What was one major characteristic of the ancient Hebrews? O A. They set up many colonies in the Mediterranean. O B. They established the largest empire in world history. C. They had one of the first monotheistic religions. O D. They developed the first written language. SUB

C. They had one of the first monotheistic religions.

Extra: The ancient Hebrews, also known as Israelites, are significant in history for their religious beliefs, particularly their monotheistic faith. Monotheism is the belief in a single, all-powerful god, which was a revolutionary concept in a world where most cultures believed in multiple gods and goddesses (polytheism).

This monotheistic religion is now known as Judaism. The Hebrew belief system centered around the worship of Yahweh (or Jehovah), and their sacred texts include the Torah, which is part of the larger body of work known to Christians as the Old Testament. Judaism laid the foundation for other monotheistic religions, including Christianity and Islam, and it introduced many concepts that have had a profound influence on Western civilization, such as the idea of ethical monotheism, which couples morality and ethical behavior with the worship of one God.

The Hebrews' monotheistic belief is also closely tied with their identity as a people, their laws, and their history, as documented in their scriptures. Stories from these texts, such as those about Abraham, Moses, David, and Solomon, are foundational to their faith and demonstrate the Hebrews' unique relationship with God. This relationship includes covenants, or promises, made by God to the Hebrew people, and the concept of following God's laws (the commandments) as part of their religious duty.