Pilgrim's Map of the Holy Land for Biblical Research

It is difficult to know where one should begin when offering a brief explanation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. For one, the history is complex and goes back for centuries, and picking a point in history from which to start the narration is difficult in and of itself. In addition, the complexity of the situation makes a “brief” explanation near impossible to offer.

For the purposes of this map, we will begin with Palestine’s shift from an Ottoman territory (pre-WWI) to a British territory (post WWI). As a brief point of clarification, nearly all who identify as Palestinians today are Arab, but not all Arabs are Palestinians. Before the Palestinian area changed hands, the British government had promised the establishment of a Jewish state in the area. At the same time, the British promised support for Arab independence during the Arab revolt. As the British administration attempted to use the area to fulfil both promises, it quickly became apparent that compromise was not going to work, and violent conflict ensued.

This map’s creation comes at a time when the crisis was coming to a crossroads. The Arab Revolt (1936-1939) was in full swing, while meanwhile, Hitler’s power was rising in Germany and pressure was increasing for the British government to make good on their promise for a Jewish state. There are multiple interpretations to the significance of this map. It is undoubtedly a manifestation of the religious significance of the area. With 111 pinpointed locations cross-referenced with their associated Biblical verses of reference and a trail that shows the journey of Jesus Christ, Pilgrim’s Map of the Holy Land offers important insight into the rich history of religion, culture, and conflict in the area between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River.