The Historical Geography of the Holy Land
Especially in Relation to the History of Israel and of the Early Church

This 1894 book on the historical geography of Palestine was immediately recognised as a major work of scholarship.

George Adam Smith (Author)

9781108075398, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 31 August 2017

726 pages, 5 maps
21.5 x 13.9 x 4.4 cm, 0.93 kg

This book was immediately recognised on its publication in 1894 as a major work of scholarship, and reached twenty-five editions during its author's lifetime. The intention of George Adam Smith (1856–1942) was to produce a work which would 'give a vision of the land as a whole' and help the reader 'to hear through it the sound of running history'. Smith, an enthusiastic alpinist, had studied divinity in Edinburgh, and first visited Palestine in 1880, travelling around the country on foot. The book was written while Smith was teaching at Glasgow, and working on various social projects in Scotland. His detailed knowledge of the territory, together with his wide familiarity with the archaeological and historical background, gives the work authority. The book places the land in its historical context, and describes the physical geography and climate; the readability of its style is enhanced by detailed maps, some in colour.

Preface
Chronological table
Part I. The Land as a Whole: 1. The place of Syria in the world's history
2. The form of the land and its historical consequences
3. The climate and fertility of the land, with their effects on its religion
4. The scenery of the land, with its reflection on the poetry of the Old Testamant
5. The land and questions of faith
6. The view from Mount Ebal
Part II. Western Palestine: 7. The coast
8. The maritime plain
9. The Philistines and their cities
10. The Shephelah
11. Early Christianity in the Shephelah
12. Judaea and Samaria
13. The borders and bulwarks of Judaea
14. An estimate of the real strength of Judaea
15. The character of Judaea
16. Samaria
17. The strong places of Samaria
18. The question of Sychar
19. Esdraelon
20. Galilee
21. The lake of Galilee
22. The Jordan valley
23. The Dead Sea
Part III. Eastern Palestine: 24. Over Jordan: general features
25. The names and divisions of eastern Palestine
26. Moab and the coming of Israel
27. Israel in Gilead and Bashan
28. Greece over Jordan: the Decapolis
29. Hauran and its cities
30. Damascus
Appendices
Index of subjects
Index of authorities.

Subject Areas: Historical geography [HBTP]