The People of the Bible - how did they live, what did they think, and above all: what did they believe? Two distinguished experts provide a unique interdisciplinary overview that is not only aimed at theologians, exploring the essential epochs, individuals, issues, and theories. Using numerous textual sources and archaeological findings, Michael Tilly and Wolfgang Zwickel trace the religious history of the Holy Land from the beginnings of settled communities around 10,000 years ago to the emergence of Christianity in the 2nd century AD and the formation of rabbinic Judaism. This makes the foundations of our Jewish-Christian influenced world understandable and the historical context tangible. A commented bibliography and an index complete the volume.