Israel Tour 01 Land Bridge illustration

This video is one of several that can provide an overview of Israel and the Bible stories that happened in a particular region. For more videos like this one, search for “Israel Tour.” This video shows how Israel served as an ancient “land bridge” between Africa, Europe, and Asia. Sea travel was possible, but risky in centuries past. Travel through the desert was also possible, but limited to caravans carrying light loads and lots of water. Almost all traffic stayed close to fresh water sources like rivers and lakes. Israel is sandwiched between a vast desert to its east and the Mediterranean Sea on the west, making the land of the Bible the safest option for most travelers. Because of the constant flow of travelers, traders and armies, anything happening in Israel would soon be news in northern Africa, southern Europe and southwestern Asia. The valleys and coastal plain of Israel were, in effect, an intercontinental highway for the ancient world. Not surprisingly, every world power wanted to control that highway. Empires in Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece and Italy all came into power during the time between Genesis and the advent of the Christian church. Israel held sway over its own land only briefly during that time period. David and Solomon ruled the entire land. After a split between the northern and the southern region, Israel’s kings (the northern kingdom) controlled the highways in the heartland. After the Assyrians came into power, Israel did not have full control of the land until modern times. The modern-day state was established in 1948, and Israel gained its footing for good after the Six-Day War of 1967.