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A concise history of the Holy Land with photographs and illustrations. History comes alive as you read.

Hebrew scriptures, Canaanites, Israelites, First and Second Temples, Greeks, Romans, Judiasm, Christianity, Islam, Crusaders, Mamelukes, State of Israel.

You will meet them all and more on the pages of "A Historical Tour of the Holy Land", as you tour from event to event in the history of this small piece of land nestled between Egypt and the Fertile Crescent.

Beryl Ratzer, an Israeli Tour Guide, combines her knowledge of Israeli archaeology,geography and history with her great love of the Land of Israel to enrich the tourist and the historian alike in their Holy Land adventure.

A Historical Tour of the Holyland

Chapter by chapter

Chronology of Historical Periods

A chronological table as well as a scale map indicating fifty two place names.

Chapter 1 Pre-History to Middle Bronze

Geological sites; from nomad to urbanisation, the archeological tel, from stone tools to pottery and the discovery of metals and smelting; key historical events during the Bronze Age, in the land of Canaan and in Egypt, Asia Minor and the Fertile Crescent.

Chapter 2 Hebrew Scriptures - General Information

The Tanach - Torah, Nevi-im and K'tuvim, the Old Testament, the Apocrypha, Vulgate, Bible

Chapter 3 Torah - Abraham to Moses

The biblical stories of the Torah (Pentateuch): Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebecca, Jacob and Leah and Rachel, Joseph, Moses, Mount Sinai, Jewish Festivals.

Chapter 4 Israelite Period

The books of Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings and the Prophets; King Saul, David and Solomon; the Kingdoms of Judah and Israel and their kings; Philistines, the Assyrian and Babylonian exiles; the destruction of the First Temple, Prophets.
Syria Kingdoms, Philistines, the Assyrian and Babylonian exiles; the destruction of the First Temple, Prophets.

Chapter 5 Second Temple Period

The Persian Period: Ezra, Nehemia and Cyrus; the Hellenist Period: Alexander the Great; the Hasmonean (Macabean) revolt and dynasty; the Roman Period: Herod; Joseph, Mary and Jesus; the New Testament; the Dead Sea Scrolls; Jewish revolt; Masada; Revolt.

Chapter 6 Mishnah and Talmud - Byzantine Period

Mishnah and Talmud; Sanhedrin; Bar Kochba revolt; Byzantine period - Christianity and early Churches in the Holy Land.

Chapter 7 Early Arab Period

Mohammed and the Spread of Islam; Koran and rak'a; Sunni and Shiite Islam; the Druze, Dome of the Rock; El Aksa mosque.

Chapter 8 Crusader Perio

Godfrey; Baldwin; Richard the Lion Hearted; Saladin; Horns of Hittin, Catholic orders.

Chapter 9 Mameluke Period

Beybers; Genghis Khan; Wakf.

Chapter 10 Ottoman Period

Suleiman the Great; Napoleon; American colony; Mark Twain; German Templars; Bahai shrines; World War I; NILI; General Allenby; Theodore Herzl - Zionist organization; Jewish Settlement.

Chapter 11 British Mandate

Palestine and Kingdom of Transjordan; Orde Wingate; World War II; Hagana, Irgun and Lechi; Exodus; 1947 U. N. Partition Plan.

Chapter 12 State of Israel

Development; wars and partial peace, Kingdom of Jordan, Palestinians, Lebanon and Syria.

Bibliography includes a small selection of Novels

Index - names, places and subjects

Many of the directors of guide schools throughout Israel recommend "A Historical Tour of the Holy Land" as a reference book for those studying to become licensed guides in Israel.

List of Maps