Between Historiography and Geography: Palestine’s Territorial Extent and Political-Administrative Status in Classical through Late Roman sources | ||
IWNW | ||
Volume 4, Issue 1, 2025, Pages 325-386 PDF (1.63 M) | ||
Document Type: Original Article | ||
DOI: 10.21608/iwnw.2025.457477 | ||
Authors | ||
Hassan Ahmed El-Ebiary* ; Haytham Alsayed Qandeil* | ||
Ain Shams University, Egypt | ||
Abstract | ||
This paper examines how Classical, Hellenistic, Roman, and late Roman sources frame Palestine’s boundaries and political identity. Close readings of key historiographical and geographical texts trace how ancient authors defined, delimited, and situated Palestine within the eastern Mediterranean. Across these sources, ‘Palestine’ consistently denotes a geographic designation extending beyond the littoral to substantial inland territories. At times, this continuity was obscured by Roman imperial strategies that installed client entities. The study clarifies the concept’s historical development, challenges restrictive interpretations, and reaffirms its broader historical and geographical scope. | ||
Keywords | ||
Palestine; Classical sources; Hellenistic period; Roman period; Historical geography; Political identity | ||
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