the object of history as they attempt to achieve their political and social goals in a variety of changing circumstances. The period chosen for this study is that represented by the global domination of Hellenism, from the conquest of Palestine by Alexander the Great in the second half of the fourth century BCE until the seizure of the land by the Arabs in the seventh century CE. Great care has been taken to make the reader aware of the relationship between the author's account and the original source. Likewise, reference has been made to the relevant sources as often as possible, so that the reader can look these up and check the information provided against the source material.