In the time of the Persian Empire and Alexander the Great, what parts of the world contained Jewish communities?
During the time of the Persian Empire and Alexander the Great, Jewish communities were primarily concentrated in the following regions:
1. Persian Empire: Under the Achaemenid Persian Empire (550-330 BCE), which included territories spanning from modern-day Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Turkey, and parts of Central Asia, there were significant Jewish populations. Some major areas with Jewish communities included Babylon (in modern-day Iraq), which housed a large number of Jews after the Babylonian exile, and the region around present-day Iran, where Jews had been living for centuries.
2. Judea: Judea was the historical homeland of the Jewish people, located in the southern Levant (modern-day Israel and the Palestinian territories). During this period, Judea was a semi-autonomous region under the Persian Empire, and Jewish communities flourished. The capital city, Jerusalem, was the center of Jewish religious and political life.
3. Alexandria: In Egypt, the city of Alexandria became home to a significant Jewish community during this time. Founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BCE, Alexandria became a major international center and attracted a diverse range of populations, including Jews. The Jewish community in Alexandria was one of the largest and most influential outside of Judea.
4. Seleucid Empire: After the death of Alexander the Great, his empire was divided among his generals. The Seleucid Empire, which encompassed parts of modern-day Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, and Iran, included various Jewish communities. However, tensions arose between the Seleucid rulers, who sought to enforce Hellenistic cultural assimilation, and the Jewish population, which led to the Maccabean Revolt and the establishment of an independent Jewish state known as the Hasmonean Kingdom.
It's important to note that Jewish communities existed in other regions as well, including smaller settlements throughout the Mediterranean, Asia Minor, and even some parts of India. However, the aforementioned regions were the most prominent areas with Jewish communities during the time of the Persian Empire and Alexander the Great.