The Beginning of Citizenship also dates back to the ancient Israelites. The Israelites preserved their identity as a people despite being enslaved by neighboring civilizations.  This preservation of ethnic identity, has been linked to the development of citizenship.

The Israelites were a confederation of Iron Age Semitic-speaking tribes of the ancient Near East, who inhabited a part of Canaan during the tribal and monarchic period. In the Hebrew Bible the term Israelites is used interchangeably with the term Twelve Tribes of Israel, who existed 3000 years ago.

These Jewish people developed an understanding of themselves as a distinct and unique people—different from the Egyptians or Babylonians, following had a written history, common language and one-deity-only religion

Jews,  formed a strong attachment to their own group, such that people of different ethnicities were considered as part of an “outgroup”. This is in contrast to the modern understanding of citizenship as a way to accept people of different races and ethnicities under the umbrella of being citizens of a nation.

Some historians also believe the citizenship also originated in ancient Greece.

About World Passport Museum

The World Passport Museum planned for opening in 2021 will exhibit historical collection of passports, identity documents, visas and other papers from historical era. Non profit organization. Donations welcome!

Please visit http://passportmuseum.org