Israelis, Palestinians, and Other Wooly Boogers
Jul 1, 2013 10:48:19 #
There has been a recent spate of comments regarding the Israeli/Palestinian conundrum. I would like to interject some historical and political background into this mess. It is not my intention to take one side or the other, just a "teaspoon in the ocean" approach to some misunderstandings.
It is impossible to form an accurate opinion of the situation existing now without some historical background, so, without further ado, I will proceed:
Palestine has been inhabited since about 8000 B.C.. The earliest inhabitants were, like everywhere else in the area, hunter gatherers until around 6500 B.C. (This is about the time of the founding of Jericho, one of the world's truly ancient cities). There appears to be some evidence of serious climate change during this period and in this area, but thee really is no consensus.
In the early Bronze Age, the area became known as Canaan. It's original inhabitants included the Phoenicians, Ammonites, Moabites, and a tribe called the Hebari, whom many believe to be the proto-Hebrews. (The Philistines appear to have been latecomers, almost certainly from the east).There is no evidence of any Arab or Arabic presence at this time. This will become relavent later.
About 1800 B.C., an historically significant event occurred, when Joseph and his family moved to Egypt. The actual timeline becomes slightly blurry here, with some placing Joseph's arrival at a later date, roughly coinciding with the arrival of the Hyksos, who ended the classical Old Kingdom in Egypt. there is considerable evidence that these Hyksos were themselves Canaanites, and somehow related to the Hebari. There is further speculation that the enslavement of the Hebari did not begin until the expulsion of the Hyksos, after their defeat in battle.
This leads us to one of the most significant events in Jewish History, the Exodus. Modern scholars are mostly in agreement that it never happened, at least not in the manner described in the Bible. The reality is that there were probably several smaller "exoduses." These Egyptian expatriots somehow connected with other Hebari of the region and began the conquest of Canaan, during which time they became the "Hebrews." This establishes an Hebraic presence in the area about 1150-1100 B.C., (Once again, because of archeological discoveries, the timeline is constantly being adjusted), which was constant until the Assyrian conquest of ca. 740 B.C., followed by the Babylonian captivity in 597 B.C., and finally culminating in the return ca. 539 B.C., After Cyrus the Great, King of the Medes and Persians, intimidated the Babylonians into releasing the now Israelites. It should be noted that at no time were the Hebrews, (or Israelites if you prefer, completely absent from the area of Canaan/Palestine.
Although the area was technically conquered by Alexander the Great, the practical effects of this conquest were negligible, and not until the Romans entered the picture about 63 B.C. did a foreign presence have any effect on the area or it's inhabitants. Along about this time we see the first indications of Arabs in what is now known as Judea, in the form of traders. Their impact, and their numbers are negligible.
In order to not bore you to death with details which seem unimportant now, I will conclude the first installment of this post, and will resume with Judea in the time of Christ, until the Ottoman Conquest beginning in the early 11th Century, and through the time of the Crusades.
Thank You
It is impossible to form an accurate opinion of the situation existing now without some historical background, so, without further ado, I will proceed:
Palestine has been inhabited since about 8000 B.C.. The earliest inhabitants were, like everywhere else in the area, hunter gatherers until around 6500 B.C. (This is about the time of the founding of Jericho, one of the world's truly ancient cities). There appears to be some evidence of serious climate change during this period and in this area, but thee really is no consensus.
In the early Bronze Age, the area became known as Canaan. It's original inhabitants included the Phoenicians, Ammonites, Moabites, and a tribe called the Hebari, whom many believe to be the proto-Hebrews. (The Philistines appear to have been latecomers, almost certainly from the east).There is no evidence of any Arab or Arabic presence at this time. This will become relavent later.
About 1800 B.C., an historically significant event occurred, when Joseph and his family moved to Egypt. The actual timeline becomes slightly blurry here, with some placing Joseph's arrival at a later date, roughly coinciding with the arrival of the Hyksos, who ended the classical Old Kingdom in Egypt. there is considerable evidence that these Hyksos were themselves Canaanites, and somehow related to the Hebari. There is further speculation that the enslavement of the Hebari did not begin until the expulsion of the Hyksos, after their defeat in battle.
This leads us to one of the most significant events in Jewish History, the Exodus. Modern scholars are mostly in agreement that it never happened, at least not in the manner described in the Bible. The reality is that there were probably several smaller "exoduses." These Egyptian expatriots somehow connected with other Hebari of the region and began the conquest of Canaan, during which time they became the "Hebrews." This establishes an Hebraic presence in the area about 1150-1100 B.C., (Once again, because of archeological discoveries, the timeline is constantly being adjusted), which was constant until the Assyrian conquest of ca. 740 B.C., followed by the Babylonian captivity in 597 B.C., and finally culminating in the return ca. 539 B.C., After Cyrus the Great, King of the Medes and Persians, intimidated the Babylonians into releasing the now Israelites. It should be noted that at no time were the Hebrews, (or Israelites if you prefer, completely absent from the area of Canaan/Palestine.
Although the area was technically conquered by Alexander the Great, the practical effects of this conquest were negligible, and not until the Romans entered the picture about 63 B.C. did a foreign presence have any effect on the area or it's inhabitants. Along about this time we see the first indications of Arabs in what is now known as Judea, in the form of traders. Their impact, and their numbers are negligible.
In order to not bore you to death with details which seem unimportant now, I will conclude the first installment of this post, and will resume with Judea in the time of Christ, until the Ottoman Conquest beginning in the early 11th Century, and through the time of the Crusades.
Thank You
Jul 1, 2013 12:55:56 #
Jul 1, 2013 14:16:20 #
fittobetied wrote:
I applaud your effort
I thank you. I'm not done yet. As I said, I decided to divide this up to avoid boring readers. What you have read is the smaller part of the post. I feel this background is necessary to a real understanding of the claims, as will become more apparent in the next "not so exciting episode." It is not my intention to champion positions or change opinions, (for once), but to present facts on a subject that comes up every so often. (Tell the truth, another reason I am dividing it is that I needed a break, the research is pretty dull).
Jul 2, 2013 08:56:48 #
I eagerly await your next installment. It's not "boring" just mildly confusing. Good job thus far!
Jul 2, 2013 09:37:33 #
snowbear37 wrote:
I eagerly await your next installment. It's not "boring" just mildly confusing. Good job thus far!
It may be a couple of days, with the Fourth coming up, I literally have other fish to fry, (not to mention ribs to barbecue, hamburgers, etc. As a retired chef, do you need me to give you three guesses who gets stuck with cooking for the family get togethers, be it Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, or the Fourth? (Labor Day, too). I promise I'm working on it. the first installment was the short one. All at once would've been akin to getting a drink of water from a fire hose. It's easier in installments. thanks
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