Palestine

Description

This rich and magisterial work traces Palestine's millennia-old heritage, uncovering cultures and societies of astounding depth and complexity that stretch back to the very beginnings of recorded history. Starting with the earliest references in Egyptian and Assyrian texts, Nur Masalha explores how Palestine and its Palestinian identity have evolved over thousands of years, from the Bronze Age to the present day. Drawing on a rich body of sources and the latest archaeological evidence, Masalha shows how Palestine’s multicultural past has been distorted and mythologised by Biblical lore and the Israel–Palestinian conflict. In the process, Masalha reveals that the concept of Palestine, contrary to accepted belief, is not a modern invention or one constructed in opposition to Israel, but rooted firmly in ancient past. Palestine represents the authoritative account of the country's history. Review: Must buy - A must buy for anyone who wants to read the entire comprehensive history of the region. Review: A history of Palestine from within away from colonial historiography and biblical myth narrative. - The work challenges the popular western religio-political constructs such as 'A land without people for people without land'. Toponymic, social, cultural, religious memories of ancient, medieval and modern inhabitants of the land known historically as Philistia, Syria-Palaestina, Provincia Palaestine, Jund Filastin between Maditerranean sea and beyond Jordon river streaching from modern Lebanon in the north to present day Egypt in the south ,are indelible. This work goes beyond the biblical myth narratives and colonial historiography to present history of Palestine from within through evidence based empirical research and through archeological, numismatic, toponymic, social, religious, cultural, political memories of the original inhabitants of the country.