An introduction to the archaeology and history of ancient Palestine, from the destruction of Solomon's temple to the Muslim conquest.

1. Introduction; 2. The topography and early history of Jerusalem (to 586 BCE); 3. The Babylonian (586¿539 BCE) and Persian (539¿332 BCE) periods; 4. The early Hellenistic period (332¿167 BCE); 5. The late Hellenistic (Hasmonean) period (167¿40 BCE); 6. The archaeology of Qumran and the Dead Sea Scrolls; 7. The early Roman (Herodian) period (40 BCE¿70 CE): Jerusalem; 8. The early Roman (Herodian) period (40 BCE¿70 CE): Caesarea Maritima, Samaria-Sebaste, Herodian Jericho, and Herodium; 9. The early Roman (Herodian) period (40 BCE¿70 CE): Jesus' birth and Galilean setting; 10. The early Roman (Herodian) period (40 BCE¿70 CE): Masada; 11. Ancient Jewish tombs and burial customs (to 70 CE); 12. From 70 CE to the Bar Kokhba Revolt (135/136 CE) (the Second Jewish Revolt against the Romans); 13. Aelia Capitolina (Hadrianic Jerusalem) (135 to ca. 500 CE); 14. Roman and the late antique period synagogues in Palestine; 15. The Byzantine (early Christian) period (313¿640 CE): Jerusalem; 16. The Byzantine (early Christian) period (313¿640 CE): Palestine under Christian rule; 17. Epilogue: early Islamic Jerusalem (638¿750 CE).