Geography of Palestine during the time of Lord Jesus

Geography of Palestine

• The region is also known as the Middle East, with Palestine as its heart, where Jesus lived.
• Palestine was divided into three provinces during Jesus' time: Judaea, Samaria, and Galilee.
• Key towns in Judaea: Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Ain Karim, Emmaus, Jericho, and Bethany.
• Key towns in Samaria: Samaria and Sychar.
• Key towns in Galilee: Cana, Chorazin, Nazareth, Capernaum, Bethsaida, and Tiberias.

Economic Situation

• Palestine's economy was primarily agrarian, based on subsistence-level farming by peasants who made up 90% of the population.
• Principal products: grain, vegetables, fruits, legumes, spices, and meat.
• Peasants' diet consisted mainly of bread, salt, olives, oil, onions, and grapes.
• The economic condition of peasants was precarious due to subsistence-level farming, taxes, rents, and natural disasters.
• Elites drew their income from medium-sized and large estates.

Trade

• Trade was significant, with both local and international trade.
• Principal exports: olive oil, dates, opobalsam, and spices.

Political Situation

• The Roman Empire governed the conquered people wisely, which contributed to their powerful empire.
• Herod the Great, a half-Jew, was proclaimed King of the Jews by Octavian in 31 B.C.
• Herod's territory included Idumea, Judaea, Samaria, Galilee, and north and east of the Sea of Galilee.
• Herod rebuilt the temple, which was completed in 63 A.D.
• Herod was suspicious and reacted violently against any attempt to usurp his power.
• After Herod's death, his kingdom was divided among his sons, with the Roman Procurator governing the territory.

Language

• Hebrew was the sacred language.
• Aramaic was the language of ordinary people.
• Greek was the universal language of the Roman Empire.
• Latin was the language of Roman soldiers.