Basics of Historical Geography REL 101

• Basics of Historical Geography REL 101 Dr. Victor H. Matthews

Basics of Historical Geography • Reconstruction of past geographies (the conception of space or “landscape” as imagined or described by its inhabitants). • Examination of geographical changes through time, especially those that have occurred as a result of human efforts (e. g. , irrigation, dams, terracing). • Use of ancient and more modern travel accounts, and studies the changes that have taken place in political boundaries, ethnic identities and the cultural landscape. • Study the influences that geographical conditions have upon the course of history in particular regions.

All available records and maps need to be consulted

Investigate Topography and Climate • • Climate: the Mediterranean climate, with its wet winter months (October to mid-April) and dry summer (June to September), prevailing west wind coming off the sea, and scorching east winds from the desert contribute to the introduction of irrigation systems, thick-walled architecture, seasonal warfare, and a farming economy based on wheat, grapes, and olives. Settlement patterns tend to cluster initially in regions of higher annual rainfall and eventually expand to more mountainous or arid regions due to population, economic, and political pressure • Topography: the physical terrain of Canaan contains several distinct zones (coastal plain, Shephelah plateau, Central Hill Country, Jordan Valley, Negeb wilderness) in a small total area (60 miles wide by 150 miles long). • This allows for great variation in settlement patterns from rural to urban, semi-nomadic, and seasonal. Natural defenses and proximity to trade routes and natural resources are also factors in the placement of cities.

Topography

Climate • • Israel's climate ranges from temperate to tropical. Two distinct seasons predominate: a rainy winter period from November to May; and a dry summer season which extends through the next six months. Rainfall is relatively heavy in the North and center of the country, with much less in the northern Negev and almost negligible amounts in the southern areas. Regional conditions vary considerably, with humid summers and mild winters on the coast; dry summers and moderately cold winters in the hill regions (including Jerusalem), hot dry summers and pleasant winters in the Jordan Valley; and year-round semidesert conditions in the Negev.

Determine Natural Resources • Water Sources: the • Natural Resources: the availability of water proximity of natural (rivers, springs, wells, and resources such as mineral summer dews) and the deposits, quarries, technology to store bitumen, and salt are a (cisterns, reservoirs) and determination in channel (aqueduct) this settlement patterns. This vital liquid is a limiting may transcend normal factor in the creation of decisions in inaccessible settlements. and arid regions based on over riding economic concerns.

Analyze Demographic and Social Factors • Demography: archaeological surveys have mapped the size and distribution of rural and urban population centers allowing an extrapolation of population size and density in antiquity. • By combining the data on demography, water resources, and levels of agricultural activity, the “bearing capacity” of the land can be determined in combination with evidence of positive external contact (trade, travel) and negative external contact (invasion, warfare). • Social Structure and Cultural Identity: social mechanisms and phenomena (religious practices, introduction of monarchy) affect population, economic development, and settlement patterns. • Contact with other cultures can lead to integration of new ideas, syncretism, or negative reactions emphasizing local models or customs as a cultural defense mechanism

Aerial Views of the Region

Placement of Region in Context

Ancient Near East • Mesopotamia: Tigris & Euphrates Rivers No Natural Barriers First to develop complex urban cultures and empires

Empire Building

Ancient Near East • Egypt Nile River Isolated from other Regions by desert Develops complex theocratic society

Spatial Orientation • One commonly repeated phrase that provides a short -hand version of the northsouth dimensions of the Promised Land is “from Dan to Beersheba” (Judg 20: 1; 2 Sam 17: 11). However, this is simply a euphemism for the whole country, from end to end, without being specific about its geographic character or political divisions.

Major Geographic Zones • Israel may be divided into four geographical regions: three parallel strips running north to south and a large, mostly arid, zone in the southern half. • The coastal plain funs parallel to the Mediterranean Sea and is composed of fertile farmland extending up to 25 miles inland. • In the north there are expanses of sandy beach are occasionally punctuated by jagged chalk and sandstone cliffs.

Major Geographic Regions • Several mountain ranges run the length of the country. In the northeast, the basalt landscapes of the Golan Heights, formed by volcanic eruptions in the distant past, rise as steep cliffs overlooking the Hula Valley. The hills of Galilee, ascend to heights ranging from 1, 600 to 4, 000 feet above sea level. • The Jezreel Valley, separating the hills of Galilee from those of Samaria, is Israel's richest agricultural area. The rolling hills of Samaria and Judea present a mosaic of rocky hilltops and fertile valleys, dotted with groves of ageold, silver-green olive trees. The terraced hillsides, first developed by farmers in ancient times, blend into the natural landscape.

Major Geographic Regions • The Negev, comprising about half of Israel's land area, is sparsely inhabited. Further south, the Negev becomes an arid zone characterized by low sandstone hills and plains, abounding with canyons and wadis in which winter rains often produce flash floods.

Major Geographic Regions • The Jordan Valley is part of the Syrian-African Rift, which split the earth's crust millions of years ago. Its northern stretches are extremely fertile, while the southern portion is semi-arid. The Jordan River, flowing from north to south through the Rift, descends over 2, 300 feet (700 m. ) in the course of its 186 mile (300 km. ) route. Fed by streams from Mt. Hermon, it runs through the fertile Hula Valley into Lake Kinneret and continues winding through the Jordan Valley before emptying into the Dead Sea.

Transjordan • In addition to the Israelite tribal area of Gilead (Manesseh, Gad, and Reuben), the Transjordan region contained three neighboring states: • Ammon • Moab • Edom

• • • Location: Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Lebanon Geographic coordinates: 31 30 N, 34 45 E Map references: Middle East Area: total: 20, 770 sq km land: 20, 330 sq km water: 440 sq km Area - comparative: slightly smaller than New Jersey Land boundaries: total: 1, 006 km border countries: Egypt 255 km, Gaza Strip 51 km, Jordan 238 km, Lebanon 79 km, Syria 76 km, West Bank 307 km Climate: temperate; hot and dry in southern and eastern desert areas Terrain: Negev desert in the south; low coastal plain; central mountains; Jordan Rift Valley Elevation extremes: lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m highest point: Har Meron 1, 208 m

Recurring Place Names Shechem The twin peaks of and Mt Gerizim dominate this city in the Central Hill Country (30 miles north of ). Easy access to trade routes connecting the Coastal Plain the Via Maris to the west and fords of the and King’s Highway in the east make this site one of the major crossing points. It is attached to Abraham’s entrance to here (Gen 12: 6 -7), Joshua’s covenant renewal ceremony following the conquest (Deut 11: 29; Josh 24), and Rehoboam’s disastrous meeting with the tribal elders here (1 Kgs 12: 1 -17). Shiloh Located in the Ephraimite Hill Country between Shechem and Bethel (10 miles north of Bethel and 20 miles northeast of Jerusalem) just east of the trade route (Judg 21: 19). Its fame originates with the story of Joshua’s division of the land (Josh 18: 1), its use as a cultic center where the ark of the covenant resides in Eli’s time (1 Sam 4: 3 -4), and reference to its ruins as a sign of God’s displeasure (Jer 7: 12 -14; Ps 78: 60). Bethel Mentioned 71 times (2 nd only to ), the city is located 12 miles north of on the Ephraim-Benjamin border (Josh 16: 2). It is tied to both Abraham (Gen 12: 8) and Jacob (Gen 28: 19) and is the site of one of King Jeroboam’s two shrines (1 Kgs 12: 32 -33). It is a target of the prophet Amos (Amos 5: 5 -6), and is rebuilt by returning exiles during the Persian period (Ezra 2: 28).

• Artist's reconstruction of a three room house: 1: central activity area 2: stable area 3: storage room 4: sleeping quarters 5: clay roof

Samaria