Read part 1 of the article here: History of the Holy Land Part 1
Bronze Age - the rise of the early cities
The Bronze Age (3150-1200 BC) saw the emergence of copper and bronze art. Most utensils and weapons were made of metal. The first fortified cities appear at this time, and the end of the Early Bronze Age in Nohai sees a return to nomadic ways of life.
In the early 2nd millennium, urban life booms . During this period, the coastal plain and parts of Palestine come under Egyptian rule, and the emerging Canaanite culture shows a strong Egyptian cultural influence. Seal stamps and cylinder seals appear among the utensils. The use of the potter's wheel gives a new impetus to pottery making.
Iron Age - the age of Jewish kingdoms
Then, in the Iron Age (1200-585 BC), seafaring groups of people from various tribes of the Sea Peoples, including the Philistines, conquer the coastal areas and drive out the Egyptians. The Canaanites continue to play an important role. David conquers Jerusalem and extends his power into Palestine, leaving only the fortified cities on the coastal plain to the south in Philistine hands. Solomon takes the throne of the unified kingdom. After his death, the kingdom is divided into Israel and Judah. The Egyptian Pharaoh Shishak (Seson I) conquers Palestine. King Ahab is defeated by Shalmaneser III (Sulmanu- Asaridu), ruler of Assyria.
The Assyrians (722 BC) conquer Israel, and the ten Jewish tribes are scattered. Judah and Upper Egypt fall under Assyrian conquest. Jerusalem surrenders to Babylonia. In 568, the Babylonians sack the city, destroy the Temple and deport the population of Judah to Babylon. After the Persian ruler Cyrus conquers Babylon (538 BC), the Jews are allowed to return to Jerusalem. The city is in a deplorable state and the Temple is rebuilt only after a long time. Nehemiah is appointed governor, and he immediately orders the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls.
After Alexander the Great conquers the Holy Land, one of his commanders, Ptolemy, becomes ruler of Egypt and Palestine. The Ptolemies and Seleucids fight a series of wars over Palestine until (198 BC) the Seleucids win the decisive battle. A rebellion by Judas Maccabeus (167 BC) resulted in the birth of the Kingdom of Hasmoneus. Rivalry within the ruling family leads to the fall of the Hasmonean Kingdom (63 BC) and the country comes under Roman rule. With the help of the Parthians, Antigonus of Hasmoneus ascends the throne of Judah.
Roman rule and Jewish uprisings
Roman period (37 BC-324 AD) Herodotus, son of Antipater, conquered Jerusalem (37 BC) and began a major building project. After his death, he is succeeded on the throne by his sons, who prove unfit to rule and Palestine is administered by successive Roman procurators. This period is marked by great unrest. Jesus of Nazareth ( 30 BC ) is crucified. The first Jewish revolt ( 66 AD ) begins, and Jerusalem is sacked and the Temple destroyed. When Hadrian attempts to rebuild Jerusalem as a Roman city , the second Jewish revolt begins. Hadrian puts down the uprising and rebuilds Jerusalem, from then on the city is called Aelia Capitolina. The centre of Jewish life moves to Galilee.
Constantine the Great (313) embraces Christianity, changing the religious landscape of the Holy Land. Palestine (324) becomes part of the Christian Eastern Roman Empire. Churches are built in holy places mentioned in the Gospels, and pilgrims from all parts of the empire flood into the country, boosting the economy. The Jews and Samaritans revolt against Gallus. The Samaritans (529) start another revolt.
The rise of Christianity and the Islamic conquest
Emperor Justinian introduces new laws. The Samaritans and Jews side with the Persians when they attack the country, slaughtering Christians and destroying churches. Jerusalem (614) falls and the Jews rule the city for three years. The Emperor Heraclius makes peace, but Christian life can no longer flourish in its former fullness, and Jerusalem (638) is taken by the Arabs (the second caliph, Omar, occupies Jerusalem). The capital of the country becomes Ramle. Christianity remains an outlawed religion, persecuted except for a brief period under Caliph al-Hakim. After the conquest of Palestine by the Fatimids (969), they control the cities, but most of the country remains practically Bedouin.
In the years that followed, Jerusalem fell into the hands of one conquering power after another, the Seljuk Turks occupied it, and then the Fatimids recaptured Jerusalem (1098).
At the published call of Pope Urban II (1095), the Crusaders (1099) conquer Jerusalem and massacre all Jews and Muslims, extending their rule to the coastal areas with the help of Genoa, Pisa and Venice. However, at the Battle of Hattin, the Crusaders are defeated and forced to retreat to Tyre. Richard the Lionheart (1191) takes Acre and recaptures the coast between Tyre and Jaffa. Frederick II negotiates to bring Nazareth, Bethlehem, and Jerusalem back under Crusader control (1244). The decisive campaign to drive the Crusaders from the Holy Land (1291) is led by Baybars.
