Final answer:
The Old Testament was composed over a 1,000 year period from about the mid-second millennium to the mid-first millennium BCE, encompassing the evolution of Hebrew religious texts and practices.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Old Testament was composed over roughly a 1,000 year period of time from the mid-second to the mid-first millennium BCE. This extensive duration encompasses the development and recording of religious texts from the onset of Hebrew monotheism marked by significant figures such as Abraham and Moses to the later formation of key books of the Torah, especially during and after the critical reforms in the seventh century BCE under Judean King Josiah. Reflecting on other historical texts, such as the Book of Odes and the Classic of History, allows us to understand that the composition of sacred literature was an ongoing process that involved the accumulation of oral traditions, cultural narratives, and religious doctrines over many centuries.