Israelite Daily Life

Nick T.               Israelite Daily Life Routines and Behavior         Block 3

              The Iron age of Israel also know as the Israelite period was a big stepping stone for the country. The language spoken and written in this iron age of Israel for the most part was Hebrew as we can tell from the texts found. There were other languages as well spoken in Israel. This due to the fact it was located along a major passage for trade.  Although they where present their presence was not great enough to leave a historical mark in this period.
 The daily life of people was a fairly well developed routine. Many people where quite knowledgeable, which was not normal in the ancient world. I’m sure this was partially due to the international relations and trade Israel held at this time. They lived in hilltop communities with usually no more then 400 people. Houses made of clay and straw baked together was the common means of shelter. This is also where the women of the household spent most of their life either looking after their many children or cooking. Cooking took place outside due to the pleasant climate. Wives unless rich enough to afford servants took many trips to the market weekly to get supplies. The market, which was usually located outside the city’s walls, had many different ingredients. From different types of fruit and vegetables to beans, lentils, fish or lamb. Olives where also used often for their oil as well as garlic as a seasoning that we still see today.  Although lots of vegetables where eaten bread was the staple food of any meal for the rich or the poor.

Economic structure: the market besides being the place of ingredients of food played a key role in the economic structure of the Israelites. Since the Israelites had an agricultural based economy in which animals, and harvested fruits and vegetables were the main source of income this was the hub of money and trade in their society.  Other items such a jewelry and fabric where also sold here as a foreign market was present considering Israel was along a major ancient trade route.  Shekels were the currency used in this time period and based on the Hebrew word for weighting. Shekels are still in use today in Israel as their main currency but now with the name of the new shekel.

             

              Entertainment:   Music was the biggest and one of only forms of entertainment in Israel at this time. It played special roles in ceremonies from marriages to return of soldiers from battle. It was of religious and social significance and documented in many Jewish texts. Story telling was also a very prevalent form of entertainment as many of the stories told are still know through the reading of the Bible or Torah.

              Technology: the Ark of the Covenant and Solomon's Temple are two of Israel’s biggest accomplishments at this time. Although not entirely technology these where the biggest creations and of the greatest importance at this time. Israel also mirrored many technologies around it such as Egypt, Babylon and the Greeks. There was not a lot of technology created by Israel in this time period. They mainly created their own moral code, which became the code for many other civilizations around the world. They also focused on their religion more then their technology as the creation of massive religious temples shows.

              Education: was a very large part of the Jewish society.  It was a very important part of life to educate young boys as they where the next in line to have impact on the earth. The Father was expected to teach the Torah to his son as well as proper morals and mannerisms. Writing and reading where important as well for people as especially children to understand what the religious books where conveying and trying to teach.

              Clothing: Most of the items worn by the Israelite people where very simple. You can easily imagine the items worn, as the amount of biblical images showcasing them is vast. Sandals made from crudely put together leather and wood protected the feet from objects and where taken off in the house. Sheep wool and skin was used to make robes of sorts as well as linen as it was light and breathed well suiting their climate. Woolen headdresses or headbands where very common protecting the head and keeping hair in place.

              Games: checkers, backgammon and chess where popular board games in this time period and still are today. Pieces carved from pebbles or bones where very common. Remains of game boards have been found by archaeologists to back up the literature referring to these games. Sports such as wrestling running and disc throwing have also been sited in texts from the time period obviously adopted from the Greeks.