Switching between periods

Bronze Age - The Canaanite Period

This period is the earliest era in which bronze began to be used. It is also called the Canaanite period, although this term is not widely accepted today. During this period, we witness several revolutions in the land: the urbanization of the Land of Israel, the abandonment and subsequent re-establishment of cities (including the establishment of Jerusalem as a city), and the invention of the alphabetic script in the Sinai Desert. According to the traditional narrative, this period encompassed the era of the Patriarchs, followed by the Exodus from Egypt and the beginning of the settlement of the tribes of Israel in the land. Throughout this period, Jerusalem was inhabited by Canaanites and held no exceptional political or religious status, although during this time it is mentioned for the first time in texts outside the Bible.