The Holy Land Revealed

Course Overview

Visit the birthplace of Judaism and Christianity in this comprehensive tour, taught by an archaeologist, that will take you deep beneath the pages of the Bible.

Course Description

As the birthplace of Judaism and Christianity, the Holy Land (the area in and around modern-day Israel) is one of the most important regions in the world and the setting for defining events in religious history. Delivered by archaeologist and award-winning Professor Jodi Magness of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, these 36 lectures provide an insider’s look at how archaeology helps us relive this period of civilization. Experience long-buried objects that will deepen your understanding of this dynamic place.

Video Lectures

1. The Land of Canaan (31 min)
   Introduction to the concept of the holy land and the Canaanites.
2. The Arrival of the Israelites (32 min)
   Insights into the archaeological evidence of the Israelites’ arrival.
3. Jerusalem-An Introduction to the City (29 min)
   Overview of Jerusalem’s importance and biblical accounts.
4. The Jerusalem of David and Solomon (32 min)
   Examination of the remains of biblical Jerusalem.
5. Biblical Jerusalem’s Ancient Water Systems (31 min)
   Focus on the engineering of Jerusalem’s water systems.
6. Samaria and the Northern Kingdom of Israel (28 min)
   The history and archaeological findings of the Omride dynasty.
7. Fortifications and Cult Practices (32 min)
   Explore everyday life and religious practices in ancient Israel.
8. Babylonian Exile and the Persian Restoration (32 min)
   The effects of Babylonian and Persian rule on the Holy Land.
9. Alexander the Great and His Successors (28 min)
   Hellenistic influence on the Holy Land.
10. The Hellenization of Palestine (30 min)
    Non-Jewish cultural impacts in the Holy Land.
11. The Maccabean Revolt (31 min)
    Impact of Greek rule on the Jewish population.
12. The Hasmonean Kingdom (32 min)
    Overview of the Hasmonean dynasty and regional interactions.
13. Pharisees and Sadducees (32 min)
    Comparison of two dominant Jewish sects in the 2nd century B.C.E.
14. Discovery and Site of the Dead Sea Scrolls (30 min)
    Tour Qumran and the significance of the Dead Sea Scrolls.
15. The Sectarian Settlement at Qumran (31 min)
    Features of the Qumran community and its practices.
16. The Dead Sea Scrolls and the Essenes (32 min)
    Insights into the life of the Essenes and their beliefs.
17. The Life of the Essenes (29 min)
    Daily life and practices within the Qumran sect.
18. From Roman Annexation to Herod the Great (31 min)
    The reign of Herod and its historical significance.
19. Herod as Builder-Jerusalem’s Temple Mount (32 min)
    Exploration of Herod’s construction projects.
20. Caesarea Maritima-Harbor and Showcase City (30 min)
    Overview of the Greco-Roman city built by Herod.
21. From Herod’s Last Years to Pontius Pilate (31 min)
    The political landscape after Herod’s reign.
22. Galilee-Setting of Jesus’s Life and Ministry (32 min)
    Examination of Galilean archaeology related to Jesus.
23. Synagogues in the Time of Jesus (33 min)
    Focus on historical synagogues during Jesus’s life.
24. Sites of the Trial and Final Hours of Jesus (33 min)
    Explore key locations linked to the final days of Jesus.
25. Early Jewish Tombs in Jerusalem (30 min)
    Development of ancient Jewish burial customs.
26. Monumental Tombs in the Time of Jesus (32 min)
    Overview of burial practices during the Second Temple period.
27. The Burials of Jesus and James (34 min)
    Archaeological context of Gospel accounts of burial.
28. The First Jewish Revolt; Jerusalem Destroyed (31 min)
    The events of the first Jewish revolt against Rome.
29. Masada-Herod’s Desert Palace and the Siege (29 min)
    Examination of Masada and the Roman siege techniques.
30. Flavius Josephus and the Mass Suicide (31 min)
    Historical views on the mass suicide at Masada.
31. The Second Jewish Revolt against the Romans (32 min)
    Insights from archaeological finds related to Bar-Kokhba.
32. Roman Jerusalem-Hadrian’s Aelia Capitolina (32 min)
    The transformation of Jerusalem under Emperor Hadrian.
33. Christian Emperors and Pilgrimage Sites (30 min)
    Development of churches in the Holy Land during Byzantine rule.
34. Judaism and Synagogues under Christian Rule (32 min)
    Impact of Christianity on Jewish religious practices.
35. Islam’s Transformation of Jerusalem (32 min)
    The significance of the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque.
36. What and How Archaeology Reveals (34 min)
    Insights into archaeological methods and discoveries.