Israel's history spans 4000 years — from the Patriarchs, Kingdom of Israel and Judah, exile, return to Zion, British Mandate, to the establishment of the State of Israel 1948.
Biblical Era (2000-587 BC)
Abraham, Isaac, Jacob — patriarchs of the Jewish people. Exodus from Egypt led by Moses ~1300 BC. Conquest of Canaan by Joshua. Kingdom of David and Solomon (1000 BC) — First Temple in Jerusalem.
Second Temple and Destruction (538 BC - 70 AD)
Return to Zion from Babylon 538 BC. Second Temple built. Greek rule (Alexander, Seleucids) then Roman. Destruction of Second Temple 70 AD by Titus. Bar Kokhba revolt 132-135 — Jews expelled from the land.
Exile and Diaspora (70-1947)
2000 years of exile. Jews scattered worldwide — Babylon, Spain, Ashkenaz, Poland. Torah, Talmud, rabbis preserved identity. Anti-Semitism, pogroms, and Holocaust — 6 million Jews murdered 1939-1945.
Zionism and Settlement (1881-1947)
Theodor Herzl published "Der Judenstaat" 1896 — founded political Zionism. Waves of aliyah: first (1881-1903), second (1904-1914), third (1919-1923). Balfour Declaration 1917 — Britain supports Jewish "national home".
British Mandate (1917-1948)
Britain ruled Palestine 1917-1948. Jewish immigration, conflicts with Arabs. UN Resolution 1947 — division of land into two states.
Establishment of State (1948)
May 14, 1948 — David Ben-Gurion declared establishment of State of Israel. War of Independence 1948-1949 — armies of 5 Arab countries invaded, Israel won. 1 million Jews from Arab countries arrived.
Wars and Modern Israel (1948-today)
Six-Day War 1967 — liberation of Old Jerusalem. Yom Kippur War 1973. Peace treaties with Egypt 1979, Jordan 1994. Abraham Accords 2020 (UAE, Bahrain, Morocco). 9 million inhabitants. Democracy, global hi-tech.