Jerusalem 

is the capital of the modern nation of Israel and a major holy city for the

three Western traditions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. It sits on spurs of bedrock
between the Mediterranean Sea and the Dead Sea area. To the north and west, it tapers
off to the Jezreel Valley and the hills of the Galilee, while to the south lies the Judean
desert. The city is surrounded by three steep ravines (to the east, south, and west). On
the other side of the eastern ravine, across the Kidron valley, is the Mount of Olives.

Historically, Jerusalem was an urban center for approximately 5,000 years. Scholars
debate the original meaning of the name (Sumerian "foundation" or Semitic "to found"
or to "lay a cornerstone"). It could also derive from the name of the Canaanite god of
dusk, Shalem, where the main consonants of s-l-m also denote the Hebrew
(salam or shalom), which means "peace." Ironically, the city has known very little peace
over the centuries.

Today, Jerusalem consists of the modern, western section, built up after the institution
of the state of Israel in 1948 CE, and the medieval section, known as the Old City, which
is surrounded by walls and gates built during the reign of Suleiman I (1494-1566 CE)
when the province was part of the Ottoman Empire. The Old City is divided into four
quarters: the Jewish Quarter; the Christian Quarter; the Muslim Quarter; and the
Armenian Quarter.

Archaeology of the Biblical Period

The major source for the history of ancient Jerusalem is the Bible and the writings
of Flavius Josephus (36-100 CE). In the 19th century CE, archaeological excavations
began in and around Jerusalem essentially to try to prove the biblical stories and to
affirm the existence of its major characters such as King David and Solomon. In the
modern era, exploration expanded to include all levels of the ancient city.