Part 6/19:
Genesis and early origins: The Jewish people emerged from the dying Bronze Age civilization of Mesopotamia, specifically from a desert tribe amid the decaying environment of Ur and the Fertile Crescent. Their first known social class was the Hapiu, Egyptian term for frontier bandits, eventually evolving into an ethnic identity.
Migration to Egypt and the Exodus: According to biblical record, Jews migrated into Egypt to escape famine, but historic accuracy here is debated. The author disputes the traditional narrative suggesting Jews left Egypt en masse during the Bronze Age collapse, positing instead that they invaded and settled in Canaan after the decline of Egyptian dominance.