The first ghetto

The Hebrews first came to Egypt to escape a famine. According to the Torah, they were harbored by Joseph, who became Prime Minister to Pharaoh because of his interpretation of dreams.

They were granted their own state in the fat land of Goshen, north of Thebes.

Later, their fortunes fell with the overthrow of the Hyksos kings around the 14th century BCE. Goshen became a ghetto ... the world's first. The Hebrews slowly descended into slavery, as "there arose a Pharaoh who knew not Joseph."