Ancient Canaan and Israel: New Perspectives (Understanding Ancient Civilizations)

About this book

Its the cradle of civilization the wellspring of three of the worlds most powerful faiths a place where vestiges of the ancient past remain vibrantly alive todaybut what do we really know about the day-to-day lives and defining culture of the people of Israel and Canaan? Ancient Canaan and Israel takes readers beyond the scriptural portrayals of the region and into the everyday lives of Canaanites and Israelites. It draws on recently discovered archaeological evidence and fresh interpretations of biblical and extrabiblical texts to show how archaeologists and other researchers reconstruct the many facets of these civilizationspolitical geographic social economic religious technological and aesthetic. For experienced scholars or enthusiastic newcomers it is an enlightening portrayal of the people and the land of Canaan and Israel which traces many well-known spiritual and cultural traditions back to their ancient roots. It is also an objective introduction to a number of much-debated topics such as the fate of the Canaanite cultures the origins of the Israelites and the historical accuracy of the Bible.