Bronze and Iron Ages
The Philistines (chronology, geography and significance)
This group came from the Mediterranean, likely Crete, and settled on the southern seashore plains around 1150 BC.
Hellenism (chronology and significance!)
The hybrid creation of Greek and local cultures. Alexander the Great arrived in 332 BCE, and over a significant proccess in the Hellenistic Period, local cultures accepted elements of Hellenism (in religion, politics, and culture), combining Greek culture with their own.
Central Hill(s)
The Central Hill is the hilly region that runs north-south through the middle of the Land of Israel/Palestine. It is bounded by the Jezreel Valley to the north, by the Jordan River Valley to the east, by the Negev Desert to the south, and by the Seashore Plains to the west.
c. 1000 BCE
Around this time, "David" conquers Jerusalem from the Canaanites (Jevus).
Terms: Temple Mount / First Temple, David, Jevus, Jerusalem, Canaanites, Solomon.
What is Professor Eliav's idea of the "Bottleneck"?
Israel/Palestine serves as the "bottleneck" between Africa and Mesopotamia. To get from one region to another, you must go through Israel/Palestine, an idea that has molded the region's development in the Bronze Age, the Iron Age, and in all following historical periods.
Canaan and Jebus (chronology, geography and significance)
The name of the Land of Israel/Palestine prior to the period of the Israelite Monarchy (ca. 1000 BCE), AND the name of modern-day Jerusalem under this group's sovereignty.
Peha/Pahva (chronology, relevant geography and significance)
Pahva = Province. The Persians, during the Persian Period (539 BCE - 333 BCE), split the region into provinces. The first time the region is split into provinces.
Peha = Governor (assigned by the Persians, consistent with Persian policies abroad).
Jezreel Valley
The Jezreel Valley is a valley that runs east-west from the Mediterranean Sea to the Sea of Galilee, just north of the Central Hill. The ancient city of Megiddo is located here. The Via Maris runs through the Jezreel Valley, into Mesopotamia.
332 BCE
Alexander the Great arrives! He conquers Persia in 333 BCE, and makes his way South.
Terms: Alexander the Great, Hellenism, Persia, Darius III (bonus), Persia.
Define the Unified Military Conquest Theory, the Peaceful Infiltration Theory, and the Sociological School, and their significance.
Unified Military Conquest Theory: Canaanite city-states were conquered and destroyed by a unified nation of Israelites who, after victory, settled down in these areas. (Book of Joshua, Albright).
Peaceful Infiltration Theory: Not one, unified conquest but a gradual population shift from (1) people who immigrated to the region over hundreds of years, starting in the Middle/Late Bronze Age (2) coastal cities to the Central Hills, propelled by pastoral groups.
The Sociological School: Revolt from the lower social classes of Canaanite cities, fleeing to the Hills.
The Book of Joshua (significance)
Joshua is the sixth book of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament, which portrays the “Conquest of Canaan” by the Israelites (ca. 1250 BCE). This is cited as leading evidence for the Unified Military Conquest Theory.
Syncretism (chronology and significance)
The process by which two religions combine. The spread of Hellenism during the Hellenistic Period (332 BCE - 167 BCE), and beyond, brought syncretism between native religions and Greek ones.
Samaria
One of the provinces, or pehas, that the Persians formally created from the remnants of the Northern Kingdom of the Iron Age.
The Samaritans (also called Samarians) were the inhabitants of the former northern kingdom of Israel who, according to the Bible, competed with the Judeans in the Persian era. They have a wholly different identity than that of Judeans/Jews.
720 BCE
The Assyrians destroy the Kingdom of Israel (Shalmaneser V and Sargon II) in the eighth century BCE. The Kingdom of Israel falls in 720 BCE, the remaining constituents (after partial exile) are now called Samaritans.
Terms: Assyria, Samaritans, Israelite Kingdom, Iron Age.
Explain the concept of deportation, its relevance in the region, and how it has been used throughout historical periods.
"The action of deporting someone from a country."
Deportation in the Iron Age and the historical periods following is a tool that superpowers can strategically choose to utilize heavily (Assyria, Babylon) or not utilize (Persia, Alexander the Great) to govern a new province. Assyria and Babylon believed strategic and mass deportations would aid new governance, while Cyrus/Persia believed a reversal of deportation policies would be more beneficial.
Nebuchadnezzar (chronology, geography and significance)
The longest-reigning Babylonian king (Iron Age Mesopotamian Superpower). In 586 BCE, under Nebuchadnezzar, Babylon conquered Jerusalem and the Southern Kingdom.
Alexander Jannaeus (chronology, geography, and significance!)
Alexander Jannaeus was the first of the Hasmonaean (Maccabaean) rulers to declare himself King (as opposed to High Priest). He ruled from 103-76 BCE. He ruled in a time of Hasmonaean independence in Jerusalem (between Greek and Roman Rule).
Phoenicia
The coast of modern-day Lebanon. Inhabited by the Phoenicians, an ancient people originating in the Bronze Age that led a maritime civilization, interacting with several of the Near-East superpowers and Alexander the Great.
167 BCE
At this time, the Maccabees/Hasmoneans revolt against the Greek governors of Jerusalem. They are successful in their revolt, which the Maccabees state was motivated by the rise of Hellenism, but Professor Eliav does not believe them (Bonus: Why?).
Terms: Maccabeans/Hassmoneans, Hellenism, Seleucids (the governors at the time), Alexander the Great, Jerusalem.
Please explain the idea of anachronisms and provide an example referenced in our course. Why is
Examples: Calling David a Jew! The identity of Judiasm did not exist until deportees returned in the Persian Period.
Sinuhe (chronology, geography and significance!)
Author of the Tale of Sinuhe (2000 BCE). An Egyptian minister who fled and took refuge with the Canaanite rulers. Describes the collision between the nomads and the settled population, as well as the makeup of Canaanite agriculture. More than 98% of all primary sources from the Bronze Age are destroyed. This source is part of the small number of surviving, first-hand accounts.
The Cylinder of Cyrus (when? what is it? what did it say?)
In 539 BCE, Cyrus II, King of Persia, conquered Babylon and permitted those of the Southern Kingdom who were deported by the Babylonians to return to Jerusalem to rebuild their Temple. Upon the deportee's return, do we see the conflict outlined in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, and the creation of the identity of 'Judaism'
Tel Qasile
A site on the Northern tip of Philistia, right above Jaffa, that contains remains of Philistine settlement. From this site, we see a Philistine Temple, oriented towards the Sea, which provokes questions about their maritime-oriented culture and religion.
516 BCE
The Second Temple is created in Jerusalem, in the Persian Period. The First Temple was destroyed in by the Babylonians, but the returning deportees rebuild this structure on the Temple Mount.
Terms: Solomon, Temple Mount, Second / First Temple, Cyrus, Cyrus' Cylinder, Babylonians, Persians.
Please draw The Map on the board and label the following items:
1. Central Hill(s)
2. Syrian-African Rift
3. Lake of Galilee
4. Dead Sea
5. Red Sea and gulfs (+ name the gulfs)
6. Gaza (city & strip)
Draw.