Palestine

A Four Thousand Year History

By: Nur Masalha

Narrated by: Fajer Al-Kaisi

This rich and magisterial work traces Palestine's millennia-old heritage, uncovering cultures and societies of astounding depth and complexity that stretch back to the very beginnings of recorded history.

Starting with the earliest references in Egyptian and Assyrian texts, Nur Masalha explores how Palestine and its Palestinian identity have evolved over thousands of years, from the Bronze Age to the present day. Drawing on a rich body of sources and the latest archaeological evidence, Masalha shows how Palestine's multicultural past has been distorted and mythologized by Biblical lore and the Israel-Palestinian conflict.

In the process, Masalha reveals that the concept of Palestine, contrary to accepted belief, is not a modern invention or one constructed in opposition to Israel, but rooted firmly in ancient past. Palestine represents the authoritative account of the country's history.

©2018 Nur Masalha (P)2021 Tantor

Incredibly well researched and important

This is truly a monumental work that needs to be read especially right now. It lays out four millennia of history with irrefutable sources.

The honest, impartial, and open point of view of this history

I love that it took from all parts of historians, both Zionists views, Israeli historians and Arab Historians to complete this history book. I love that it started thousands of years ago, so it’s a more complete history of that land. It’s incredibly devastating to know what is happening to Palestine, and this book gives a great history of how everything came into play and why. I didn’t know much about the Zionists, but I completely understand now why they are disliked among Arab communities while also writing a complete 3rd party unbiased view of the History of Palestine.

A True History of Palestine

This is a true history of Palestine going back 4,000 years. For those who wish to study the history of Palestine, this is a great book. This book also describes how Palestine began to be colonized beginning from the later years of the 19th century to today. The Author gives a detailed description of ways how European Zionists colonized the land of Palestine first by purchasing land and later by brute force. The authur also debunks the Zionist story based on mythology and ancient scriptures.

Comprehensive and valuable

While not exactly a page-turner, when countering a sophisticated force intent on erasing historical memory of a people and identity, it's understandable that every detail be exhausted in defense. A lot, and I mean a lot, of historical documentation and cartography is presented establishing the legitimacy of a Palestinian identity, thereby substantiating a claim to nationhood, or at least formulating a legal standing to arbitrate for it. The history of the settler colonial toponymic project is particularly egregious. The effort to replace long existing place names with those suited to a self-serving biblical reference is cynicism of the highest order, and deserves about the same amount of respect as does the fiction within the books in that particular collection. A valuable, reliable resource for understanding the conflict in the region.

Good history

Very thorough account of Palestinian history from ancient times through 1948. Highly recommended to listen.