How did the Jewish ideas spread around the Mediterranean world?

Answer 1

Judaism began to spread when the upper classes were deported by the Babylonians to Babylon to stop them leading revolts in Judea. Many returned to Judea under a dispensation by the new Persian rulers, bringing back a religion with Babylonian additions, including resurrection. It later became a missionary religion, some of which was taken over by the new Christian overlay, others retaining a version of the many sects of Judaism which became standardised. As commercial Jews moved through Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, they brought their religion with them and some people were attracted to Judaism. This spread was ongoing. In the 9th Century, the king of the polytheistic Khazars (southern Russia), looking for a unifying religion, selected Judaism over Islam and Christianity. So the idea that Judaism is a racial religion is erroneous - modern Jews come from many races or peoples who converted to this missionary religion.

Answer 2
Judaism began to spread centuries before the Babylonian exile. 1 Kings records the influence of Solomon on other peoples.
It should be pointed out that the (above) insinuation that Jews are largely not the descendants of the Israelites is an anti-Semitic canard, disproven by DNA studies. In 2000, the analysis of a report by Nicholas Wade "provided genetic witness that Jewish communities have, to a remarkable extent, retained their biological identity separate from their host populations, evidence of relatively little intermarriage or conversion into Judaism over the centuries. The results accord with Jewish history and tradition."
A 2013 study of Ashkenazi mitochondrial DNA found no significant evidence of Khazar contribution to the Ashkenazi Jewish DNA, as would be predicted by the Khazar hypothesis. Although there is no historical or DNA evidence to support the Khazar idea, it is still popular among anti-Semites.

Answer 2

Judaism began to spread when the upper classes were deported by the Babylonians to Babylon to stop them leading revolts in Judea. Many returned to Judea under a dispensation by the new Persian rulers, bringing back a religion with Babylonian additions, including resurrection. It later became a missionary religion, some of which was taken over by the new Christian overlay, others retaining a version of the many sects of Judaism which became standardised. As commercial Jews moved through Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, they brought their religion with them and some people were attracted to Judaism. This spread was ongoing. In the 9th Century, the king of the polytheistic Khazars (southern Russia), looking for a unifying religion, selected Judaism over Islam and Christianity. So the idea that Judaism is a racial religion is erroneous - modern Jews come from many races or peoples who converted to this missionary religion.

Answer 2
Judaism began to spread centuries before the Babylonian exile. 1 Kings records the influence of Solomon on other peoples.
It should be pointed out that the (above) insinuation that Jews are largely not the descendants of the Israelites is an anti-Semitic canard, disproven by DNA studies. In 2000, the analysis of a report by Nicholas Wade "provided genetic witness that Jewish communities have, to a remarkable extent, retained their biological identity separate from their host populations, evidence of relatively little intermarriage or conversion into Judaism over the centuries. The results accord with Jewish history and tradition."
A 2013 study of Ashkenazi mitochondrial DNA found no significant evidence of Khazar contribution to the Ashkenazi Jewish DNA, as would be predicted by the Khazar hypothesis. Although there is no historical or DNA evidence to support the Khazar idea, it is still popular among anti-Semites.

Answer 3

1) As the Jewish communities spread and moved. This phenomenon was set in motion by the various expulsions and persecutions, which drove Jewish populations to settle in new places.
2) As non-Jews came in contact with Jews, there was a degree of influence upon them. Ancient writers speak of large numbers of people in the Mediterranean area who had taken on various Jewish practices. It was these semi-converts who were especially likely to adopt Christianity.

3) As the new religion of Christianity spread, it taught those beliefs which it had adopted directly from Jewish sources, such as the prohibition of infanticide and human sacrifice.

See also:

The influence of Hebrew traditions on the Western world