History of Oceania

Has Israel always been called that?

No, Israel has not always been called that. The name "Israel" has a long and complex history, dating back to the biblical patriarch Jacob, also known as Israel, who lived in the second millennium BCE. The name "Israel" was first used to refer to the northern kingdom of Israel, which existed from the 10th to the 8th century BCE, until it was conquered by the Assyrians. The name "Israel" was later used to refer to the Jewish people as a whole, regardless of their geographical location. In the 20th century, the name "Israel" was adopted as the official name of the modern State of Israel when it was established in 1948.