The hills where Jerusalem is situated were settled for the first time five thousand years ago. This was the first of three urbanization periods that the country has gone through in antiquity. The second urbanization period began in about the 20th century BCE and lasted 800 years. This is also the first time Jerusalem is mentioned in historical records. The third urbanization period took place in about 1000 BCE. This phase of urbanization ended with the Babylonian conquest of 586 BCE. Inhabitation resumed a century later destroyed again in 70 CE, rebuilt and was destroyed a few more times until the modern period.

These class sessions will highlight the most significant things of each urbanization period in order to shed some light on one of the most interesting cities in the world. 

Dr. Rami Arav teaches in the Department of History and the Department of Philosophy and Religion at UNO. Biblical Archaeology, Jesus and Archaeology, Egyptian and Babylonian texts and archaeology are among his special topics courses. He is extensively published on the archaeology and history of the Land of Israel and of Bethsaida in particular. He has directed numerous archaeological excavations, including the Cave of Letters.