• 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
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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
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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).
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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
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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
availability of water
(rivers, springs, wells, and
summer dews) and the
technology to store
(cisterns, reservoirs) and
channel (aqueduct) this
vital liquid is a limiting
factor in the creation of
settlements.
• Natural Resources: the
proximity of natural
resources such as mineral
deposits, quarries,
bitumen, and salt are a
determination in
settlement patterns. This
may transcend normal
decisions in inaccessible
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.
• Social Structure and Cultural
Identity: social mechanisms and
phenomena (religious practices,
introduction of monarchy) affect
population, economic
development, and settlement
patterns.
• 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).
• 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
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
north-south 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
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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 (2nd 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).
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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