Between Historiography and Geography: Palestine’s Territorial Extent and Political-Administrative Status in Classical through Late Roman sources

This paper examines how Classical, Hellenistic, Roman, and late Roman sources frame Palestine’s boundaries and political identity. Close readings of key historiographical and geographical texts trace how ancient authors defined, delimited, and situated Palestine within the eastern Mediterranean. Across these sources, ‘Palestine’ consistently denotes a geographic designation extending beyond the littoral to substantial inland territories. At times, this continuity was obscured by Roman imperial strategies that installed client entities. The study clarifies the concept’s historical development, challenges restrictive interpretations, and reaffirms its broader historical and geographical scope.