Rabbinic Texts and the History of Late-Roman Palestine by Goodman, Martin; Alexander, Philip;

Rövid leírás:

This volume explains to ancient historians the value of the surviving rabbinic material from late-antiquity as evidence for the history of late-Roman Palestine, the nature of that material, and the problems inherent in its use for historical purposes. The book will be invaluable for all scholars concerned with the history of the later Roman Empire.

Hosszú leírás:

This volume brings together studies by experts in the rabbinic literature of late antiquity and by specialists in the history of the Jews in that period in order to reveal the value of rabbinic material as historical evidence and the problems and issues which arise in its exploitation.
A substantial introductory section discusses the current state of knowledge about Palestine in this period and debates about the difficulties involved in editing and dating rabbinic texts. Specific core texts and text categories are then introduced to the reader in a series of ten discrete studies. The volume concludes with six thematic analyses which illustrate the use and limitations of rabbinic evidence for cultural, religious, political, economic and social history.
This volume will be essential reading for all scholars concerned with the history of the later Roman Empire.

Tartalomjegyzék:

• Introduction


• Part I: The Issues


• 1: Philip Alexander: Using Rabbinic Literature as a source for the History of Late-Roman Palestine: Problems and Issues


• 2: Fergus Millar: The Palestinian Context of Rabbinic Judaism


• 3: Peter Schäfer: Research into Rabbinic Literature: An attempt to define the Status Quaestionis


• 4: Chaim Milikowsky: The Status Quaestionis of Research into Rabbinic Literature


• 5: Peter Schäfer and Chaim Milikowsky: Current Views on the Editing of the Rabbinic Texts of Late Antiquity: Reflections on a debate after twenty years


• Part II: The Rabbinic Texts


• 6: Amram Tropper: The State of Mishnah Studies


• 7: Romen Reichman: The Tosefta and its Value for Historical Research: Questioning the historical reliability of case stories


• 8: Gunter Stemberger: Halakhic Midrashim as Historical Sources


• 9: Sacha Stern: The Talmud Yerushalmi


• 10: Richard Kalmin: Problems in the use of the Bavli for the History of Late-Roman Palestine: the example of Astrology


• 11: Alex Samely: Literary Structures and Historical Reconstruction: the example of Amoraic Midrash


• 12: Wout van Bekkum: The Future of Ancient Piyyut


• 13: Robert Hayward: Targum


• 14: Robert Brody: The Epistle of Sherira Gaon


• 15: Peter SchäFer: Hekhalot Literature and the Origins of Jewish Mysticism


• Part III: History


• 16: Seth Schwartz: 'Rabbinic Culture' and Roman Culture


• 17: Catherine Hezser: Material Culture and Daily Life


• 18: Moshe Lavee: Rabbinic Literature and the History of Judaism in Late Antiquity: Challenges, methodology, and new approaches


• 19: William Horbury: Rabbinic Perceptions of Christianity and the History of Roman Palestine


• 20: Aharon Oppenheimer: Politics and Administration


• 21: Hayyim Lapin: Economics and Society


• Conclusion