The Jews of Khazaria

Kevin Alan Brook

• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
• Year: 2018
• eBook ISBN: 9781538103432
• Edition: 3
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Jewish History

The Jews of Khazaria explores the history and culture of Khazaria—a large empire in eastern Europe (located in present-day Ukraine and Russia) in the early Middle Ages noted for its adoption of the Jewish religion. The third edition of this modern classic features new and updated material throughout, including new archaeological findings, new genetic evidence, and new information about the migration of the Khazars.

Though little-known today, Khazaria was one of the largest political formations of its time—an economic and cultural power connected to several important trade routes and known for its religious tolerance. After the royal family converted to Judaism in the ninth century, many nobles and common people did likewise. The Khazars were ruled by a succession of Jewish kings and adopted many hallmarks of Jewish civilization, including study of the Torah and Talmud, Hebrew script, and the observance of Jewish holidays. The third edition of The Jews of Khazaria tells the compelling true story of this kingdom past.

Table of contents

• Title Page
• Acknowledgments
• Introduction
• The Origins of the Khazars
• The Cities and Towns of the Khazars
• The Structure of the Khazar Government
• The Khazar Way of Life
• Khazarian Trade
• The Khazars’ Conversion to Judaism
• Relations between the Khazars and Other Peoples
• The Decline and Fall of the Khazar Empire
• The Diaspora of the Khazars
• Eastern and Central European Jews after the Tenth Century
• Appendix A
• Appendix B
• Appendix C
• Appendix D
• Notes
• Bibliography
• Index
• About the Author