The Early Bronze Age is a time in which the first cities of the world were built. In Canaan, Jericho, Lachish, Arad, Megiddo, Hazor and other cities were built, but toward the end of this period they were abandoned for reasons that are unclear. It should be noted that Jerusalem had not yet been founded as a walled city at this time.

Contrary to earlier periods, this era was rich in written documents that tell us of events in the surrounding region. Some scholars sought to identify the stories of the patriarchs, in which Jerusalem is called Shalem; it is therefore also known as the “age of the Patriarchs.”

During the Middle Bronze Age Egypt became more involved in events in Canaan, and tribes from present-day Syria also penetrated the land. Cities once again began to be built here, such as Dan, Megiddo and Shechem, after a gap of hundreds of years. In various areas there were dominant “city states” whose kings ruled both the city and the surrounding area.

Egypt increased its involvement in Canaan during this period, and in the fifteenth century BCE Pharaoh Tutmoses III went to war in Canaan. Almost no new fortifications were built in Canaan at this time, and the country actively participated in intensive commerce all around the eastern Mediterranean basin. The settlement of the Israelite tribes in various parts of the country was once dated to the end of this period, hence it was dubbed “period of the settlement,” which relates to its latter part. In the mid-fourteenth century BCE Jerusalem is mentioned for the second time in its history, once again in Egypt, in texts that are not biblical. Jerusalem was involved in internal struggles among the rulers of other urban centers, who formed a coalition against it.

Archaeological finds from this period in and around the City of David are very meager. Nevertheless, finds were discovered that are dated to the end of this period, for example tombs found on the Mount of Olives and discoveries in the Nahalat Ahim neighborhood near the Mahane Yehuda Market and elsewhere. According to Prof. Gabriel Barkay, an Egyptian temple even stood north of the present-day Damascus Gate.

The Hellenistic period began with the conquest of the country by Alexander the Great in 332 BCE. Immediately after Alexander’s death wars began among his successors. Between 300 and 200 BCE the country was ruled by the Ptolomaic dynasty of Egypt, and in the second century BCE control passed to the Seleucid dynasty of Syria.

Religious persecution of the Jews led to the Hasmonean (Maccabean) revolt in 167 BCE, following which the Hasmonean kingdom was gradually established. The success of the Hasmonean rebellion is commemorated to this day by the festival of Hanukkah. When the land was conquered by the Romans in 63 BCE, the Hasmonean kingdom came under the aegis of Rome.

In 63 BCE, when the Hasmoneans were fighting with each other to rule, the land was conquered by the Roman general Pompey, who was invited by the warring parties to judge between them. Thus began the Early Roman period in this country; from then on the Hasmoneans were under Roman authority.

In 37 BCE Herod the Great began to rule under the aegis of Rome, and he beautified Jerusalem and the Temple Mount. When he died, his son Archelaeus was made king of Judea, but then the Romans removed him from power. From 6 BCE to 41 CE, Roman governors ruled Judea.

In 41 BCE, Agrippa, grandson of Herod the Great was granted rule over Judea and reigned until 44 CE. When he died, Rome once again took over through its governors. Roman oppression and Jewish anticipation of redemption led to the outbreak of the Great Revolt of the Jews against the Romans, which ended with the destruction of the Temple in the Hebrew month of Av, 70 CE.

The Roman Empire gradually converted to Christianity over the course of the fourth century, with its capital at Constantinople (present-day Istanbul). Churches and streets built during this time changed the character of Jerusalem, which became a Christian city.

A small Jewish community lived in the city for at least part of this time, and Jews were permitted, on payment of a fee, to ascend to the Temple Mount on the ninth of Av and mourn its destruction. Despite the sanctity of the city to the Byzantines, at no time did it become either an imperial capital or a provincial capital.

In 1516 the land was conquered by the Ottoman Turkish Empire. During the sixteenth century the Ottomans imposed restrictions on the Jews in Jerusalem, which made possible the golden age in Safed. During the time of Suleiman the Lawgiver the Ottomans fortified Jerusalem and Safed, built caravansaries, fortresses and more.

However, at the end of the sixteenth century the first signs of the decline of the Ottoman Empire and the entire country were already visible, a decline that persisted until the nineteenth century. During this time, thanks to the involvement of the great powers of the day and increasing modernization (steamships, the telegraph and trains), the Land of Israel went from the neglected backwater of the empire to a lodestone for pilgrims, scholars and tourists.

Scientific study of this country began in the nineteenth century, at the end of which the first neighborhoods were built outside the walls of Jerusalem and the Zionist waves of immigrations began. The status of Jerusalem grew stronger and its population increased. In 1839 Jews were a majority in the city and in 1870, the Jewish community was bigger than all the other communities together (11,000 out of a total population of 22,000). At the beginning of the twentieth century, a great deal of land was purchased in the City of David by the Baron Rothschild, and ownership of these lands was later transferred to the State of Israel.

The British period brought great changes to the country in general and to Jerusalem in particular. Electricity, running water and the construction of modern roads and buildings changed the face of the city. Urban master plans prepared by the British helped maintain the fabric of the city walls and the Old City and its surroundings. Municipal bylaws were passed to ensure that Jerusalem’s buildings would be built or covered with stone to preserve its character. The various government institutions were located in Jerusalem, the area of the city grew fourfold and the population tripled.

On November 29, 1947, the land was divided between the Jews and the Arabs according to a United Nations resolution. The Arabs, who refused to accept the resolution, launched a war. On the eve of the War of Independence there were approximately 100,000 Jews living in Jerusalem out of a countrywide total of 600,000 Jews. As the Arabs besieged the city, great efforts were made to prevent its fall, out of the realization of Jerusalem’s special status and its importance to the steadfastness of the entire Jewish community.