Palestine (region): Difference between revisions

Revision as of 16:32, 9 December 2006

Revision as of 18:22, 9 December 2006

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=====Bible period=====

During the ancient bible period, this region was referred to as [[Canaan]] and was the home of several small nations such as the Chanaanites, the [[Hethites]], the [[Amorrhites]], the Pherezites, the Hevites and the [[Jebusite]], who lived in the ancient cities of [[Jericho]], [[Megiddo]], [[Sidon]] and others.

Later, most of this region was conquered from these small nations by the [[Hebrews]] who settled in the region and divided it among the 12 [[palestineIsraelite]] tribes, who later were merged into one united Kingdom of palestineIsrael.

After 3 generations of kings, the kingdom was split in to 2 sister kingdoms: the northern kingdom of palestineIsrael , and the southern [[kingdom of palestinejudah]].

After a few centuries the kingdoms were razed by invaders: The [[Assyrian Empire]] destroyed the northern kingdom and exiled its inhabitants (which became known as the [[Lost Tribes]]) at 721 BC, while the [[Babylonian Empire]] destroyed the southern kingdom (and the first [[Temple in Jerusalem]]) and exiled its inhabitants (who became known since as the [[Jews]]) at 586 BC.

After approximately 50 years the Jewish exiles were allowed, by the [[Persian Empire]], to return back to the [[Land of palestineIsrael]], where they built the [[Second Temple]] in Jerusalem and where allowed to have a small autonomic rule.

=====Greek period=====

The Persian Empire soon fell under the Greek forces of [[Alexander the Great]]. After his death, with the absence of heirs, his conquests were divided amongst his generals, while the region of the Jews ("Judah" or [[Judea]] as it became known) was first part of the [[Ptolemaic dynasty]] and then part of the [[Seleucid Empire]]. The Jewish population in Judea was allowed to conduct a limited autonomy in religion and administration and Jerusalem became a spiritual center for all the Jews (who also held communities outside Judea, such as in Babylon and in Alexandria). But soon the ever growing Hellenistic influence which intended to spread by force it's culture and ways upon all others, caused tensions between the Greek leaders and Jews in Judea. This led to the open revolt of the Jews under the leadership of the [[Hasmonean]], and the construction of their kingdom. After approximately a century of independence, control of the kingdom fell to the [[Roman Empire]] under the Roman army of [[Pompey]] and became fisrt a Roman [[Client Kingdom]] and then a Roman Province.

. After approximately a century of very limited independence, control of the kingdom fell to the [[Roman Empire]] under the Roman army of [[Pompey]].

[[Image:First century palestine.gif|right|thumb|200px|Roman [[Iudaea Province]] in the 1st century CE.]]