Suez Canal
description: The Suez Canal is a narrow waterway connecting the Red Sea (the large body of water in the image) to the Mediterranean Sea, barely visible at the top. The Suez Canal is on the top left side of the Sinai Peninsula. The Canal was originally designed in 1854 by the French diplomat Ferdinand de Lesseps. It was strongly opposed by the British for the possible negative effects it would have on British global trade. The British, however, eventually bought a 44% share in the canal in 1875 from Egypt. The Suez Canal was a major point of contention in the 1956 conflict, known as the “Suez Crisis” (or “Sinai War”), when the Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser nationalized the Canal and seized its waterways, leading to a series of military conflicts, culminating in the 1967 Six-Day war.

Rahat
description: Rahat (Arabic for “desert dwellers”) is a well-known <span class="tooltip" title=' A term used for a group of predominantly nomadic, desert-dwelling Arab ethnic group that is traditionally divided into tribes or clans. Further Reading '>Bedouin city, home to people of mostly semi-nomadic Arab descent. The city is north of Be’er Sheva, in the northern Negev, between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. It holds about 60,000 people the majority of whom are Muslim, as evident in this image from the minarets (“beacons”) of the mosques that are visible along the skyline. In modern Israel, the Bedouins are a recognized minority with equal rights of Israeli Jewish citizens—they vote in Israeli elections and enroll in the Israeli army. Still, many problems remain as to their integration into Israeli society.

Be’er Sheva
description: Modern Be’er Sheva is in southern Israel, where the climate is arid. It is the largest city in the Negev, and home to many global Jewish cultural traditions, represented especially by Sephardic (Spanish), Mizrahi (Egyptian, Iraqi), as well as Jews of Indian decent. Today, Be’er Sheva is a flourishing city with a top university and prosperous soccer team. The archaeological evidence for Be’er Sheva dates back to the Iron Age, where it appears to have been the first planned town in the Negev. It was also one of the earliest sites to develop an elaborate man-made water system.

Dead Sea
description: This image looks east over the <span class="tooltip" title=' The lowest place on earth (1,388 feet below sea level), it is located to the east of the Central Hill, between the modern countries of Israel and Jordan. Further Reading '>Dead Sea towards the Jordanian hills. The Dead Sea is 31 miles long and 9 miles wide. It is situated along the Syrian-African Rift, and is the lowest place on earth, about 1,400 feet below sea level. The Dead Sea is fed by the <span class="tooltip" title=' A river that runs south from its source on the slopes of Mt. Hermon to the Sea of Galilee and south again from the Sea of Galilee through the Jordan River Valley to the Dead Sea. Further Reading '>Jordan river at its northern end, but the high banks at the southern end cordon off the water so that it cannot flow out. The fresh water mixes with the sediments of the ground resulting in the extreme salinity of the water, estimated to be over 9 times saltier than the ocean. Fish and plant life is thus impossible. The Dead Sea, however, is rich in mineral resources, such as potash, salt, and fertilizers, which are used for cosmetic products that are exported throughout the world.

Central Hill
description: This picture shows a portion of the <span class="tooltip" title=' 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. Further Reading '>Central Hill rising up from the Seashore plaines, looking east. Over the Hill is the <span class="tooltip" title=' The lowest place on earth (1,388 feet below sea level), it is located to the east of the Central Hill, between the modern countries of Israel and Jordan. Further Reading '>Dead Sea and the <span class="tooltip" title=' A river that runs south from its source on the slopes of Mt. Hermon to the Sea of Galilee and south again from the Sea of Galilee through the Jordan River Valley to the Dead Sea. Further Reading '>Jordan River. The Central Hill is a rectangular topographic feature that runs north and south through central Israel. It comprises a series of interconnected hills, and roughly corresponds to the area known as the West Bank. At the front of the picture are the archaeological remains of the Iron Age town Beit Shemesh, located in a region called the Shefelah, a narrow area of lowland foothills between the Central Hill and the <span class="tooltip" title=' The western region of the Land of Israel/Palestine that sits between the Mediterranean Sea and the Central Hill. Further Reading '>Seashore plains.

Gaza
description: Pictured here, looking west towards the Mediterranean, are the modern neighborhoods of Gaza city [population of over 515,000], the largest city in the Palestinian Territories. Gaza is historically significant as a nexus of ancient Mediterranean culture and a major hub of seafaring trade throughout the 1st millennia BCE. The city is located along the Gaza Strip, a small parcel of Palestinian territory about 25 miles long and ranging from 3 to 7 miles wide (at various points).

Tel-Aviv/Jaffa (Yafo)
description: Tel-Aviv has become today the most important economic center of Israel. Jewish immigrants began settling in the area in the 1880’s, but the city was not officially established until the early 1900’s. It is outlined in this image by the high-rise buildings in the center and north of the city, where global businesses and luxury residences are found. The southern part of the city, known as Jaffa (Yafo), is a famous ancient port city that played a vital role in the economic prosperity of the region in antiquity. The red-roofed buildings, behind the green seaside park, and east of the modern wave-breaker, show this area. Jews live primarily in the north, while Jaffa is home mostly to Arabs. In 1950 Tel-Aviv and Yafo merged into one Israeli municipality, with one elected mayor governing both; it offers a system of dual existence with mixed neighborhoods and even a mixed school, but tensions between the populations still simmer beneath the surface and erupt from time to time.

Land of Israel
description: The land of Israel (circled in red) though small in size, occupies one of the great crossroads of the ancient world. The global superpowers of the ancient Near East (Egypt, <span class="tooltip" title=' Assyria was a major Mesopotamian empire which ruled over Palestine in the 8th-7th centuries BCE. Further Reading '>Assyria, Babylon, and <span class="tooltip" title=' The lands, people, and Empire east of Mesopotamia (in the regions of modern Iran). It conquered the Near East in the mid-6th century. Map of Cyrus&#39; kingdom | Further Reading '>Persia) coveted this area, either as a buffer between warring empires (e.g., Egypt and Assyria) or for its access to important trade routes running through an area that resembles a bottleneck in northern Israel.

The Middle East
description: How should one define the geographic entity known as the “Middle East”? Scholars have diverging views based on political, demographic, and historical factors. The natural topographic and geological features of the region provide a helpful starting point, in particular, the major bodies of water. The “Middle East” can be drawn by tracing the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea, down to the Nile River, and then continuing south to include the Red Sea, then east to the <span class="tooltip" title=' The lands, people, and Empire east of Mesopotamia (in the regions of modern Iran). It conquered the Near East in the mid-6th century. Map of Cyrus&#39; kingdom | Further Reading '>Persian Gulf, then north to the southern part of the Caspian Sea. Lastly, this demarcation continues west towards Turkey and the Mediterranean.

Mediterranean Close-up
description: The areas surrounding the Mediterranean Sea have played a pivotal role in the history of the ancient world. On the northern coast, from west to east, we encounter the regions of Spain, France, Italy, the Balkans, Greece, Turkey, and the Black Sea. On the southern coast we find Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt. The land of Israel/Palestine is on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean.

The Mediterranean region
description: This map shows an aerial view of the Mediterranean Sea and surrounding regions. The Black Sea is directly above the eastern part of the Mediterranean and the Caspian Sea is further east. The European continent is north of the Mediterranean, with North Africa to the south and the Middle East to the east, covering the regions between Egypt and Iran.

Tiberias: aerial view
description: This aerial photograph, looking north, shows the modern city of Tiberias. Tiberias was founded by <span class="tooltip" title=' The son of Herod the Great that was given the northern regions of Galilee and Peraea when his father died in 4 BCE. He ruled them until 39 CE. He also built the city of Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee and is the Herod that is mentioned in the New Testament gospels Further Reading '>Herod Antipas in 20 CE and has been continuously occupied since then. It is located on the west shore of the Sea of <span class="tooltip" title=' "The Galilee" is the hilly region north of the Central Hill in the Land of Israel/Palestine. It consists of two parts, Upper and Lower. The Sea of Galilee in Lower Galilee and the Huleh Valley in Upper Galilee mark its eastern border. Further Reading '>Galilee. At the top of the picture one sees the modern city of Tiberias which sits on the ruins of the Arab town. At the bottom of the picture is the Tiberian neighborhood known as Hammat Tiberias, which developed around the mineral springs that are located there. Between Hammat Tiberias and the modern city one can see an open, green space. That was the location of the Roman and then <span class="tooltip" title=' The name we use today for the Roman Empire in its Christian phase, which is to say, from Constantine until the fall of Constantinople to the Ottomans in 1453. In Palestine, Byzantine rule ended with the Islamic conquest (i.e., it lasted from 332-636 CE in our region). Further Reading '>Byzantine cities. In 1033 CE an earthquake destroyed the Byzantine city and the Arab rulers rebuilt it to the north. The hills of Upper Galilee are visible at the top of the photo.

Golan Heights: Nahal Daliyot
description: This view, looking from the ancient city of Gamla in the <span class="tooltip" title=' A high plateau that rises east and northeast of the Sea of Galilee. Modern Israel took this region from Syria in the war of 1967 (also known as the Six Day War), and continues to hold it to this day. Further Reading '>Golan Heights southwest toward the Sea of <span class="tooltip" title=' "The Galilee" is the hilly region north of the Central Hill in the Land of Israel/Palestine. It consists of two parts, Upper and Lower. The Sea of Galilee in Lower Galilee and the Huleh Valley in Upper Galilee mark its eastern border. Further Reading '>Galilee (visible in the background) illustrates just how quickly the high plateau that makes up the Golan Heights drops down to the <span class="tooltip" title=' A lake located in Lower Galilee, in the north of the Land of Israel/Palestine. The Jordan River feeds it and flows out of it. Further Reading '>Sea of Galilee. The deep ravine in the picture is a <span class="tooltip" title=' A seasonal riverbed (i.e., a dry riverbed in which water runs only during rainstorms). They are widespread in the dry regions of the Middle East. Further Reading '>wadi, or seasonal riverbed.

Upper Galilee: Tanur waterfall
description: This photograph of a waterfall was taken near the modern town of Metulla, at the northernmost reaches of the <span class="tooltip" title=' A valley in Upper Galilee, to the west of the Golan Heights. Today it is a rich agricultural valley surrounded by steep heights to the east and west; however, in antiquity it was a swamp. Further Reading '>Huleh Valley (where the Huleh begins to climb up toward Mt. Hermon and the Anti-Lebanon mountain range). It illustrates the lush, watery nature of Upper <span class="tooltip" title=' "The Galilee" is the hilly region north of the Central Hill in the Land of Israel/Palestine. It consists of two parts, Upper and Lower. The Sea of Galilee in Lower Galilee and the Huleh Valley in Upper Galilee mark its eastern border. Further Reading '>Galilee in the winter months - in excess of 36 inches per winter.

Golan Heights: The Yarmuk River
description: The Yarmuk River, which is barely visible in the bottom right corner of this picture, marks the southern boundary of the <span class="tooltip" title=' A high plateau that rises east and northeast of the Sea of Galilee. Modern Israel took this region from Syria in the war of 1967 (also known as the Six Day War), and continues to hold it to this day. Further Reading '>Golan Heights, separating it from the region that is the modern country of Jordan. It flows west out of the Golan Heights and into the <span class="tooltip" title=' A river that runs south from its source on the slopes of Mt. Hermon to the Sea of Galilee and south again from the Sea of Galilee through the Jordan River Valley to the Dead Sea. Further Reading '>Jordan River just south of the Sea of <span class="tooltip" title=' "The Galilee" is the hilly region north of the Central Hill in the Land of Israel/Palestine. It consists of two parts, Upper and Lower. The Sea of Galilee in Lower Galilee and the Huleh Valley in Upper Galilee mark its eastern border. Further Reading '>Galilee.

Lower Galilee
description: This photograph shows the <span class="tooltip" title=' A wide open plateau that runs east/west from the Mediterranean Sea to the Sea of Galilee, just north of the Central Hill. The city of Megiddo is located in it. Further Reading '>Jezreel Valley, which separates the central hills from Lower <span class="tooltip" title=' "The Galilee" is the hilly region north of the Central Hill in the Land of Israel/Palestine. It consists of two parts, Upper and Lower. The Sea of Galilee in Lower Galilee and the Huleh Valley in Upper Galilee mark its eastern border. Further Reading '>Galilee. The <span class="tooltip" title=' "Way of the Sea" in Latin, it was the main "highway" that ran through the Land of Israel/Palestine on the coast. Further Reading '>Via Maris (the road that runs north from Egypt along the coast) cuts through the Jezreel Valley on its way to <span class="tooltip" title=' The capital of modern Syria, just to the north of the Golan Heights. It was also the capital of the Umayyad caliphate (661-750 CE). Further Reading '>Damascus. Southern Galilee, known as 'Lower Galilee' in antiquity because it was of lower elevation than the northern half of Galilee, is the most fertile part of Israel/Palestine, good for both farming and shepherding. The mountain in the background is Mt. Tabor.

Jordan River
description: This is a view of the Upper <span class="tooltip" title=' A river that runs south from its source on the slopes of Mt. Hermon to the Sea of Galilee and south again from the Sea of Galilee through the Jordan River Valley to the Dead Sea. Further Reading '>Jordan River, North of the Sea of <span class="tooltip" title=' "The Galilee" is the hilly region north of the Central Hill in the Land of Israel/Palestine. It consists of two parts, Upper and Lower. The Sea of Galilee in Lower Galilee and the Huleh Valley in Upper Galilee mark its eastern border. Further Reading '>Galilee. The main source of the Jordan River is located near Banias (Caesarea Philippi), 1,312 feet above sea level. It drops down into the <span class="tooltip" title=' A valley in Upper Galilee, to the west of the Golan Heights. Today it is a rich agricultural valley surrounded by steep heights to the east and west; however, in antiquity it was a swamp. Further Reading '>Huleh Valley and then down to the <span class="tooltip" title=' A lake located in Lower Galilee, in the north of the Land of Israel/Palestine. The Jordan River feeds it and flows out of it. Further Reading '>Sea of Galilee, and from there down to the <span class="tooltip" title=' The lowest place on earth (1,388 feet below sea level), it is located to the east of the Central Hill, between the modern countries of Israel and Jordan. Further Reading '>Dead Sea (1,300 feet below sea level). This view of the upper Jordan River (above the Sea of Galilee) shows both the size of the river and the turbulence of the water, as well as the more mountainous terrain of this part of the country.

Jordan River
description: This is a view of the <span class="tooltip" title=' A river that runs south from its source on the slopes of Mt. Hermon to the Sea of Galilee and south again from the Sea of Galilee through the Jordan River Valley to the Dead Sea. Further Reading '>Jordan River, south of the Sea of <span class="tooltip" title=' "The Galilee" is the hilly region north of the Central Hill in the Land of Israel/Palestine. It consists of two parts, Upper and Lower. The Sea of Galilee in Lower Galilee and the Huleh Valley in Upper Galilee mark its eastern border. Further Reading '>Galilee. The River flows from north to south on the eastern edge of Israel/Palestine. It is neither wide nor deep, and so provides no defensive advantages. The River flows through the <span class="tooltip" title=' Divides modern Israel from Jordan between the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea (to the east of the Central Hill). The Jordan River flows through it and it has often been a natural boundary throughout history. Further Reading '>Jordan valley, with modern Israel/West Bank to the west and Jordan to the east. The Jordan Valley is part of the Syrian African Rift, a geological that characterizes the landscape from northern Syria all the way south to Mozambique, southeast Africa.

Jerusalem: Mount of Olives
description: This view, looking east toward the <span class="tooltip" title=' A hill immediately east of the Old City of Jerusalem and the Temple Mount. The Jehoshaphat Valley runs between the Mount of Olives and Jerusalem. Further Reading '>Mt. of Olives, shows the modern Seven Arches Hotel on its summit and the Jewish cemetery that has been built on its western slope. At the base of the Mt. of Olives is the steep <span class="tooltip" title=' The valley that runs southeast from Jerusalem down to the Dead Sea. Further Reading '>Kidron Valley, which cuts dramatically between the <span class="tooltip" title=' Also known as the Haram esh-Sharif ("Noble Sanctuary" in Arabic), it is the site where the Jewish Temple stood and where the Dome of the Rock and al-Aqsa Mosque now stand. The massive Temple Mount compound that exists today was built by Herod the Great in the late 1st century BCE and early 1st century CE. Further Reading '>Temple Mount (and the Old City to the west) and the Mt. of Olives (to the east).

Tel Be'er Sheva
description: This aerial view of Tel Be'er Sheva shows the 8th century BCE outline of the <span class="tooltip" title=' According to the Bible, the descendents of the 12 sons of Jacob/Israel who formed the nation of Israel. Further Reading '>Israelite city and gives an idea of the aridity of the <span class="tooltip" title=' The arid region south of the Central Hill in the Land of Israel/Palestine. Further Reading '>Negev desert. The city was built in the 10th-9th century BCE by first constructing a platform surrounded by a moat. The city was then built on top of this rampart and a wall was built around the city. It was destroyed in the 8th century BCE, probably as a result of the campaign of the <span class="tooltip" title=' Assyria was a major Mesopotamian empire which ruled over Palestine in the 8th-7th centuries BCE. Further Reading '>Assyrian king <span class="tooltip" title=' The King of Assyria from 704-681 BCE. Further Reading '>Sennacherib in 701 BCE. Note that, rather than the Hippodamian plan of Graeco-Roman cities (i.e., perpendicular streets), this Israelite city had a circular street plan.
date: -1000-01-01/-0700-01-01

Jerusalem: aerial view
description: This aerial view towards Jerusalem from the east shows just how arid the <span class="tooltip" title=' 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. Further Reading '>Central Hill becomes as one passes the watershed line from west to east into the rain shadow on its east side. This is the beginning of the <span class="tooltip" title=' The name of the administrative region around Jerusalem in the late Second Temple and Roman periods. Further Reading '>Judaean Desert.

Dead Sea
description: The <span class="tooltip" title=' The lowest place on earth (1,388 feet below sea level), it is located to the east of the Central Hill, between the modern countries of Israel and Jordan. Further Reading '>Dead Sea, which is the lowest place on earth (1,388 feet below sea level), received its name from the fact that its high salinity precludes almost anything from living in it. Water flows into it from various sources, including the <span class="tooltip" title=' A river that runs south from its source on the slopes of Mt. Hermon to the Sea of Galilee and south again from the Sea of Galilee through the Jordan River Valley to the Dead Sea. Further Reading '>Jordan River, and cannot flow out. As a result the water absorbs many minerals from the ground before it evaporates, leaving salt and mineral formations behind.

Jericho
description: The city of Jericho sits in the <span class="tooltip" title=' A river that runs south from its source on the slopes of Mt. Hermon to the Sea of Galilee and south again from the Sea of Galilee through the Jordan River Valley to the Dead Sea. Further Reading '>Jordan River Valley, in the <span class="tooltip" title=' The name of the administrative region around Jerusalem in the late Second Temple and Roman periods. Further Reading '>Judaean Desert. It has been continuously inhabited since at least 9,000 BCE. Though the Jordan River is nearby (ca. 5 miles away), the city of Jericho gets its water from a prolific local spring. In the foreground is the <span class="tooltip" title=' Also called "Maccabean," the two words refer to the dynasty of independent Jewish rulers in the 2nd-1st centuries BCE (167-63 BCE) who came to power after the Maccabaean Revolt. Further Reading | Even Further Reading '>Hasmonaean fortress of Doq. In the background, in the upper right of the photo, is the northern edge of the <span class="tooltip" title=' The lowest place on earth (1,388 feet below sea level), it is located to the east of the Central Hill, between the modern countries of Israel and Jordan. Further Reading '>Dead Sea.
date: -0167-01-01/-0037-01-01

Judaean Desert
description: The <span class="tooltip" title=' The name of the administrative region around Jerusalem in the late Second Temple and Roman periods. Further Reading '>Judaean Desert is located east of Jerusalem (which is in the distance, at the top of the hill) and is formed by the topography of the <span class="tooltip" title=' 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. Further Reading '>Central Hill descending toward the <span class="tooltip" title=' Divides modern Israel from Jordan between the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea (to the east of the Central Hill). The Jordan River flows through it and it has often been a natural boundary throughout history. Further Reading '>Jordan Valley and the <span class="tooltip" title=' The lowest place on earth (1,388 feet below sea level), it is located to the east of the Central Hill, between the modern countries of Israel and Jordan. Further Reading '>Dead Sea (the lowest place on earth). It is very dry, as a result of being in the rain shadow that is created by the prevailing weather patterns that arrive at the Central Hill from the west. In addition, the soil is comprised mostly of Senonian limestone that erodes easily and does not retain moisture well.

Upper Galilee: Huleh Valley
description: Northern <span class="tooltip" title=' "The Galilee" is the hilly region north of the Central Hill in the Land of Israel/Palestine. It consists of two parts, Upper and Lower. The Sea of Galilee in Lower Galilee and the Huleh Valley in Upper Galilee mark its eastern border. Further Reading '>Galilee was known as 'Upper Galilee' in antiquity because its elevation was higher than Southern Galilee. Today its central portion, called the <span class="tooltip" title=' A valley in Upper Galilee, to the west of the Golan Heights. Today it is a rich agricultural valley surrounded by steep heights to the east and west; however, in antiquity it was a swamp. Further Reading '>Huleh Valley (visible in the foreground of this picture), is a rich agricultural valley surrounded by steep heights to the east and west; however, in antiquity this valley was a swamp. In the background is Mt. Hermon, the northernmost and highest point in modern Israel/Palestine, rising to over 7,200 feet.

Jerusalem: aerial view
description: This aerial photograph of Jerusalem, looking north, shows the hilly character of the area. The Old City, including the <span class="tooltip" title=' "Kubbat ash-Sakhra" in Arabic, this is the golden-domed shrine that is located on the Temple Mount (or Haram esh-Sharif) in Jerusalem. It was built by the Umayyad Caliph Abd al-Malik in 691 CE. Further Reading '>Dome of the Rock and the <span class="tooltip" title=' The only mosque on the Temple Mount/Haram esh-Sharif. It sits on the southwest corner of the platform and has a gray dome. Further Reading '>Al-Aqsa Mosque, can be seen in the center of the picture, and the skyscrapers of the new city are in the background. The shadow to the right of the <span class="tooltip" title=' Also known as the Haram esh-Sharif ("Noble Sanctuary" in Arabic), it is the site where the Jewish Temple stood and where the Dome of the Rock and al-Aqsa Mosque now stand. The massive Temple Mount compound that exists today was built by Herod the Great in the late 1st century BCE and early 1st century CE. Further Reading '>Temple Mount covers the western slope of the <span class="tooltip" title=' The valley that runs southeast from Jerusalem down to the Dead Sea. Further Reading '>Kidron Valley (biblical Valley of Jehoshaphat). The <span class="tooltip" title=' One of the valleys that borders Jerusalem on the east and south sides. Further Reading '>Hinnom Valley runs perpendicular, then curves around the southwestern edge of the Old City. The shadow to the left of the Temple Mount is the Tyropoean Valley ("Valley of the Cheesemakers"). The <span class="tooltip" title=' Built by David ca. 970 BCE on the site of the earlier Jebusite city Jebus; it was also called Jerusalem. It physically sits on the slope of hill south of the modern Old City and Temple Mount, near the Gihon Spring. Further Reading '>City of David sits between these two shadows, below the southern wall of the Temple Mount. At the top right of the photo you can see the water tower o…

Sinai Peninsula: map
description: The <span class="tooltip" title=' A relatively large desert south of the Land of Israel/Palestine. Further Reading '>Sinai Desert is bounded by the Gulf of Suez and the Gulf of Aqaba. The region names on this map (<span class="tooltip" title=' The region in which the Moabites lived in the Iron Age. It is located on the eastern side of the Jordan River. Ammon was to its north and Edom was to its south. Further Reading '>Moab, <span class="tooltip" title=' Edom is the region where the tribe of the Edomites lived in the Iron Age. It is located in southern Jordan, east of the Dead Sea and the Negev Desert. In the Persian and Hellenistic periods some of the Edomites appear to have migrated west into the Negev Desert and became the Idumaeans. Further Reading '>Edom, Midian, Goshen, and Egypt), as well as the names and locations of the cities, are those of the Biblical period (Bronze and Iron Ages). The map shows the main transportation routes (in black lines) of the ancient Near East, especially the <span class="tooltip" title=' "Way of the Sea" in Latin, it was the main "highway" that ran through the Land of Israel/Palestine on the coast. Further Reading '>Via Maris, starting in Egypt and going north along the Mediterranean coast, and the so-called 'Kings Highway' that begins at the northern tip of the Gulf of Aqaba and runs north along the Syrian-African Rift. The red lines plot conjectured routes from the stories of the <span class="tooltip" title=' According to the Bible, the descendents of the 12 sons of Jacob/Israel who formed the nation of Israel. Further Reading '>Israelite <span class="tooltip" title=' The second book of the Bible and the name for the Israelite migration from Egypt in the days of Moses. Further Reading | Even Further Reading '>Exodus from Egypt.

Ancient Mediterranean: relief map
description: Israel is located on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea, between the Sinai Peninsula, the Arabian Peninsula, and Syria. Other important regions include Italy, Greece, and Asia Minor, which make up the northern edge of the Mediterranean, and the inland region of <span class="tooltip" title=' Literally "between the rivers," it is the region that surrounds the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, in modern-day Iraq and Iran. It is the "cradle of civilization," so-called because the earliest cities and evidence of written language come from this area. Further Reading '>Mesopotamia, which is bounded by the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Mesopotamia and the eastern shore of the Mediterranean constitute the 'Fertile Crescent' around the arid desert that makes up most of the Arabian Peninsula. To the south of the Mediterranean (the bottom left of the picture) is the region of North Africa, the territory of modern countries such as Egypt, Libya, Tunisia and Algeria.

Central Hill: typical landscape
description: This landscape is typical of many parts of the <span class="tooltip" title=' 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. Further Reading '>Central Hill. To the right one can trace the valley that descends from the peak of the central hills and runs west toward the Mediterranean. The steep slopes on the left are man-made terracing (known in Arabic as terrasa, steps) necessary for agriculture; the rainfall on the western slope of the Central Hill provides water.

Sinai Desert
description: This photo of the northern <span class="tooltip" title=' A relatively large desert south of the Land of Israel/Palestine. Further Reading '>Sinai Desert shows the geography, topography, and sparse vegetation that is characteristic of southern Israel/Palestine and the area to its south. Much of its topography is created by sand dunes that are created around rocky hills and mountains (as can be seen in at the top of the photograph).

Tel Beit Shemesh
description: This view of Tel Beit Shemesh (the archaeological ruins in the foreground), an <span class="tooltip" title=' According to the Bible, the descendents of the 12 sons of Jacob/Israel who formed the nation of Israel. Further Reading '>Israelite town during the Iron Age, gives a feel of the transition from the <span class="tooltip" title=' The western part of the Land of Israel/Palestine that sits between the Mediterranean Sea and the Central Hill. Further Reading '>Coastal plain to the <span class="tooltip" title=' 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. Further Reading '>Central Hill. The peaks of the Central Hill, running from north to south (left to right), are seen rising in background. This region between the hills and the <span class="tooltip" title=' The western region of the Land of Israel/Palestine that sits between the Mediterranean Sea and the Central Hill. Further Reading '>seashore plains (which are not seen the photograph) is called the <span class="tooltip" title=' The foothill region between the Seashore Plains and the Central Hill in the Land of Israel/Palestine. Further Reading '>Shephelah.
date: -1200-01-01/-0700-01-01

Northern Central Hill
description: These hills are part of the northern <span class="tooltip" title=' 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. Further Reading '>Central Hill of Palestine. This view shows the valley of Liban, which is in the region that was Samaria in antiquity, and the modern village of Sawiya (on the far hill). The modern road follows the ancient route to Shechem. The valley in the center of the photograph creates an open flat space between the mountains, which is naturally used for agriculture (note that the village is located on the ridge of the hill, not to take away from the valuable and rare agricultural land).

Jerusalem: the Old City
description: A view of <span class="tooltip" title=' A relatively low hill within the Old City of Jerusalem, on its western side. Further Reading '>Mt. Zion (in the Old City of Jerusalem) from the <span class="tooltip" title=' One of the valleys that borders Jerusalem on the east and south sides. Further Reading '>Hinnom Valley. The Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu is visible on the upper slope and the Dormition Abbey is visible on the ridge at the upper right corner of the photo. The photograph represents architecture typical of the <span class="tooltip" title=' 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. Further Reading '>Central Hill where houses need to accommodate the terraces and rising nature of the slopes.

Coastal Plain
description: This view of the fields below the <span class="tooltip" title=' 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. Further Reading '>Central Hill shows the lush nature of the <span class="tooltip" title=' The western part of the Land of Israel/Palestine that sits between the Mediterranean Sea and the Central Hill. Further Reading '>Coastal Plain between Tel Aviv and Caesarea Maritima. The blue line in the background is the Mediterranean.

Caesarea: The Roman theater
description: This aerial view of the area just south of the harbor at Caesarea Maritima shows the Roman theater (approx. 4,000 seats in its final stage) and the remains of the Promontory Palace (in the lower left corner of the photo), both built in the 1st century BCE. On the right are some of the modern buildings of the town of Sdot Yam.
date: -0037-01-01/1265-01-01

Land of Israel/Palestine: satellite photo
description: This satellite photograph of Israel/Palestine shows the main geographical markers that define the borders of the country. The two bodies of water are the Sea of <span class="tooltip" title=' "The Galilee" is the hilly region north of the Central Hill in the Land of Israel/Palestine. It consists of two parts, Upper and Lower. The Sea of Galilee in Lower Galilee and the Huleh Valley in Upper Galilee mark its eastern border. Further Reading '>Galilee (in the north) and the <span class="tooltip" title=' The lowest place on earth (1,388 feet below sea level), it is located to the east of the Central Hill, between the modern countries of Israel and Jordan. Further Reading '>Dead Sea (in the south). Flowing between them from north to south is the <span class="tooltip" title=' A river that runs south from its source on the slopes of Mt. Hermon to the Sea of Galilee and south again from the Sea of Galilee through the Jordan River Valley to the Dead Sea. Further Reading '>Jordan River, which flows through the <span class="tooltip" title=' Divides modern Israel from Jordan between the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea (to the east of the Central Hill). The Jordan River flows through it and it has often been a natural boundary throughout history. Further Reading '>Jordan Valley (part of the Syrian-African Rift, also known as The Great Rift Valley). Between the Jordan Valley and the Mediterranean Sea is the <span class="tooltip" title=' 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. Further Reading '>Central Hill region, and between the Central Hill and the Mediterranean Sea to the west is the <span class="tooltip" title=' The western part of the Land of Israel/Palestine that sits between the Mediterranean Sea and the Central Hill. Further Reading '>Coastal Plain. In the botto…

Caesarea and the Coastal Plain
description: This aerial view of the ancient harbor of Caesarea Maritima, looking from the Mediterranean sea toward the northeast, gives a feel of what the Coastal Plains are like. They are relatively flat and fertile from the rain runoff. The ports and cities that dot the coastline thrived on maritime trade and made control of the <span class="tooltip" title=' The western part of the Land of Israel/Palestine that sits between the Mediterranean Sea and the Central Hill. Further Reading '>Coastal Plain strategically important. The city in this picture was built by <span class="tooltip" title=' A Jewish king of Edumaean descent who ruled Palestine under Roman authority from 40-4 BCE. Further Reading | Even Further Reading '>Herod the Great in the 1st century BCE. Protruding from the coast into the sea is an artificial wave breaker that Herod's engineers devised to allow the ships to set anchor. On the coast to the right are the ancient ruins of the city of Caesarea.
date: -0037-01-01/1265-01-01

Sinai Peninsula: satellite photo
description: The Sinai Peninsula is nowadays part of the modern State of Egypt. The Gulf of Suez, on the left, divides it from the rest of Egypt. The Gulf of Aqaba, on the right, separates it from Saudi Arabia. The southernmost tip of Israel is at the northernmost tip of the Gulf of Aqaba, there sits the modern city of Eilat. These two gulfs are fingers of the Red Sea, to the south, which is, in turn, an extension of the Indian Ocean. The Mediterranean Sea is visible in the background and so is the <span class="tooltip" title=' The lowest place on earth (1,388 feet below sea level), it is located to the east of the Central Hill, between the modern countries of Israel and Jordan. Further Reading '>Dead Sea at the top right corner.