Ep. 6: The History: Palestine: A Prehistory (Prof. Dr. Simon W. Fuchs – Hebrew University of Jerusalem)

Guest: Professor Simon W. Fuchs – Department of Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies, Hebrew University of Jerusalem Hosts: Alexandria & Efe Bio: Professor Simon W. Fuchs is a historian specializing in Islamic and Middle Eastern studies. He earned his PhD at Princeton University in 2015. He has held positions at the University of Cambridge and the University of Freiburg and is currently Associate Professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. A member of the German Young Academy, Fuchs specializes in the intellectual history of Islam, connecting the scholarly traditions of South Asia and the Middle East. His research draws on Arabic, Persian, and Urdu sources. He is currently writing a global history of the Iranian Revolution (1978–1979). In this episode: This episode explores the long prehistory of Palestine, tracing early human settlements, archaeological findings, and genetic studies linking ancient populations with contemporary groups. Professor Fuchs also provides a first broad overview from the emergence of Zionism to the foundation of Israel, highlighting formative stages of the conflict. Topics include the continuity of Jewish life after the Roman expulsion, the origins of the term “Palestine,” relations among local groups, the influence of monotheistic religions, successive empires, Ottoman administration, the Balfour Declaration, British Mandate policies, and the contested settler-colonial paradigm. This episode offers a foundational understanding of the historical, cultural, and political developments that shaped the region before the modern conflict. This episode was recorded on February 28, 2025. Links: Prof. Dr. Simon Fuchs: simonwolfgangfuchs.com/ simonwolfgangfuchs.huji.ac.il Fuchs, Simon Wolfgang. In a Pure Muslim Land: Shi'ism between Pakistan and the Middle East. University of North Carolina Press, 2019. https://simonwolfgangfuchs.huji.ac.il/publications/pure-muslim-land Please also check out our other episodes to explore multiple perspectives. On Canaanites and archaeogenetics: Gudrun Krämer On Palestinian identity and life during the Ottoman period and British Mandate: Awad Halabi, Michael Brenner, Victor Kattan, Derek Penslar, Muriel Asseburg, Gudrun Krämer On the history of Zionism: Michael Brenner, Awad Halabi, Victor Kattan, Oren Kessler, Derek Penslar, Anita Haviv Disclaimer: Guest opinions are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the podcast team. Technical legal terms are explained in Episode 36 with Prof. Claus Kreß; contested histories are addressed by Prof. Gudrun Krämer in Episode 21.