History of Israel

Arthur Szyk (1894-1951). Visual History of Nations, Israel (1948), New Canaan, CT

Skhul Cave

Kairo Museum Merenptah-Stele 01

Kingdoms of Israel and Judah map 830

Map of Assyria

History of Israel refers to the historical events that have shaped the State of Israel, a country in the Middle East located on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea. The history of Israel is a complex tapestry of ancient biblical times, periods of conquest and exile, and the modern movement of Zionism that led to the establishment of the state in 1948. This article provides an overview of the key historical periods and events that have contributed to the formation and development of modern Israel.

Ancient Israel and Judah

The history of Israel begins with the Hebrews, an ancient Semitic-speaking people who emerged in the region during the second millennium BCE. According to the Hebrew Bible, the Israelites were descendants of Abraham, who migrated from Mesopotamia to the Canaan region. The kingdom of Israel, established by Saul, David, and Solomon, was divided into two after Solomon's reign: the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah. This period was marked by periods of prosperity and conflict, including the conquests by the Assyrian Empire and the Babylonian Empire, leading to the exile of the Jewish population in the 6th century BCE.

Second Temple Period

The return from Babylonian exile in 538 BCE marked the beginning of the Second Temple period, during which the Second Temple was constructed in Jerusalem. This period saw various foreign dominations, including the Persian Empire, the Hellenistic rule following Alexander the Great's conquests, and the Roman Empire. The Maccabean Revolt against Hellenistic influence led to a brief period of Jewish independence under the Hasmonean dynasty.

Roman Period and Jewish Diaspora

The Roman conquest of Judea in 63 BCE eventually led to the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE, following the Jewish–Roman Wars. The subsequent Jewish diaspora saw the scattering of the Jewish people across the Roman Empire and beyond, marking the beginning of a long period of Jewish life outside the Land of Israel.

Islamic and Crusader Periods

The region came under Muslim control in the 7th century, beginning with the Rashidun Caliphate and followed by the Umayyad, Abbasid, and Fatimid Caliphates. The Crusades, a series of religious wars initiated by the Latin Church in the medieval period, led to the establishment of the Crusader States in the Holy Land, but the region was eventually recaptured by Muslim forces.

Ottoman Rule

The Ottoman Empire conquered the region in 1517 and ruled it until the end of World War I. Under Ottoman rule, the land of Israel was administratively part of the Damascus Province and later the Syria Vilayet. The period was marked by economic decline and reduced Jewish immigration.

British Mandate

Following World War I, the League of Nations granted the United Kingdom the mandate to govern Palestine, a territory that included the land that would later become Israel. The Balfour Declaration of 1917, which supported the establishment of a "national home for the Jewish people" in Palestine, led to increased Jewish immigration and tensions between Jewish and Arab communities.

Establishment of the State of Israel

The modern State of Israel was established on May 14, 1948, following the end of the British Mandate and the United Nations' approval of the partition plan to divide Palestine into Jewish and Arab states. The declaration of the state was followed by the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, involving neighboring Arab states and resulting in the establishment of Israeli control beyond the proposed UN partition borders.

Modern History

Since its establishment, Israel has fought several wars with neighboring Arab countries and has been involved in a prolonged conflict with the Palestinians, particularly over the issue of statehood and territory. Despite these challenges, Israel has developed a vibrant democracy, a dynamic economy, and a rich cultural life.