Figure 1.--Here is a Palestinian Bedouin boy photographed in 1935. Click on the image to see a Bedouin girl. |
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Palestine is located along eastern coast of the Mediterannean Sea. It is situated south of Lebanon and north of the Siani between the Jordon River and the Mediterannean. It is first referred to as Caanan in the Bible. Palestine is especially interesting to historians because the Bible has proven to include considerable historical information. Palestine is perhaps the most fought-over territory in history. This is somewhat surprising given the fact that Palestine is not rich in natural resources or a particularly fertile land.
As a reader points out, "... bear in mind that in ancient times it was part of the 'fertile crescent' and biblical accounts suggest it was far more fertile than is now the case." That is well to remember, areas of North Africa were then much more productive than is the case today". The Bible of course refers to Palestine as the land of "milk and honey". Also Palestine was located astride the very valuable trade routes between the various eastern empires (Assyrian, Babylonian, Persian, Seleucid, Parthian) and Egypt and Africa. As a result, it became a buffer state between the major powers of the time and was often conquered are fought over by those empires. It was conquered by Alexander and his successors and in time absorbed by the Roman Empire. The number of great empires which have over time conqured Palestine is extrodinary. The importance of Palestine in the modern era is to a large extent is due to its religious importance. Two of the world's great relgions (Judiasim and Christianity) were founded there and the region has a major Islamic site. We suspect that the location of Palestine astride trade routes and the resulting intelectual cross-fertilization was a powerful factor here. This would be amazing enough in such a small land, but all three religions focus their attention on a small area of Jeruselum--explaining why the status of that city is such a difficult political issue. The most recent empires occupying Palestine have been the Ottomans and British which influence clothing trends as wll as the largely European Zionist immigration. The Palestinians are an Arab people and thus Arab clothing styles are very important. We do not yet have detailed information on Arab clothing.
Palestine is located along eastern coast of the Mediterannean Sea. It is situated south of Lebanon and north of the Siani between the Jordon River and the Mediterannean. Palestine is perhaps the most fought-over territory in history. This is somewhat surprising given the fact that Palestine is not rich in natural resources or a particularly fertile land. As a reader points out, "... bear in mind that in ancient times it was part of the 'fertile crescent' and biblical accounts suggest it was far more fertile than is now the case." That is well to remember, areas of North Africa were then much more productive than is the case today". The Bible of course refers to Palestine as the land of "milk and honey". Also Palestine was located astride the very valuable trade routes between the various eastern empires (Assyrian, Babylonian, Persian, Seleucid, Parthian) and Egypt and Africa.
Palestine is first referred to as Caanan in the Bible. Palestine is especially interesting to historians because the Bible has proven to include considerable historical information. This is unusual for such an early historical period. Palestine was located on the perifery of many great empires of the Middle East. As a result, it became a buffer state between the major powers of the time and was often conquered are fought over by those empires. It was eventually conquered by Alexander and his successors and in time absorbed by the Roman Empire. The number of great empires which have over time conquered Palestine is extrodinary. The most recent empires occupying Palestine have been the Ottomans and British which influence clothing trends as well as the largely European Zionist immigration.
The importance of Palestine in the modern era is to a large extent is due to its religious significance. It is astounding to think how three of the world's great relgions are attached to Palestine in a major way. Two of the world's great relgions (Judiasim and Christianity) were founded there and the reglion has a major Islamic site. One wonderss how this could be the case. Logically it seems unlikely. We suspect that the location of Palestine astride trade routes and the resulting intelectual cross-fertilization was a powerful factor here. This would be amazing enough in such a small land, but all three religions focus their attention on a small area of Jeruselum--explaining why the status of that city is such a difficult political issue.
The Jews were largely expelled from Palestine by the Romans after a JJewish uprising in the 1st century AD. The Palestinians are an Arab people and thus Arab clothing styles are very important. We do not yet have detailed information on Arab clothing.
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