History Negev

1 history

1.1 nomads
1.2 biblical
1.3 nabateans , romans
1.4 byzantines
1.5 islamic empires
1.6 ottoman era
1.7 british rule
1.8 israeli rule

history

of 3 acacia species growing in high plateau of negev, acacia pachyceras cold-resistant.


nomads

nomadic life in negev dates @ least 4,000 years , perhaps as 7,000 years.

the first urbanized settlements established combination of canaanite, amalekite, amorite, nabataean , edomite groups circa 2000 bc. pharaonic egypt credited introducing copper mining , smelting in both negev , sinai between 1400 , 1300 bc.

biblical

in bible, term negev relates northern, semiarid part of call negev today, located in general area of arad-beersheba valley.

according book of genesis chapter 13, abraham lived while in negev after being banished egypt. during exodus journey promised land, moses sent twelve scouts negev assess land , population. later northern part of biblical negev inhabited tribe of judah , southern part of biblical negev tribe of simeon. negev later part of kingdom of solomon (in entirety, way red sea), , then, varied extension south, part of kingdom of judah.

in 9th century bc, development , expansion of mining in both negev , edom (modern jordan) coincided rise of assyrian empire. beersheba region s capital , center trade in 8th century bc. small settlements of israelites in areas around capital existed between 1020 , 928 bc.

nabateans , romans

archaeological ruins in negev

the 4th century bc arrival of nabateans resulted in development of irrigation systems supported new urban centers located along negev incense route @ avdat, mamshit, shivta, haluza (elusa), , nitzana. nabateans controlled trade on spice route between capital petra , gazan seaports. nabatean currency , remains of red , orange potsherds, identified trademark of civilization, have been found along route, remnants of still visible. nabatean control of negev ended when roman empire annexed lands in 106 ad. population, largely made of arabian nomads, remained largely tribal , independent of roman rule, animist belief system.

byzantines

byzantine rule in 4th century ad introduced christianity population. agricultural-based cities established , population grew exponentially.

islamic empires

the southern negev saw flourishing of economic activity during 8th 10th or 11th centuries. 6 islamic settlements have been found in vicinity of modern eilat, along copper , gold mines , stone quarries, , sophisticated irrigation system , road network. economic center port of ayla (aqaba).

ottoman era


tel arad inhabited since 4000 bce

nomadic tribes ruled negev largely independently , relative lack of interference next thousand years. known of time largely derived oral histories , folk tales of tribes wadi musa , petra areas in present-day jordan. bedouins of negev historically survived chiefly on sheep , goat husbandry. scarcity of water , of permanent pastoral land required them move constantly. bedouin in years past established few permanent settlements, although built, leaving behind remnants of stone houses called baika. in 1900 ottoman empire established administrative center southern syria @ beersheba including schools , railway station. authority of tribal chiefs on region recognized ottomans. railroad connected port of rafah. in 1914 turkish authorities estimated nomadic population @ 55,000,

british rule

a map considered british cabinet in 1918 suggested negev included in either palestine or egypt.

the 1916 sykes-picot agreement between britain , france placed negev in area b, arab state or states under british patronage. negev taken ottoman army british forces during 1917 , became part of mandatory palestine.

in 1922, bedouin component of population estimated @ 72,898 out of total of 75,254 beersheba sub-district. 1931 census estimated population of beersheba sub-district 51,082. large decrease considered artifact of incorrect enumeration methods used in 1922. arabic history of tribes around beersheba, published in 1934 records 23 tribal groups.

rahat, largest bedouin city in negev


israeli rule

in 1948 negev came under israeli rule. in years of state, absorbed many of jewish refugees arab countries, israeli government setting many development towns, such arad, sderot , netivot. since then, negev has become home many of israel defense forces major bases - process accelerating in past 2 decades.