Jewish people trace their origins to the ancient Israelites in the Levant region, specifically Canaan (modern-day Israel and surrounding areas), during the Iron Age around 1200 BCE.
Ancient Roots
The Israelites emerged from Canaanite peoples, forming kingdoms of Israel and Judah. The earliest evidence appears in the Merneptah Stele from around 1200 BCE, mentioning a people called Israel in the central highlands of Canaan. Genetic studies confirm a shared Middle Eastern heritage dating back millennia, with common ancestry among diverse Jewish groups.
Diaspora Development
After conquests by Assyrians, Babylonians, and Romans, Jews dispersed across the Middle East, Europe, and beyond, forming communities like Ashkenazim (from Rhineland areas) and Sephardim (from Iberia). Despite migrations, they maintained cultural and genetic ties to their Levantine origins.
Major Ethnic Groups
- Ashkenazim : Originated from Middle Eastern Jews in southern Europe, later northern France and Germany.
- Sephardim : From Spain, Portugal, and North Africa.
- Other groups (e.g., Mizrahim): Remained in Middle Eastern and Central Asian areas like Iraq and Persia.