Canaan , an area used in the historical and biblical literature is defined differently but always focused on Palestine. The original pre-Israelite inhabitants were called Canaanites. The names Canaan and Canaanite come in wedge-shaped , 15th-century Egyptian and Phoenician scripts v . Ch. as well as in Old Testament before . In these sources, "Canaan" sometimes refers to an area, the all of Palestine and Syria includes , sometimes only to the land west of the Jordan and sometimes just a strip of shoreline from Acre (ʿAkko) North. The Israelites occupied and conquered Palestine or Canaan from the late 2nd millennium v . Chr . Or maybe sooner; and the Bible justifies such an occupation by identifying Canaan with the Promised Land, the land promised by God to the Israelites .
Britannica Quiz The Middle East:Fact or Fiction? Is the literacy rate very high in Afghanistan? Does Yemen take its name from the Arabic word "northern"? Sort the facts in this quiz about Syria, Iraq and other Middle Eastern countries. The origin of the term is disputed, but may derive from an ancient Semitic word meaning "reddish purple" and refers to the rich crimson or crimson dye produced in the region, or to wool colored with the dye. Biblically speaking, Canaanites are in Genesis as descendants of Canaan, son of Ham and grandson Noah's , identifies . See also Phoenicia .
Human occupation of the Canaan coast can be traced back to the Paleolithic and Mesolithic eras. Excavations have revealed that at location Jericho by 8,000 v . Chr . A Settlement Community and an agricultural way of life existed . More widespread settlement in fixed towns and villages first appears in the Neolithic ( approx. 7000– approx. 4000 v. Chr .) Having occurred . The following period, Chalcolithic Age ( approx. 4000– approx. 3000 v. Chr .) Named , was characterized by the use of pottery and copper, and houses made of uncut stone with adobe walls.
The introduction of bronze in the early Bronze Age ( approx. 3000–2000 v. Chr.) Lead to a cultural revolution marked by the development of metallurgy and a decline in painted pottery. Semitic peoples first appeared in Canaan during this period. By the Middle Bronze Age ( c. 2000- c. 1550 BCE ), the recorded history in the area began. The Semitic Amorites invading Canaan from the northeast became the dominant element of the population during this period. Other invaders were the Egyptians and the Hyksos , a group of Asian peoples who appear to have migrated there from northern Palestine. The Hurricane (the Horites of the Old Testament) also came to Canaan from the north.
The Late Bronze Age ( c. 1550- c. 1200 BCE ) was in one of Egyptian supremacy in Canaan in the first place, although their power there was contested by the Hittites of Anatolia. The period was also marked by incursions by called marauders Hapiru or Habiru (Egyptian:ʿApiru). This term appears to have been applied by the Egyptians to other peoples or social groups of foreign origin. Many scholars believe that among the Hapiru were the original Hebrews, of which the later Israelites are only a branch or Confederation were .
By the end of the 13th century BCE , Egypt Dominating the southern Canaan had subsided, and the Hittites broke under the onslaught of enemies from the north. During the transition from the late Bronze Age to the early Iron Age - probably around 1250 v . Ch. - invaded Israelites entered Canaan, first settling in the hill country and south. The Israelite infiltration was opposed by the Canaanites, who continued to hold the stronger cities of the region. In the following century, Canaan suffered another invasion by the Philistines who seem to have come from Crete. They eventually founded a coalition of five city-states on the south coast of Canaan. Under the leadership of King David (10th century v . Ch. ) Could the Israelites finally die power the Philistines break while defeating the native Canaanites and the city Jerusalem . After that, Canaan practically became the land Israel .
The modern knowledge of history and Culture Canaans comes from both archaeological excavations and literary sources. Excavations, mainly in the 20th century, have uncovered the remains of many important Canaanite cities, including Bet Sheʾan , Gezer , Hazor, Jericho, Jerusalem, Lachish, Megiddo and Secure . The main literary sources for the region's history are the Old Testament; the Ras Shamra texts discovered at the site of ancient Ugarit on the north coast of Syria; and the Amarna letters , a series of broadcasts in the 14th century v . Ch. sent by governors of Palestinian and Syrian cities to their Egyptian overlords.
Canaan was at the crossroads of several Cultures , and art and literature throughout their history illustrate a mixture of many elements:Egyptian, Mycenaean, Cretan, hurrian and Mesopotamian. Most that is known about The Canaanite Religion derives from a series of tablets discovered at Ras Shamra. The main god was El , but jurisdiction over rain and fertility was transferred to Baal or Hadad delegated . Other important deities were Resheph, lord of the plague and the underworld; Kothar, the divine craftsman; Ashera, wife of El; and Astarte, goddess of fertility.
The The language the Canaanite is perhaps best described as a archaic shape of the Describe Hebrew , which bears about the same relationship to Old Testament Hebrew as Chaucer's language has to modern English. The Canaanites were also the first known to use one Alphabet . Archaeologists have found a form of in Late Bronze Age strata at the Lachish site Font , which is recognized by most scholars as the parent of the Phoenician, and from there the Greek and Latin alphabets. They also found that a strange cuneiform alphabet was used at Ugarit . side by side with these Innovations however, the traditional syllabic cuneiform of Mesopotamia was regularly used.