Ugaritic Clay Tablet

The most influential group in the Middle East was the Jews, who were the first people in the world to develop monotheistic religion. 

Prior to the Jews, most groups in the world were polytheistic, claiming that many gods and goddesses controlled the lives of people.  What was distinctive about this culture was its firm belief that a single God, Jehovah (sometimes referred to as Yahweh), guided the future destiny of the entire nation of Jews.