IntroPb


 * Intro || Summary || Maps || People/Events || Opinions || Sources ||

**Israelites**

The Israelites are descendants of the patriarch Jacob/Israel, and those who worship the god of the people of Israel, regardless of ethnic origin. The archaeological record indicates that Israel and Judah emerged in the Early Iron Age from the Canaanite city-state culture of the Late Bronze Age. The population of the central highlands during this same period was extremely sparse at the beginning, with some 25 villages and a population of about 12,000; by 1000 BCE the number of villages had increased to 300 and the population to 55,000. By c.850 BCE inscriptions such as the "Tel Dan stele" and the "Mesha stele" indicate that regionally imported called by its neighbors the "House of Omri", after the ruling dynasty, and sometimes Samaria, after its capitol, had emerged in the territory of the central highlands.



= Why Should I Care? =

The Israelites introduced Judaism and its a big religion now. Even though most people dislike jews it is a major part of the world now.