The following is a summary of the some of the time periods of the history of the Holy Land which are part of the conversation during most tours of Israel:
Early Bronze Age (3500-2300)
c.30000 Development of fortified Canaanite cities (e.g. Gezer, Arad, Jarmuth)
Trade relations introduce Egyptian and Mesopotamian influences
Early Bronze IV/Middle Bronze 1/Intermediate Bronze Age (2300-2000 BC)
collapse of Early Bronze Age urban centers.
Pastoral-nomadic lifestyle mainly in drier regions of the country
Agriculture in the hills
Copper weapons and tools
Shaft tombs
Middle Bronze Age (2000 BC to 1550 BC)
Age of the Patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob)
Re-emergence of walled cities
flourishing of Canaanite Cities
introduction of horse and chariot by Canaanites in lower Egypt
earliest evidence for writing in Canaan (cuneiform)
Beginning of alphabetic script in Sinai and Canaan
First use of bronze (alloy of copper and tin) for tools and weapons
Late Bronze Age (1550-1200/1150 BC)
Beginning of the Egyptian Empire
Egyptians conquer Canaan and set up fortified cities in the Holy Land
Moses and Exodus; birth of Hebrew nation
Iron Age I (1200-980 BC)
Time of the Judges
Israel in Canaan
Philistines and other “Sea peoples” establish cities along the coast
Judges, Samuel, Saul
Alphabetic writing and iron technology spread
Mostly unwalled settlements
Iron Age IIA (980-830 BC)
United Monarchy under Saul, David and Solomon
David conquers Jerusalem c. 1000)
Solomon builds 1st temple c. 960)
Economic prosperity in mining, foreign trade and construction
Divided Monarchy – Israel in the north/Judah in the south c.930)
Walled cities
Regional administrative centers (e.g. Beer-sheva, Gezer, Megiddo, Hazor)
Iron Age IIB (830-720 BC)
Divided Monarchy
Phoenician and Aramean influences.
Elijah & Elisha
Rise of Assyrian Empire
Deportation Policy of Assyria forms the nucleus of the Samaritan community.
Assyrians conquer Samaria (722 BC)
Beginning of Aramean wars until Samaria destroyed
Iron Age IIC (720-586 BC)
Judah alone
Sennacherib’s campaign to Judah (701 BC)
Hezekiah’s tunnel, Isaiah & Jeremiah
Josiah’s reform (622 BC)
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon destroys Jerusalem (586 BC)
Many Judeans go into exile in Babylon
Babylonian Period (586-539 BC)
Judah in exile; remnant in the land
Persian conquers Babylon (539 BC)
The Babylonians inherit the kingdom of Assyria and build it
Persian Period (539-332 BC)
Judahites return – return from exile begins with reign of Cyrus (538 BC)
Judah becomes Yehud (a Persian province)
Ezra and Nehemiah
Temple rebuilt in 515 BC
Development of Judaism during this time – Great Assembly
Earliest coinage
Early Hellenistic Period (332-167 BC)
Conquest of Alexander the Great (conquers the known world in 333 BC)
Hellenization in Judea
Translation of Hebrew Bible into Greek (Septuagint)
Greek becomes the lingua franca
Late Hellenistic Period (167-37 BC)
Rise of the Hasmoneans – Revolt against Hellenistic culture and oppression
Hasmonean Revolt in 167 BC (1st Maccabees)
Rededication of the Temple in 164 BC
Hasmonean Dynasty (141-63 BC)
Jerusalem under Roman rule with Pompey (63 BC)
Herod the Great appointed king of Judea by Rom (40 BC)
Inter-testamental literature
Early Roman Period/Herodian (37 BC – 132 AD) – New Testament Period
Roman conquest of Palestine; Judea a Roman province
influence of Roman culture; material prosperity and spiritual turmoil
Rise of Herod the Great; Herod dies in 4 BC
Rebuilding of the Temple
Direct Roman rule under Roman prefects/procurators based in Caesarea (AD 6)
Jesus of Nazareth
Jews rebel against Roman oppression (1st revolt)
fall of Jerusalem and destruction of Second Temple by Titus (70 AD)
Fall of Masada (73 AD)
Late Roman (132-324 AD)
Simon Bar Kochba leads 2nd revolt – Bar Kokhba Revolt (132-136 AD)
Hadrian destroys Jerusalem – builds Aelia Capitolina (135 AD)
Judea renamed Palestina.
Jewish villages and synagogues flourish in Galilee
Mishna (codification of Jewish oral law)
Byzantine Period (324-638 AD)
Constantine inaugurates Christian rule over Jerusalem (326 AD)
Era of the Talmud
Samaritan revolt (529 AD)
Persian invasion (614 AD)
Moslems defeat Christians at the Battle of Yarmuk (636 AD)
Jerusalem falls to Omar (638 AD)
It is helpful to commit these to memory.
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