1. Abraham to whom the jews trace their ancestry, is told to leave Mesopotamia and settle in Canaan, which is now Israel.
2. Moses leads the Israelites out of Egypt and receives the laws of God.
3. The kingdom of Israel is founded.
4. The kingdom of Israel splits in two. The norther kingdom continues to be called Israel. The southern kingdom is called Judah.
5. The Assyrians conquer the northern kingdom of Israel.
6. The Babylonians conquer the southern kingdom of Judah.
7. Persia conquers Babylonia.
8. Cyrus, king of Persia, allows the Jews to return to Judah.
9. Judah comes under the control of Alexander the Great.
10. When King Antiochus tries to force Jews to worship idols, a group of rebels overthrows the king.
