchs

c. 3761–1250 BCE
01c. 3761+ BCE

Before the Beginning

Ancient Near East context, Genesis vs cosmology, Sumerian parallels

QuizAI Chat
02c. 3000+ BCE

The Flood and the Nations

Gilgamesh, flood geology, Table of Nations

QuizAI Chat
03c. 2000–1750 BCE

Abraham and the Covenant

Bronze Age Ur, patriarchal migration, Hittite treaties

QuizAI Chat
04c. 1750–1600 BCE

Isaac, Jacob, and the Twelve

Pastoral Canaan, tribal models, Egyptian references

QuizAI Chat
05c. 1700–1550 BCE

Joseph and Egypt

Hyksos parallels, Semitic administrators

QuizAI Chat
Part 2

Exodus & Formation

c. 1250–1020 BCE
06c. 1250 BCE

Slavery and Liberation

Merneptah Stele, exodus theories

QuizAI Chat
07c. 1200 BCE

Sinai and the Law

Hammurabi comparison, monotheism origins

QuizAI Chat
08c. 1200–1020 BCE

Wandering and Conquest

Jericho archaeology, conquest models

QuizAI Chat
Part 3

Kingdoms

c. 1020–586 BCE
09c. 1020–930 BCE

United Monarchy

Tel Dan Stele, First Temple, minimalist/maximalist debate

QuizAI Chat
10c. 930–722 BCE

Divided Kingdom

Omri, Mesha Stele, prophets, Siloam Tunnel

QuizAI Chat
11722 BCE

Fall of Israel

Assyrian conquest, Ten Lost Tribes

QuizAI Chat
12586 BCE

Fall of Judah

Lachish Letters, Babylonian exile

QuizAI Chat
Part 4

Second Temple

539 BCE – 136 CE
13539–516 BCE

Return and Rebuilding

Cyrus Cylinder, Second Temple

QuizAI Chat
14332–63 BCE

Hellenistic Period & Maccabees

Hanukkah origins, Dead Sea Scrolls

QuizAI Chat
1563 BCE – 66 CE

Roman Judea

Herod, Jewish sects, Jesus as historical figure

QuizAI Chat
1670–136 CE

Destruction of Second Temple

Josephus, Arch of Titus, Bar Kokhba

QuizAI Chat
Part 5

Diaspora & Rabbinic Judaism

136–1500 CE
17136–500 CE

Birth of Rabbinic Judaism

Yavneh, Mishnah, Talmud

QuizAI Chat
18700–1200 CE

Jews in the Islamic World

Golden Age of Spain, Cairo Geniza

QuizAI Chat
191096–1500 CE

Medieval Christendom

Crusades, blood libels, expulsions, Kabbalah

QuizAI Chat
Part 6

Early Modern

1500–1800
201500–1700

Ottoman Refuge & Safed Mysticism

Lurianic Kabbalah

QuizAI Chat
211700–1800

Eastern European Jewry

Hasidism vs Mitnagdim

QuizAI Chat
221750–1880

Enlightenment & Emancipation

Haskalah, Mendelssohn

QuizAI Chat
Part 7

Modern Era

1800–present
231800–present

Denominational Judaism

Reform, Conservative, Orthodox movements

QuizAI Chat
241880–1939

Antisemitism

Protocols (debunked), pogroms

QuizAI Chat
251897–1947

Zionism

Herzl, Balfour, British Mandate

QuizAI Chat
261933–1945

The Holocaust

Documented evidence, resistance

QuizAI Chat
271948–present

State of Israel

1948, wars, archaeological renaissance

QuizAI Chat
28present

Judaism Today

Demographics, denominations, contributions

QuizAI Chat

Interactive Timeline

1

Origins & Patriarchs

c. 3761–1250 BCE

c. 3761+ BCE

1.Before the Beginning

Ancient Near East context, Genesis vs cosmology, Sumerian parallels

c. 3000+ BCE

2.The Flood and the Nations

Gilgamesh, flood geology, Table of Nations

c. 2000–1750 BCE

3.Abraham and the Covenant

Bronze Age Ur, patriarchal migration, Hittite treaties

c. 1750–1600 BCE

4.Isaac, Jacob, and the Twelve

Pastoral Canaan, tribal models, Egyptian references

c. 1700–1550 BCE

5.Joseph and Egypt

Hyksos parallels, Semitic administrators

2

Exodus & Formation

c. 1250–1020 BCE

c. 1250 BCE

6.Slavery and Liberation

Merneptah Stele, exodus theories

c. 1200 BCE

7.Sinai and the Law

Hammurabi comparison, monotheism origins

c. 1200–1020 BCE

8.Wandering and Conquest

Jericho archaeology, conquest models

3

Kingdoms

c. 1020–586 BCE

c. 1020–930 BCE

9.United Monarchy

Tel Dan Stele, First Temple, minimalist/maximalist debate

c. 930–722 BCE

10.Divided Kingdom

Omri, Mesha Stele, prophets, Siloam Tunnel

722 BCE

11.Fall of Israel

Assyrian conquest, Ten Lost Tribes

586 BCE

12.Fall of Judah

Lachish Letters, Babylonian exile

4

Second Temple

539 BCE – 136 CE

539–516 BCE

13.Return and Rebuilding

Cyrus Cylinder, Second Temple

332–63 BCE

14.Hellenistic Period & Maccabees

Hanukkah origins, Dead Sea Scrolls

63 BCE – 66 CE

15.Roman Judea

Herod, Jewish sects, Jesus as historical figure

70–136 CE

16.Destruction of Second Temple

Josephus, Arch of Titus, Bar Kokhba

5

Diaspora & Rabbinic Judaism

136–1500 CE

136–500 CE

17.Birth of Rabbinic Judaism

Yavneh, Mishnah, Talmud

700–1200 CE

18.Jews in the Islamic World

Golden Age of Spain, Cairo Geniza

1096–1500 CE

19.Medieval Christendom

Crusades, blood libels, expulsions, Kabbalah

6

Early Modern

1500–1800

1500–1700

20.Ottoman Refuge & Safed Mysticism

Lurianic Kabbalah

1700–1800

21.Eastern European Jewry

Hasidism vs Mitnagdim

1750–1880

22.Enlightenment & Emancipation

Haskalah, Mendelssohn

7

Modern Era

1800–present

1800–present

23.Denominational Judaism

Reform, Conservative, Orthodox movements

1880–1939

24.Antisemitism

Protocols (debunked), pogroms

1897–1947

25.Zionism

Herzl, Balfour, British Mandate

1933–1945

26.The Holocaust

Documented evidence, resistance

1948–present

27.State of Israel

1948, wars, archaeological renaissance

present

28.Judaism Today

Demographics, denominations, contributions

Stay on the Journey

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter for chapter highlights, top quiz scores, community insights, and fascinating historical tidbits.

No spam, ever. Unsubscribe at any time.