Palestine (region)

Palestine is a geographic region in Western Asia usually considered to include Israel, the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and in some definitions, parts of western Jordan. The region has a long and tumultuous history as a crossroads for religion, culture, commerce, and politics.

History

The history of Palestine is the study of the past in the region of Palestine, generally defined as a geographic region in the Southern Levant between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands. The history of Palestine has been marked by frequent political conflict and the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which dates back to the beginning of the 20th century.

Geography

Palestine lies between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, bounded by Egypt to the south, Lebanon to the north, and Jordan to the east. Its geographic boundaries have changed throughout history and today are defined by modern political treaties and international agreements.

Demographics

The demographics of Palestine refers to the demographic features of the population of Palestine, including population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.

Culture

The culture of Palestine is closely related to those of the nearby Levantine countries such as Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan, and the Arab World. Palestinian culture is influenced by the diverse cultures and religions which have existed in historical Palestine, from the early Canaanite period onward.

Cuisine

Palestinian cuisine consists of foods from or commonly eaten by Palestinians—which includes those living in Palestine, Jordan, refugee camps in nearby countries as well as by the Palestinian diaspora. The cuisine is a diffusion of the cultures of civilizations that settled in the region of Palestine, particularly during and after the Islamic era.

See also

• History of Palestine
• Geography of Palestine
• Demographics of Palestine
• Culture of Palestine
• Cuisine of Palestine

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