| A | B |
|---|
| Idumea | desert area south of Judaea which was annexed and its residents forced to convert to Judaism |
| Hellenization | influence of Greek culture and language |
| lost tribes" | ten northern tribes who were conquered and assimilated by Assyria |
| Diaspora | Jews living outside of Israel |
| high priest | position invented after the return from Exile that was something of a substitute for having a king |
| Sadducees | wealthy priestly class, mostly Judeans, who cooperated with the foreign rulers of Israel. Seen as corrupt by the common people. |
| Pharisees | religious party who tried to steer a middle course between the corruption of the Sadducees and the isolation of the Essenes. Highly respected by the common people. |
| Essenes | group who separated themselves completely from society and led extremely strict religious lives. Copied the Dead Sea Scrolls. John the Baptist might have been an Essene. |
| scribes | copied and taught the Law of Moses. |
| priests | offered sacrifices in the Temple |
| Samaria | middle region of Israel whose inhabitants were looked down upon as not "true" Jews |
| Pontius Pilate | procurator--Roman soldier appointed to rule Judea. He sentenced Jesus to death |
| Herod the Great | Idumean Jewish "puppet king" appointed by the Romans; died in 4 BCE; the kingdom was divided among his sons |
| Herod Antipas | son of Herod the Great who was ruling Galilee during the time of Jesus' childhood. Responsible for the death of John the Baptist |
