In our previous article, 'Does Palestine Exist? The Unbiased Truth,' we delved into scholarly debates surrounding the Roman Emperor Hadrian's renaming of Judaea to Syria Palaestina around 131 BC. Some scholars argue that this renaming was a push to Hellinize the area. In contrast, others contend it was a punitive measure in response to Jewish rebellion. This week's article will discuss the continued usage of the name Palestine during the Byzantine Empire, providing crucial context for understanding the complex history of Israel and Palestine.
Palestine at the time of Hadrian. Image extracted from page 197 of 'The Holy Land in Geography and in History.' [With maps and plans.], by MACCOUN, Townsend. The original was held and digitized by the British Library. British Library HMNTS 010077.f.24. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/54/MACCOUN%281899%29_p197_135_A.D._-_PALESTINE_AT_THE_TIME_OF_HADRIAN.jpg
Palestine Under The Roman Empire
About 150 years after Judaea was officially renamed Syria Palaestina, in 286 A.D., Emperor Diocletian divided the Roman Empire between East and West by creating an administrative distinction for the Eastern Roman Empire and Western Roman Empire to govern the Roman Empire better. During the decline of the Roman Empire, the administrative distinction became a permanent split after the death of the Roman Emperor Theodosius I. Theodosius I's death led to the division of the Roman Empire between his sons, Honorius (Western Roman emperor) and Arcadius (Eastern Roman emperor). This division helped further solidify the usage of the name Palaestina, which evolved into Palestine.
Map of Western Roman Empire in 418 A.C. after the end of the Gothic War (408 - 416). Paulusburg, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mapa_Imperio_Occidental_año_418.svg>, via Wikimedia Commons
Palestine In The Byzantine Empire
The Eastern Roman Empire was called the Byzantine Empire (named after its capital city), while the Western Empire retained the name Roman Empire. The Byzantine Empire was a Christian State that spanned much of southern and eastern Europe, northern Africa, and the Middle East. Syria Palaestina officially became part of the Byzantine Empire in 395 AD.
The population in Syria Palaestina grew during the Byzantine Empire, peaking at a rate that would only be seen again in the twentieth century. The population growth is attributed mainly to Christianity being the dominant religion in the Byzantine Empire, which prompted Christian pilgrims to migrate to what they considered the Holy Land, including Jerusalem, which remains a central point of contention in the modern conflict between Israel and Palestine.
Territorial evolution of the Eastern Roman Empire. NeimWiki, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Divided Palestine
At the end of the fourth century, Constantine added the southern half of Arabia to Syria Palaestina. The enlarged province was then divided into three provinces: Palaestina Prima (capital in Caesarea), Palestina Secunda (capital in Bet She'an), and Palestina Salutaris (Southern Palestine). This division foreshadowed today's complex territorial disputes, including the debate over Jerusalem, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip.
Palestine during the Byzantine Empire at the end of the 4th century, according to the borders of the Diocese of Palaestina Prima and Palaestina Secunda. File licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0. Attribution: Haldrik. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c3/Israel_Byzantine_5c.jpg
The Persian Empire
As discussed in prior articles, the land of Cannan was strategically located because it was the only land route connecting Africa, Asia, and Europe, making it essential for trade. Although a part of Canaan's name changed from Cannan to the Kingdom of Israel, then to Judah, Syria Palestina, Syria Palaestina, Palaestina Prima, and Palestina Secunda, its rulers did not overlook its strategic location. This strategic location and natural resources, such as the oil fields currently off the coast of Gaza, continue to play a role in the ongoing tensions between Palestine and Israel.
Image from Southern Nazarene University website in an article titled "Canaan: A strategic land bridge at the crossroads between Europe/Asia and Africa"
During Antiquity, the Persian Empire was east of the Eurpharities River, the Roman Empire was west, and the two would occasionally use Palestine, Armenia, Syria, and Mesopotamia as their battlefields during times of war. During one of these battles in 614 AD, the Persians conquered the Palaestina provinces; however, that conquest was short-lived. The Byzantine Emperor Heraclius and the Persian army commander reached an agreement in 629, which saw the Persian army withdraw from Palaestina and the restoration of Byzantine rule. The Byzantines continued to rule until 636 AD when the Rashidun Caliphate conquered the land. These frequent occupations and changes in rulers during times of conflict contributed to the complex history of Palestine and Israel that continues to share the region today.
Byzantine and Sassanid empires and their vassals at the beginning of 7th century in 600 CE. Based on the File: East-Hem_600ad.jpgby User:Talessman. Getoryk, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons.
Our next article will discuss the Caliphate and the rising influence of Islam on the Palaestina provinces.
Subscribe so we can notify you that our new post is available. Our Middle East Objective Analysis series of weekly articles informs readers of the history of modern-day Israel and Palestine. The series begins with prehistoric people, detailing the first people to live in modern-day Israel and Palestine, and will conclude with the modern events leading up to 1948.
Next week's article will discuss modern-day Israel and Palestine during the Byzantine period, providing crucial context for understanding the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine. As we progress through this series, we will explore how historical events have shaped the current situation, including the establishment of Israeli settlements, the status of Palestinian people and refugees, and the complex peace process. Understanding this rich history is essential for grasping the nuances of the current Israel and Palestine conflict.
Contact us at info@bellbeanglobal.com to sign up for one of our courses, which covers these topics in greater detail, for a detailed historical and legal analysis of the Israel - Palestine conflict, and to schedule training for your organization or public speaking engagements.
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