a nation in flux #8

the 8th century

Israel

• 711 - Moslem conquest of Spain
• Jews assisted and celebrated the Moslems
• 691 - Dome of the Rock is built in Jerusalem
• Built Ramla, next to Lod, as a crossroads. Biggest industry was dying

Israel

• Jews in Israel lived in the Shomron, and Galil
• Many Jewish cities and villages
• 748 - Jordan Valley earthquake shakes the city of Tiberius
• Largest Jewish population still in Bavel

Conflict

• Conflict continues between Reish Galusa and Geonim
• 730 - Reish Galusa appoints Geonim that were not inline with previous appointment policies

Abbasid Caliphate

• Muslim invaders on June 9, 721, at the Battle of Toulouse (721)
• 750 - the 90 year rule of Umayyad, Abbasid Caliphate (750-1258) begins.
• Umayyads were centered in Damascus, and were relatively moderate.

Science

• Abbasids set up a central authority in Bagdad.
• Haddith: "The ink of scientists is holier than the blood of martyrs."
• Abbasids are extremely tolerant and the Muslim world becomes the center of world knowledge

First Sefarim are published

• 750's: Rav Achai Gaon's student, Rav Natrai is appointed ahead of him. He leaves to Israel
• In Israel he publishes the Sheiltos, halachik discussions on the weekly parsha

Halachik works

• 760's: Rav Yehudai Gaon's students wrote a halachik guide (Halachos Pesukos)
• Rav Shimon Kayara: BaHaG - Followed the order of the Talmud. First compilation of the 613 Mitzvos.

Karaites

• 759: The Reish Galusa dies, and there is no son viable/available to rule. The Caliph asked the Gaon to appoint one of two candidates Anan, and Chananya
• Anan rebels, becomes a Karaite

Bavel begins its demise

• Shabbos Candles are now popularized as part of an offensive against Karaites
• Reish Galusa no longer represented all Jews, and thus loses significance

End of agrarian culture

• Most Jews are no longer farmers. Now traders, merchants, professionals, intellectuals
• 786: Debts could now be collected with non-real-estate.
• Real estate was a better lien, but no longer prevelant

Out of Bavel

• Khazzars: Nomads who settled on the Caspian Sea. Ruled most of Southern Russia
• 740: Khazzars converted to Judaism.
• This story is dramatized by Rabbi Yehuda HaLevi.
• 920: Shul is Iran is destoryed, the King of the Khazzars toppled the Minaret in Khazzar
• Khazzars are defeated eventually by the Vikings 300 years later

Spanish jews

• Jews live in Spain since the 1st Temple
• Muslims embraced Jews as governers
• Jews were a useful network of resources

French Jews

• Charlemagne rose to power in 771 and revived Christianity in Europe - Holy Roman Emperor
• Beginning of documented Ashkenazi Jews
• Jews began moneylending
• Charlemagne's 3 grandsons rule France, Germany and Italy