Ancient Palestine: history, culture and traditions.

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Scientists believe that before the conquest of the Jewish tribes in the late second millennium BC and finding written history of ancient Palestine was a territory where signs of human habitation were discovered six hundred thousand years BC.On the basis of the found fragments of skeletons, flint tools, elements of architecture, burials, scientists discovered that the hunting and gathering in this region began about 0.6 million years ago, and subsequently followed by the production of tools from pebbles, chopped.Later, the inhabitants of this region have mastered the technique of production items by chopping chips and flakes, slightly increased the productivity of labor in those days.

from hunting and gathering to urban life

history of ancient Palestine before the script is divided, usually into three stages.The first, which lasted up to 10 millennium BC, shows that people in this region were mainly involved in gathering and hunting.In a period of 10 000 - 5300 years BC, the inhabitants of most of the Palestinian lands mastered agriculture, and later - moved into the era of cities, which was characterized by the emergence of trade, permanent settlements, protecting fledgling army.Write here the same historical events began about 2 thousand. BC.

ancient Palestine is remarkable that in its territory for eight thousand years before Christ, as it were "alone" there was the city of Jericho.This is one of the oldest cities on the planet, located 260 meters below sea level (lowest location).His first settlers did not own pottery, but were able to cultivate the land and built a wall around the city of rough stone, while living in houses made of mud brick.Natufiytsy (as scientists call them) are the result of mixing Negro Australoids and Caucasians.They lived in Jericho 8-9 millennium BC.After them, the area occupied by representatives tahuniyskoy culture - tribes already possessing pottery.This unique capital of ancient Palestine, repeatedly destroyed, including by order of Joshua in the early 12th century BC.

Palestinian cities were not the center of a single civilization in ancient times

At the end of the fourth millennium BC in Palestine began to appear small city-state, rather prosperous due to the fact that in the area were numerous trade routes linkingEurope, Asia and Africa.In addition, residents of Palestinian lands themselves could offer products that are in demand.It was salt and bitumen from the Dead Sea, antimony from the Levant, balms from Galilee, copper and turquoise from Sinai, olives, wine, livestock and crop production.In that period of ancient Palestine has been developed in the trade relations between the regions, however, did not become the center of civilization, unlike Egypt, Syria and northern Mesopotamia, where there is almost empire.In the Palestinian territories at the time of settlement it was like medieval cities in Europe, but, in contrast to Egypt, there was no single written language and sufficiently strong king who could combine separate administrative entities under his rule.

What cities while possessed of Palestine?The ancient world, opened by scientists during excavations in the twentieth century, was quite advanced for its time.In particular, even Neolithic Ashkelon was discovered an unprecedented number of animal bones, indicating that it was probably a major place of the ancient slaughterhouse, which produced meat salted with salt from the Dead Sea.Total in the area discovered cultural layer thickness of 16 meters.If his study found that through this town going the way from Egypt to the Hittites, and later in Rome and Greece, the path of the Parthian kingdom in Egypt.Next to this large settlement emerged "Incense Road" from Arabia and "spice route" from the alarm and Petra via Eilat iemenskie ports of the Indian Ocean.It is not surprising that the city sought to capture everyone who came to the Palestinian lands.

settlements in Palestine are repeatedly mentioned in the Bible

What localities were still known contemporaries of ancient Palestine?Lesson 5 grade school, you may want to supplement the information on such settlements, as the Strip and Ashdod.Gaza is one of the most ancient cities in the world (founded in 3 thousand. BC), part of the Philistine Pentapolis - five localities inhabited by the Philistines, who initially only in the Middle East owned the technology of smelting iron and were successful wars.The Bible mentions Strip more than twenty times.The ancient city in Palestine, Ashdod, was densely inhabited in the 10 century BC.The first buildings on this site belong to the seventeenth century BC, and the first written mention - in the 14th century BC.Ashdod has always been a major trading settlement, which in turn took the Canaanites, Philistines, Assyrians, Egyptians, and others.

interesting concept about the causes of migration in the Palestinian lands in the 2 thousand. BC.e.

Ancient Palestine (Grade 5 school is unlikely to be acquainted with such theories) from the third millennium BC was exposed to significant immigration flows.Some scientists are science fiction (Zecharia Sitchin, in particular) believe that the migration of peoples from the deserts of the west and north-east could be related to the use of nuclear weapons similarity in 2048 BC in the region of the Sinai Peninsula by a more advanced civilization.This caused radioactive contamination area and the great wave of migration (following possible exposure remained in the Sinai Peninsula in the form of sintered at the highest temperature pebbles).In particular, the Palestinian lands arrived numerous tribes of the Hyksos (perhaps it was the association amalekitov, hannaneev, huritov and other nomadic tribes), who had a cart armies and easily conquered Egypt and Palestine, which in those days did not have cavalry troops.

Items not peculiar to the era of the house and two angles

Note that the prehistoric culture of ancient Palestine is rich in archaeological mysteries.In particular, scientists have found in the layers belonging to the Middle Paleolithic, blades, very different in technical terms from the basic array of tools, which owned the cavemen in the locality.How they got there and why quickly disappeared from circulation, it remains a mystery to this day.Studying how was arranged Ancient Palestine (5th grade school), you can draw students' attention to the way the ancient settlements were built in the area.There were initially apsidnye home (with one curved wall, which was opposed to the wall with two angles).In several rooms of the buildings inhabited by people, almost always in conjunction with the cattle and food stocks.

At a later period the rich began to erect two-storey rectangular structures, where the owners live on the second floor and on the ground were shed, storage and utility rooms.Private houses in the cities themselves were not enough - most of the urban areas are occupied by fortifications, public buildings, such as churches, the streets were narrow.Here were mainly artisans know, soldiers, merchants, while peasants lived outside the city walls, in Selishche.

Their temples were similar to the Mesopotamian

presence in the settlements (Megiddo, Gai, Beth Dzheharov, Beth-Shan) residues of large structures, reaches tens of meters in length with columns, courtyards, often driven through the "east-west", it has allowed a number of scientists argue that the people of Palestine in ancient times worshiped gods (temples similar to the Mesopotamian temples of Baal-Dagon in structure).But excavations in these cities could not find any similarities altars and objects of worship.Therefore, some experts believe that these "temples" were simply granaries.Ancient Palestine experienced in the early days of the invasion of peoples who left traces in its culture in the form of specific ceramics (seroloschenoy) and bear (not shown where) stone mortar with pestle, with new people almost never used a weapon made of bone or flint.It has an impact on the culture of the region and powerful neighbor - Egypt, where, presumably, come "fashion" on the red ceramic vessels with a pen on a narrow stalk.

In ancient Palestine, the font was a picture

ancient state in Palestine found its first written about in the second millennium BC, and the letter is applied to the pictorial.The number of used characters were different geometric shapes, for example, the cross and the image of a man in various poses.Most often the mark made on the vessels, which transport goods.But other civilizations wrote about this region much more.For example, in Egypt, in the twenty-fourth century BC, it was the first mark of the military campaigns in Syria-Palestine region (led by commander Bottom).In hannaneyskih sources, this area was referred to as, respectively, Kanaan.About Palestine (Syria, Palestine) wrote in his writings of Herodotus, and of course, this area is referred to repeatedly in religious documents, including the Bible.

From the middle of the second millennium BC, partly ancient Phoenicia and Palestine (almost completely), inhabited by Canaanite (including Philistines) and amonitskie tribes were attacked by nomadic peoples Habirov (Ibra, the ancestors of the ancient Hebrews)which, in turn, gradually mastered sedentary.In their midst on the basis of the development of trade exchange and constant wars arose class stratification that will enrich and strong members of society claim to be leaders who have been found in the small tribal communities against the impact of waning empires of the past centuries (Egypt).The heads of these unions began to unite the territory around them.Thus, in these areas there was a kingdom of Israel King Saul, who later became united kingdom of Israel and Judah (with the kings David and Solomon).It disintegrated after Solomon's death, and was partially conquered by the Assyrian king Sargon II.

In this region, there is no rest for millennia

ancient history of Palestine in the next millennium is linked with the constant clashes of different interests, cultures, countries and peoples that exist to this day, without adding peace and tranquility in the region.For example, after the fall of Assyria in the late seventh century BC.e.Jews tried to return the Palestinian territories, but instead underwent later King Nebuchadnezzar attacked and looted their capital and so on. With the population of these lands have repeatedly drove into captivity (Babylon, Egypt), but always go back.

differences between Palestine and Phoenicia

ancient Phoenicia and Palestine, despite the similar composition of living in these nations and proximity are some of the features of each territory.For example, Phoenicia never had more agricultural land, but had a major trade port city, where has long been developed seamanship (military and civilian).Excellent sailors, Phoenicians, supplying goods to Egypt, periodically falling under the yoke of the ancient empire (in the middle of the second millennium BC, for example).Later developed trade with Crete, which had at that time the largest copper reserves.

Phoenician city-states produce dried fish, wine, olive oil, first began to use slaves rowing in the galleys.It originated in the area alphabetic writing system based on Egyptian hieroglyphics, which gave later the beginning of the Greek alphabet.Phoenician territory in the 12th century BC, was able to become independent from Egypt and developed the path of colonization of other areas.Courageous city residents went to sea travel and founded the city, for example, Carthage settlements in Malta and Sardinia.

the most ancient in the world of the Bible found in jars

from Israeli territory, Judea, Palestine linked and biblical subjects, which gave the world a new religion - Christianity.And it is on the coast of the Dead Sea, in the neighborhood of Wadi Qumran scrolls were found ancient Qumran caves in Palestine.These documents, which are the oldest manuscripts of the Bible in the world, sealed in jars, accidentally found a shepherd.Since leather scrolls proved unsuitable for the production of sandals, a shepherd kept them for some time in his nomadic tent, and then sold for a pittance in Bethlehem in 1947.Scientists have found that these priceless manuscripts for world culture made up a religious community of the Essenes in the first century BC.They include almost all the books of the Old Testament, and a number of related documents.