I remember when I first came to Israel and started learning its history. I was confused and perplexed. I just could not make it fit together. Until I was presented with a time line. Now I had a tool to refer back to and make events fall into place. This is also may experience as a guide. Many of my tourists get mixed up. After all Israel has quite a long and rich h history with many events that have had impact on the world. Because of this I have created a timeline with the most important events. I made it pictorial, only to make it more colorful. It does not go into all the intricate details, but I have included the most important events for each time period. I made it as a slide show, as all my attempts to put it onto one page failed miserably. Here I have created a linear time line without events, just the historical periods. I hope you will find this useful and inspiring.

1. Pre-pottery Neolithic (stone age) - 6000 BCE Jericho, the oldest city in the world, in existence Modern Jericho, but what it may have looked like Pottery Neolithic 6000-4300 BCE BeitShean is founded, among others Tel BeitShean, the hill in the back Calcolithic 4300 – 3300 BCE Towns of Beer Sheva, Gezer, Arad founded, among others Entrance gate to ancient Beer Sheva BCE - before common era = BC - before Christ CE - common era = AD - anno domine

2. Early Bronze 3300-2000 BCE Towns of Hazor, Megiddo, and Ai founded Aerial view of Tel Megiddo Middle Bronze 2000-1550 BCE First written documents appear in Acadian cuneiform language Period of the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, Jacob 1900 BCE Abraham Sacrificing Isaac1650 - Laurent De La HireMusée Saint-Denis, Reims

3. Israelites enslaved in Egypt. Hittite empire established (Gen. 23:10) First mention of "Hebrews" in Land of Israel on Egyptian Stele (1220 BCE) Settlement of the Sea People (Philistines) on the coastal plain International marine trade established ; coastal cities of Ashdod and Ashkelon founded Late Bronze 1550-1200 BCE Wall painting of workers, Egypt Iron Age I 1200 - 1000 BCE Exodus from Egypt led by Moses (Book of Exodus) ; Conquest of the mountain regions of Canaan led by Joshua (Book of Joshua); Period of the Judges (Judges) Moses parting the waters

4. FIRST TEMPLE PERIOD orIron Age II 1000 - 586 BCE United Kingdom (David and Solomon) David becomes king (II Samuel 5: 3), captures Jerusalem (II Samuel 5: 7) brings the Ark to Jerusalem (II Samuel 6: 12). 1000 - 925 BCE David playing the harp Apethorpe Hall, England David slaying Goliath Solomon builds the First Temple in Jerusalem (I Kings 6: 1). Possible rendering of Solomon’s Temple

5. The Divided Kingdom Israel and Judah 925 - 721 BCE The Kingdom divided (I Kings 12: 17). The fall of Israel to Assyrian king Shalmaneser (II Kings 17: 6) Loss of the Ten Tribes of Israel Map of Israel and Judah Kingdom of Judah 925 - 586 BCE Jerusalem fortified by King Hezekiah (II Chronicles 32:4-5) Attack by Assyrian King Sennacherib (II Kings: 18:13; II Chron. 32: 1). 702 BCE Kingdom of Judah conquered by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon (II Kings 25:1; II Chron. 36: 10). The First Temple destroyed (II Kings 25: 9). 586 BCE Hezekiah burning pagan idols Henry VIII Bible, 1538 End First Temple Period

6. Babylonian Exile 586 - 538 BCE Chronicle Concerning the Early Years of Nebuchadnezzar II, Stele inscription SECOND TEMPLE PERIOD 538 BCE-70CE Persian Period Cyrus II, King of Persia, conquers Babylon and allows the Jews to return to Judea 538-332 BCE Return to Zion (Ezra 1: 5); Rebuilding of the Temple (Ezra 3: 8) Walls of Jerusalem rebuilt (Nehamiah 6:15) Cyrus cylinder, disc. Early 20th C, Southern Iraq, Robert Koldeway British Museum, London

7. Hellenistic Period 332-167 BCE Conquest by Alexander of Macedonia 305 – 198 BCE Ptolemaic Rule from Egypt 198 – 167 BCE Seleucid Rule from Antioch (modern Turkey) Statue and bust of Alexander the Great Found Pergamum Istanbul Archaeological Museum Hashmonean Period 167-67 BCE Rebellion against Seleucids under Judah Maccabee Jerusalem and Temple freed and purified, Beginning of holiday of Hanukkah Sculpture of Judah Macabee with hanukkiah

8. Roman Period 67 BCE-324 CE Conquest by the Romans under General Pompey following civil war between two Hashmonean brothers Bust of General Pompey 37 – 4 BCE Rule of Herod the Great Massive building of Jerusalem, Temple Mount, Caesarea, Masada Head of Herod the Great 1st Century, Florence Ministry of Jesus Last Supper, Leonardo da Vinci Milano

9. 66-70 CE Rebellion against Rome Conquest and destruction of Jerusalem and 2nd Temple by Roman General Titus, son of Emperor Vespasian Detail from Arch of Titus, Rome depicting capture of Temple treasures End Second Temple Period 132-135 Bar Kochba Rebellion against Rome Jerusalem rebuilt as Roman city AelinaCapitolina by Emperor Hadrian Coin minted during Bar Kochba rebellion The writing of the Mishnah (first Jewish commentary on Bible) 200

10. Byzantine Period 324-636 Christianity legalized by Emperor Constantine the Great The writing of the Jerusalem Talmud in Tiberias 400 585 Mohammad founds Islam in Mecca 614 Invasion by Persia, great destruction of buildings and towns Mosaic of Emperor Constantine Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, c. 1000 Early Arab Period 636-1099 Conquest by Muslims Rule by Umayyad and Abbasid dynasties Umayyad palace in Jerusalem

11. Crusader Period 1099-1291 Conquest by European Crusaders Establishment of Kingdom of Jerusalem Battle at the Horns of Hittin, loss of Kingdom Establishment of 2nd Kingdom with Acco as capital 1187 Crusader Knight 1291 Final defeat to Mameluke Sultan Beybars Mameluke Period 1291-1516 Conquered by Mamelukes Mameluke Horseman

12. Ottoman Period 1516-1917 Conquered by Ottomans 1536 Walls of Jerusalem rebuilt by Suleiman the Magnificent 19th Century First roads and railways built by Ottomans Extensive exploration of the Holy Land by European and American explorers 1882 First wave of Jewish Zionist immigration and the beginning of the rebuilding of the land Suleiman the Magnificent 1897 Establishment of World Jewish Congress by Theodore Herzl in Basel Theodore Herzl 1914-1918 First World War

13. British Mandate 1917-1948 Conquest by General Allenby for the British British Mandate of Palestine established through the League of Nations 1920 Allenby entering Jerusalem, Jaffa Gate December 11, 1917 Map of full British Mandate in Palestine 1933-1948 Holocaust in Europe 1939-1945 Second World War

14. - 1948 Jewish resistance against British policies in Palestine Blowing up of south wing of King David Hotel July 22, 1946 November 29, 1947 UN vote and acceptance of Palestine Partition Plan Map of partition plan State of Israel May 14, 1948 Declaration of State of Israel May 15, 1948 Final British withdrawal David Ben Gurion reading Declaration of Independence