Palestine Research Paper

Palestine is a relatively small country compassing only 10,000 square miles, Palestine could be placed in Texas twenty-six times. The climate in Palestine is comparable to Georgia and has a rainy season for six months and a season where it does not rain. The land is divided into four sections, Maritime Plains, Western Highlands, Jordan River Valley, and the Eastern Highlands There were six political regions of Palestine; Judea, Samaria, Galilee, Perea, Decapolis, and North East Palestine. Each of these areas having many important cities but none compared to Jerusalem for her importance and impact, even today Jerusalem holds so much for Christians, Judaism, and Islam. The land of Palestine had many well-traveled roads, the most famous being the Via Maris (the way of the sea), we read of Jesus traveling these roads often during his ministry. The majority of the inhabitants of Palestine were a working class people utilizing farming, sheep and fishing for their existence. The majority of the homes in Palestine were made up of one large room and a flat roof where they entertained and slept, but as in all societies the rich existed and lived quiet extravagant having large homes very well decorated. Children were welcomed and the sons of the time were preferred over the girls, but no
record of unfair treatment had been recorded. The first son was the son of honor and when the father passed the first son was to become the head of the family, it is commonly believed that Jesus father, Joseph, died while Christ was relatively young one can only assume that at a young age Christ had this responsibility. Political power during this time was ruled by Rome but the Greek influence still existed and even the Romans utilized this culture and language in their lives.
We read of many of the rulers of this period but two stand out Herod and Pilate, Herod was a very untrusting and murderous king even to the point of killing his wife. Pilate was a very weak individual and leader. Both of these men played roles in the birth and death of Christ and were placed in their positions at the time God had appointed for them the roles that would fulfill his purpose. The Roman rule continued to allow the people to observe their annual feast and Synagogues were utilized by the
people. The roll of the Scribes had expanded in this time period, the influential religious parties were the Sadducees and the Pharisees. These two influential parties differed on almost all their beliefs, these made up the Senate or the Sanhedrin court. The Jewish religion had become more about show than obedience without a prophetic voice for some years. The true worship and following of the law had become a mere shadow of its foundation and principles. At this point the people were needing a savior and the time for Christ arrival had come.