Palestine (region)

Palestine is a region in West Asia that has been important for many thousands of years. Today, it is where the modern states of Israel and Palestine are located. Over time, the name "Palestine" has described different sizes of this land. It has also been called Canaan, the Promised Land, the Land of Israel, the Holy Land, and Judea.

People have lived in this area for a very long time. One of the earliest records mentioning Palestine comes from a writer named Herodotus in the 5th century BCE. Many different groups and empires have ruled the land over the centuries, including the Roman Empire and the Byzantine Empire.

Today, Palestine is very important because it is the birthplace of Judaism and Christianity. Many holy places for these religions are found there. The land has been the center of many historical events and changes in rule. Because of its history and religious importance, Palestine continues to be a place of great interest around the world.

Etymology

The name Palestine has been used for a very long time. Ancient maps show the region named Palestine. Old writings from Egypt and Assyria mention people called the Peleset or places named Palaistu, which might be related to Palestine.

Greek writers like Herodotus used the term Palestine to describe the area between Phoenicia and Egypt. Roman rulers renamed the Jewish province to Syria Palaestina after a revolt. Today, the name Palestine comes from the ancient people called the Philistines and means “land of wrestlers” in Greek. Other names for parts of this land include Canaan, the Promised Land, the Holy Land, and Judea.

History

Main article: History of Palestine

For a chronological guide, see Timeline of the Palestine region.

Overview

For a more comprehensive list, see Time periods in the Palestine region.

The region of Palestine is located between Egypt, Syria, and Arabia. It is important because it is where Judaism and Christianity began. Many different groups have controlled this area over thousands of years. These include the ancient Egyptians, Canaanites, Israelites, Assyrians, Babylonians, Achaemenids, ancient Greeks, Romans, Parthians, Sasanians, Byzantines, Arab caliphates, Crusaders, Ayyubids, Mamluks, Mongols, Ottomans, the British, and today, Israelis and Palestinians.

Ancient period

See also: Canaan, History of ancient Israel and Judah, and Philistines

Palestine is one of the earliest places where people lived and farmed. During the Bronze Age, Egyptian settlers lived along the coast, and Canaanite cities grew up nearby. Later, the Israelites formed communities in the central hills. Two kingdoms, Israel and Judah, appeared during the Iron Age. The Kingdom of Israel fell to the Assyrians in 722 BCE, and Judah was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BCE. Many people were taken away to Babylon.

Classical antiquity

In the 330s BCE, Alexander the Great conquered the area. Later, it became part of the Seleucid Empire. Tensions grew between Greeks and local people. In 167 BCE, a revolt led to an independent kingdom in Judea. The Romans took control in 63 BCE. Palestine is where Christianity began, based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. Two major revolts against Rome happened in the first and second centuries CE. After the second revolt, the Romans renamed the area Syria Palaestina.

Early Muslim period

The Dome of the Rock, the world's first great work of Islamic architecture, constructed in 691.

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Minaret of the White Mosque in Ramla, constructed in 1318

Arab architecture in the Umayyad and Mamluk periods

Palestine was taken over by the Rashidun Caliphate in 634 CE. The Battle of Yarmouk in 636 CE marked the beginning of Muslim rule. The Dome of the Rock, built in 691, is an important example of early Islamic architecture. Most people were Christian until later conquests. The area was part of the Umayyad and later the Abbasid caliphates. Ramla became an important city, and Tiberias grew as a center for learning.

Crusader/Ayyubid period

The Crusaders captured Jerusalem in 1099 and set up the Kingdom of Jerusalem. They controlled the area until 1187 when Saladin defeated them. Most of Palestine then came under the rule of the Ayyubids. Later, the Fourth Crusade weakened the Byzantine Empire and reduced Christian influence in the region.

Mamluk period

The Mamluk Sultanate began in Egypt after the Seventh Crusade. The Mongols invaded Palestine in 1260 but were stopped by the Mamluks at the Battle of Ain Jalut.

Ottoman period

Further information: History of Palestine § Ottoman period

The Ottoman Empire took control of Palestine in 1516. Local leaders governed parts of the area. In the 18th century, the Zaydani clan ruled much of Palestine until the Ottomans defeated them. In 1830, control shifted to the governor of Acre. Later, Muhammad Ali of Egypt took over but faced uprisings. By the 1860s, Palestine began to develop more, with new farming methods. Large-scale Jewish immigration from Europe began around 1880.

Christian Zionism in the United Kingdom preceded its spread within the Jewish community. The government of Great Britain publicly supported it during World War I with the Balfour Declaration of 1917.

British Mandate period

Main article: Mandatory Palestine

Further information: Zionism, Palestinian nationalism, and United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine

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Palestine passport and Palestine coin. The Mandatory authorities agreed a compromise position regarding the Hebrew name: in English and Arabic the name was simply "Palestine" ("فلسطين"), but the Hebrew version ("פלשתינה") also included the acronym ("א״י") for Eretz Yisrael (Land of Israel).

The British fought in Palestine during World War I. They took control of Jerusalem in 1917 and were given the mandate to govern the region in 1922. Riots happened among Arab Palestinians in 1920, 1921, and 1929, and a larger revolt occurred from 1936 to 1939. After World War II and The Holocaust, the British wanted to end their control. In 1947, the United Nations suggested splitting Palestine into separate Arab and Jewish states. This led to conflict, and in 1948, the State of Israel was declared.

Arab–Israeli conflict

Further information: History of Israel and History of the State of Palestine

In 1948, war broke out between Israel and its neighbors. Israel took more land, and Jordan and Egypt took control of other areas. Many Palestinians had to leave their homes. In 1967, Israel captured the remaining areas and began building settlements. From 1987 to 1993, there was a major uprising called the First Intifada. In 2000, a second uprising began. In 2005, Israel left the Gaza Strip but still controls many parts of it. The situation continues today.

In 2008 Palestinian hikaye was inscribed to UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage; the first of four listings reflecting the significance of Palestinian culture globally.

In November 2012, the status of Palestinian delegation in the United Nations was upgraded to non-member observer state as the State of Palestine.

Boundaries

The area called Palestine has had different borders over time. Long ago, the Jordan Rift Valley, with the Dead Sea and the River Jordan, sometimes marked a border between regions. At other times, areas on both sides of the river were part of the same group or state.

More recently, after World War I, during British rule, the borders of Palestine were set. Today, "Palestine" usually means the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. These areas are controlled by the Palestinian National Authority. They are part of what was once called Mandatory Palestine under British rule.

Administration

The land called Palestine is found in the Middle East. It is a region that many people call home. Today, most of this land is part of two places: Israel and the Palestinian territories. These territories include the West Bank and Gaza. Many people in the world talk about what should happen to this land and who should live there. The situation is complex and has been for many years.

The people who live in the Palestinian territories have their own government called the Palestinian Authority. This group helps manage everyday life for the people there, like schools and hospitals. However, the larger area is influenced by many countries and groups, making decisions about the future of the land difficult.

Many people hope for peace and a future where everyone in the region can live safely and happily together.

Demographics

Main article: Demographic history of Palestine

Early demographics

We can learn about Palestine's population long ago by looking at old records and using science from digs and math.

The Bar Kokhba revolt in the 2nd century changed the number of people in Palestine a lot.

By 300 CE, Christianity had spread so much that Jews were only a small part of the people.

Late Ottoman and British Mandate periods

When the Ottomans ruled, more people moved to Palestine. Towns grew, villages became larger, and farming, industry, and trade developed.

In 1850, Palestine had about 350,000 people, most of whom were Muslims, with some Christians and a few Jews. By 1900, the population grew to about 600,000, still mostly Arabs.

In 1920, a report said 700,000 people lived in Palestine: most were Muslims, some were Christians, and about 76,000 were Jews who had moved there in the past 40 years.

Current demographics

As of 2015, Israel had about 8.5 million people, most of whom were Jews, with many Arabs and others.

The West Bank had about 2.9 million people and the Gaza Strip had about 1.8 million.

Together, the area called Palestine, including Israel and the Palestinian territories, had about 12.8 million people.

Flora and fauna

Main article: Biodiversity in Israel and Palestine

Palestine has many different plants and animals. Scientists study where plants grow in this area, called "PAL". This includes places like Israel, Jordan, and the Golan Heights.

Many birds live in this area and have been listed and studied.

Main article: List of birds of Palestine

See also: Category:Flora of Palestine (region) and List of native plants of Flora Palaestina (A–B)