Historical Timeline II

beginning in AD 1099

For the next 200 years, the country was dominated by crusaders, who following an appeal by Pope Urban II, came from Europe to recover the Holy Land from the infidels (Islamics). [I'm inserting here a short story that should be familar to most os us; King Richard - the Lionheart was born Richard Plantagenet on September 8, AD 1157 in Oxfordshire England and died from a battle wound in AD 1199. He was raised in Southern France but, partly by default, he was crowned King of England in AD 1189. His first act after being crowned was to free his mother from prison and his second act was to raise money for the "Third Crusade" (Knights Templar). Mostly because of the crusades he only spent 4 to 6 months in England during his 10 years as King. Remember the legendary Robin Hood and his Merry Men, Little John, Will Scarlet, Much the Miller's Son, Alan a Dale, Friar Tuck and of course Maid Marion and their fight against the evil Prince John who just happened to be the younger brother of King Richard and had been left in charge while the king was off on the crusade. That was a part of those crusades]. The knights of the first crusade captured Jerusalem, massacring most of the non-Christians (including Jews). During the next several decades the crusaders extended their power over the rest of the country. This probably included King Richard - the Lionheart.

From AD 1291 to AD 1516 the Land was ruled by the Mamluk Sultanate (an Islamic regime located in Egypt) from the mid 1200s to early 1500s, under which it became a backwater provence ruled from Damascus. By the end of the middle ages, most of Jerusalem was abandoned and the small Jewish community was poverty stricken.

AD 1517 to AD 1917 - Following the Ottoman conquest in AD 1517 the Land was divided into four districts and attached administratively to Damascus and ruled from Istanbul. (The Ottoman Empire ruled Turkey and surrounding countries for about 400 years and their religion was predominately Islam).

In AD 1917 400 years of Ottoman rule was ended by British conquest. British Foreign Minister Balfour pledged support for establishment of a "Jewish National Home" in Palestine (back in the Land of Canaan).

AD 1918 to AD 1945 - The Land was ruled by the British.

In AD 1925 Hebrew University of Jerusalem opened on Mt. Scopus, AD 1929 Hebron Jews massacred by Arab militants, AD 1931 Jewish Underground Organization founded, AD 1936 - 39 anti Jewish riots instigated by Arab militants, AD 1939 to 1945 World War II, Holocaust in Europe.

AD 1948 saw the end of British Mandate (14 May), State of Israel proclaimed (14 May), Israel invaded by five Arab states (15 May), War of independence (May 1948 to July 1949), Israel Defence Forces (IDF) established.

Again, let it be known that this article was taken largely from the "Historical Timeline of Israel as written by Contender Ministries with other research thrown in so I can not be 100% sure of its accuacy. If you have another version I would love to hear it. As for after AD 1948, much has happened but, as they say, it's all history now and can very easily be found. Thanks, Stay tuned, William