CU5-1

**Goal** Students will get an overview of the Diaspora from the end of the Roman Empire to the expulsion of the Jews from Spain. 1.  ** Gain the attention of the learner** Many people contributed to the communities of Jewish life in the Diaspora. In the Middle Ages, communities were usually very small, comprising one or two dozen families. In the larger cities, they comprised a population of several thousand. Imagine living with all your realitives in one neighborhood. What do you think your life would be like? 2. ** Relevant past learning** When we left the children of Israel they were living under the control of the Romans. Review the diaspora from biblical to Roman times. 3. ** Introduce new material** Review the chronology. (see "History of the Jews in Spain --- A Brief Timeline." [|http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Academy/8636/History.html. ) 4.   **Provide guided practice** Ask students to collectively imagine where the various places are geographically in relationship to one another and produce on the blackboard a map of the diaspora up to the Middle Ages. Compare the map with maps of the period and with contemporary maps of this part of the world. 5.  **  Provide independent practice ** Each student should pick a place in the diaspora and imagine that she or he is arriving in that place without any knowledge of the customs, language, etc. How would you begin a new life in such a place?  ** 6. Close the lesson** Review the chronology described and restate the periods that will be discussed during the term.
 * 5:1 Jewish Diaspora after Roman Times **