History and Faith
A look at the ‘Holy Land’ reveals a society embattled with competing views both ancient and modern. The great traditions that collide here provide articles of faith that people continue to live and die by. A series of ancient historical claims and grievances uneasily coexist.
The Fertile Crescent
Palestine and Israel mark the western limit of the ‘cradle of civilization’ that gave birth to hydrology-based hierarchies – central control over irrigation systems – which eventually became the seeds of the modern state with all its autocratic flaws. In the early years this area was home to a number of wandering tribes including first the Caananites and later the Israelites. This harsh desert climate also fostered a series of monotheistic ‘sky god’ religions that are the root of modern Judaism, Christianity and Islam. They tended towards fairly harsh codes of conduct that blurred distinctions between political and religious authority.
The revolt against Rome
These events represent a deep root of Jewish nationalism. The first revolt dates from the period just after Christ’s death and was marked by the burning of the temple in Jerusalem by the Romans, selective assassination of Roman officials and Jewish collaborators, and the last stand of the Zealots against the Roman legions at the desert fortress at Masada. The Jews were expelled from Jerusalem in 135.
Arab Palestine
This period is usually dated from just after the Prophet Mohammed’s death (632). Abu Bakr, the first caliph and successor to Mohammed, and Omar, who followed him, together engineered the capture of the Holy Land from Christian Byzantine authorities. Several of the local tribes were ready converts to Islam. This period of Islamic rule saw the construction of the Dome of the Rock mosque (Islam’s third-holiest site) on land in Old Jerusalem where the first and second Jewish temples had once stood. This early period of Islamic rule was marked by an unusually high level of tolerance for the civil and religious rights of the remaining Christian and Jewish communities.
The Crusades
A hotly disputed historical topic between Christians and Muslims. There were eight crusades (1099-1291) of European warriors trying to capture the Holy Land. The first and most successful resulted in the slaughter of both Muslims and Jews who were living together in peace in Jerusalem. Other crusades were less successful due to fierce resistance, crusader infighting and outright banditry. For Muslims the crusades mark a barbaric assault, while for some Christians the word retains the positive connotations of a noble cause.
The Jews in exile
After the failure of the revolt against Rome, Jewish refugees established communities from Spain to Ethiopia to Kerala in southern India. They were generally treated more hospitably by non-Christians than in the Christian world, where the dominant Catholic Church actively promoted anti-Semitism. They flourished particularly in Moorish Spain until its invasion by Christian armies, after which they were victimized in the Inquisition. Russia and eastern Europe were particularly bad, with bloody pogroms that killed thousands. Despite notable intellectual and economic achievements, a history of discrimination (and much worse) led to a widespread Jewish desire for a homeland.
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Voices from the margins:
Multimedia: video, podcasts, and more.
- Poetry Slam in Zimbabwe
- The House of Hunger poetry slam held in Zimbabwe in 2006, and organised by the Pamberi Trust, showcased young artists performing inspirational work on issues from corporate power to child soldiers. The video features four of the poets.
Published by Pambazuka News.
- Iranian women speak out
- 3 March 2007, London. Women's rights activists marched through the English capital last week to celebrate International Women's Day with a protest against the misogyny of the Islamic regime in Iran and the threat of invasion by the US. Hear the voices of Iranian feminists Azar and Leila Parnian and the sounds of the demonstration as it passed through the heart of the city. Click here to learn more about the campaign.
Produced by Heidi Bachram.
- Raised Voices audio:
- Benny from West Papua on Corporate Power
- Vinayan from India on agriculture
