Heritage: Civilization and the Jews

198456m

Acclaimed PBS series that recounts the history of the Jewish people from its origins to the current day. The series was written and narrated by the late Abba Eban, an Israeli historian and statesman.

Seasons

9 Episodes • Premiered 1984

Still image for Heritage: Civilization and the Jews season 1 episode 1: A People Is Born: 3800-586 BCE

1. A People Is Born: 3800-586 BCE

Episode 1 covers the period of the Bible, the life and culture in the ancient Near East and how it was a factor in the idea of monotheism, up to the period of the Babylonian exile.

Still image for Heritage: Civilization and the Jews season 1 episode 2: The Power of the World: 586-72 CE

2. The Power of the World: 586-72 CE

Episode 2 covers destruction of Babylonia by the Persians to the time of the Roman Empire, including the Hellenistic period, the rise of the Hasmonean state, and the destruction of Judea and the second temple.

Still image for Heritage: Civilization and the Jews season 1 episode 3: The Shaping of Traditions: 30-732

3. The Shaping of Traditions: 30-732

Episode 3 covers Jewish history during the centuries of the rise and spread of Christianity and Islam, in both the Near East and Europe.

Still image for Heritage: Civilization and the Jews season 1 episode 4: The Crucible of Europe: 732-1492

4. The Crucible of Europe: 732-1492

Episode 4 covers the Carolingian empire in the 10th century to the expulsion of the Jews from Spain in 1492.

Still image for Heritage: Civilization and the Jews season 1 episode 5: Search for Deliverance: 1492-1789

5. Search for Deliverance: 1492-1789

Episode 5 covers Jewish history from the time of the expulsion of the Jews from Spain to the French Revolution in 1789.

Still image for Heritage: Civilization and the Jews season 1 episode 6: Roads from the Ghetto: 1789-1925

6. Roads from the Ghetto: 1789-1925

Episode 6 covers 19th century Europe, the time of nationalism, industrialism, romanticism, and socialism, and of massive Jewish emigration from Europe and the growth of Zionism.

Still image for Heritage: Civilization and the Jews season 1 episode 7: The Golden Land: 1654-1930s

7. The Golden Land: 1654-1930s

Episode 7 covers the history of Jews in America from colonial times to the time of the Depression and the contributions of Jews to American society.

Still image for Heritage: Civilization and the Jews season 1 episode 8: Out of the Ashes: 1919-1947

8. Out of the Ashes: 1919-1947

Episode 8 covers the history of European Jewry after World War I up through the rise and spread of fascism, the Nazi era and World War II.

Still image for Heritage: Civilization and the Jews season 1 episode 9: Into the Future: 1880-1990s

9. Into the Future: 1880-1990s

Episode 9 covers the history of the Jews after World War II and the devastating effects of the Nazi Holocaust.

Cast

Photo of Abba Eban

Abba Eban

Narrator (voice)

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