The Jewish people were dispersed when Israel was conquered, first by Assyria and then by Babylon (modern day Iraq). This led to the exile (diaspora). In additi

The Jewish people were dispersed when Israel was conquered, first by Assyria and then by Babylon (modern day Iraq). This led to the exile (diaspora). In addition to the people the ideas were dispersed. A good example of this are the magi who come to visit the young Jesus following an astrological sign - an odd mix of Jewish and Persian syncretism. During Roman times Jews could be found all over the Roman Empire. In particular Alexandria, which was a center for scholastic thought (see philo) So it doesn't seem a stretch that religions may have been influenced by Judaism fairly early.