1. Describe the geography of Canaan and Ancient Israel including resources.
Return to History 8 Near East Questions
The geography of the Levant is diverse even though it is a small area. It includes mountains, the lowest point on earth (the dead sea), areas with abundant rainfall and arid deserts. The difference in the climate is because it is in between the Mediterranean Sea and the Arabian Desert. The deserts and dry areas receive about two inches of rainfall each year while the humid areas get between 12 and 40 inches each year. The resources in the areas with abundant rainfall include dense oak, pistachio trees, pine trees, wild wheat, barley and olive trees. Over time, humans have changed the environment. We have begun to domesticate plants and we have caused deforestation. Many out of the 500 bird species are no longer around because of hunting.
picture from: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/bible/map-01.html
Sources used:
Origins Manual page 109
By: Anna Childers
