Israel History and Culture

Nearby Jericho and the caves of Mount Carmel tell of human life here from prehistory. In the Bronze and Iron Ages, Canaanite city-states gave way to the kingdoms of Israel and Judah, and Jerusalem became the spiritual center of the Jewish people, with the First and Second Temples. Biblical tels such as Megiddo, Hazor and Beer Sheba are World Heritage Sites.

Persian, Hellenistic and Roman eras followed. Herod the Great built Caesarea's harbor, the palaces of Masada and an expanded Temple Mount. In the Byzantine centuries, churches rose at holy sites across Galilee and Jerusalem, and from the 7th century the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque crowned the city. Later centuries brought the Crusader-era halls of Akko, Mamluk architecture and four centuries of Ottoman rule, when Suleiman the Magnificent built Jerusalem's present Old City walls.

The modern State of Israel was established in 1948, and Hebrew, revived as a spoken language, became its national tongue. Today Israel is known for science, medicine, agriculture and technology. Explore the shared story of the region's faiths on our Abrahamic heritage page and see Jerusalem, holy city of three faiths.

Tel Aviv's White City holds more than four thousand Bauhaus and International Style buildings, a UNESCO site and an architecture lover's dream. Jerusalem's golden limestone, required by law on new buildings, gives the city its glow at sunset. Galleries in Tel Aviv and Jaffa, the artists' village of Ein Hod, and the old artists' quarter of Safed show a vibrant contemporary scene.

Music ranges from the world-class Israel Philharmonic to Mizrahi pop, klezmer and Arabic oud. Israeli film and television series are now watched worldwide, and Hebrew literature has earned a Nobel Prize.

The Dead Sea shore is the lowest point on land on earth. Hebrew is the only example of an ancient language revived for everyday life by millions. Israel has one of the highest numbers of museums per person in the world. Plan your trip with our Israel travel guide and our pages on Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.