Life in the Ancient World

Want to know what life was really like in the Biblical world?

This free eBook guides you through craft centers in ancient Jerusalem, family structure across Israel and ancient practices—from dining to makeup—throughout the Mediterranean world.

We look back on the Biblical world as a time of fateful battles, inspiring prophets, great empires and profound learning. Unfortunately, this picture is often skewed to highlight regal, rather than common, history. More of our modern philosophy and theology grew out of the ancient agora than the palace. Many profound thinkers and religious visionaries in the ancient world never interacted with kings or fought in great battles. How does archaeology tell their story?

By examining ancient societal structure, crafts and daily practices, we can reconstruct the lives of common people to better understand the world of the Bible and breathe new reality into the ancient world we are trying to understand. This eBook features articles from Biblical Archaeology Review describing industry in Second Temple period Jerusalem and household structure in ancient Israel along with a collection of brief and lively accounts from Archaeology Odyssey describing standard practices across the ancient Mediterranean, from table manners to construction cranes, and from fashion and makeup to the Roman postal service.

If Jerusalem is famous for one thing, it is for being a religious center. But our interest in the Holy City lies also in its everyday life, of which so little is known. Recent investigations revealed that in ancient times, especially in the late Second Temple period (50 B.C.–70 A.D.), various arts and crafts, such as stonework, painted pottery and glass industry, flourished in Jerusalem. In 1983, the Israeli authorities opened to the public a building that had been closed for 1,913 years to the day. The building, in ancient Jerusalem’s Upper City, was a workshop that was stormed by Roman soldiers in 70 A.D., the year the Romans destroyed Jerusalem and burned the Jewish Temple. In “Jerusalem Flourishing—A Craft Center for Stone, Pottery, and Glass,” eminent Israeli archaeologist Nahman Avigad describes what his excavations in the Upper City teach us about Jerusalem as an ancient craft center.

Ancient Israelite society was structured in a way that few of us in modern times experience. Its focus was on family and kin groups organized around agrarian activities. Family and kin groups, in turn, generated the symbols by which the higher levels of the social structure—the political and the divine—were understood and represented. Ancient Israelite society consisted of a series of “nested households”—one social grouping within another within another. In “Of Fathers, Kings and the Deity,” Philip J. King and Lawrence E. Stager guide us through this arrangement, which included family groups within a tribal kingdom—all under the rule of Yahweh.

Examining societal structure provides an important overview, but how did individuals work, dress, eat and party? A collection of colorful articles from Archaeology Odyssey guides readers through common practices in the ancient world. Learn how ancient people used papyrus and date palms, put on makeup, delivered mail and celebrated over dinner parties and with temple dancers.

Enjoy this colorful, exciting and informative journey and discover what life was really like in ancient times.

Download Life in the Ancient World and start receiving Bible History Daily — both absolutely free!

We’ll send you a link to download your copy of Life in the Ancient World and offer you a FREE registration to the Bible History Daily newsletter, bringing the world of the Bible and archaeology directly to your inbox. Your FREE registration to Bible History Daily introduces you to community discussions on fascinating topics like the Dead Sea Scrolls, top biblical archaeology discoveries, ancient Israel and Easter.

* Indicates a required field.

18 Responses

  1. ntsau says:

    Leon please do your research. Actually, God is a pagan name, Yahweh is the correct name for the Almighty.

    1. Sikeli says:

      There’s no right or wrong name. It’s how you interpret, practice, and experience. The Almighty says ” I am who I am “

      1. Sheila White says:

        No! He said “I Am”…..

  2. e.k.bara says:

    I am looking forward to know more about book of genesis. Thanks for giving beautiful ideas and education.

  3. ROGER DALE FAULK says:

    In the name of Jesus Christ I write these things. Jesus said a 1000 years is like a day and a day is like a 1000 years, thus signifing GOD did not consider the time, whatever the time, he was willing to spend it. As tedious the works may be, he was willing to do whatever it took. From the smallest creature, to the largest, GOD sheperded our creation. Be of good comfort, Jesus is yesterday, today and tomorrow as our shepherd. The Darwin theory is more correct than you think. With much works, patience and anguish more than we know, GOD has brought us to this now. With much anguish our Father and has allowed much harm to fall upon himself and us.
    Freewill is a most high with GOD and persecutions a cross for us to bare. With the many snares, you will find many you thought would not come back and more pleasures than you where taught. Thou shalt not force nor threaten, a prime rule of governing the grace and good character. Remember Lot’s wife? Her family and neighbors destroyed. She watched, regardless God’s command and was turned into a pillar of salt. Unconditional love, fulfilling Jesus’ statement about loving thy neighbor and praying for thy enemy. Jesus actually gave her honor when he said we are the salt of the earth. Remember the same sex issue? Jesus said to give your life for your brother is no higher love, especially after hell was attached to it. Be like Thomas one of Jesus’ disciples, wait to see. Like I said, freewill is high on our Father’s list, courage is also on that list. I know there is more, but use your common since and care about other’s feelings. If you think about the whys, you’ll find the answers and an adequate means of getting your message across. The goal is to save all and the world. Remember? God said, I give my son to save the “world”. To me, the glory is Jesus coming back with my family. Yes, I want to save the world and we will, as we progress. In the name of JESUS CHRIST, I have written these things.

    1. John says:

      Roger says: “Jesus said a ‘1000 years is like a day and a day is like a 1000 years,’ thus signifing GOD did not consider the time………”
      That is incorrect Roger Jesus never said that at all.
      The first time that it was said, Moses said it at Psalm 90:4 (Moses composed that Psalm)
      The second time this phrase was mentioned was by the apostle Peter at 2 Peter 3:8

    2. Rucker Linda Scheper says:

      Well said Roger

  4. Rev. Michael says:

    thank God for all the beautiful ideas and the education given to believers

  5. Raj Kumar Rathore says:

    Doing great job for those Christians who are living far off places from the Lord,s land God bless you and your team

  6. DAVID WESONGO FROM GHANA says:

    Am bless to hear this.May GOD increase you and bring out more revealing truth to help we younger generation.

  7. Alex says:

    Leon, what is the name of our God?

    1. John says:

      Alexander it is apparent that no one has answered your question as yet!
      The name of God is well known from the ancient manuscripts; Gog’s name is known as the Tetragramaton, which consists of the four Hebrew consonants YHWH, which in English is commonly translated Jehovah.
      Several Bible translations use the name of God, but, other translations do not use it, however they still use all other Biblical names…….and, of course many do not like the name Jehovah.
      When going back, not too many years, many Bibles used God’s name, but as I said many refuse to use the name, in our so-called ‘modern age’

  8. Leon Seidman says:

    I wish you would stop calling our G-D Yahweh. That is not his name.

  9. annc41 says:

    Awesome books. Thanks so much

  10. Doyle smith says:

    I am looking forward to the book. Genesis is a challenging part of the Bible and the reading should be very interesting. thanks

  11. norma beringuel says:

    As a bible believer I want to know more about ancient Israel history. As historian more items or books to read

  12. bobhogan says:

    They are in your download directory… It will not take up all your hard drive space or slow down your computer. You can’t download it to your Kindle but can open it in Kindle.

  13. joseph says:

    Its a privilege for me to come across such an informative site,may God increase the vision that brings truth and evidence , n bless all the persons that has been the tools in the hands of God by which an a benefactor. Let your light so shine among men

Write a Reply or Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


18 Responses

  1. ntsau says:

    Leon please do your research. Actually, God is a pagan name, Yahweh is the correct name for the Almighty.

    1. Sikeli says:

      There’s no right or wrong name. It’s how you interpret, practice, and experience. The Almighty says ” I am who I am “

      1. Sheila White says:

        No! He said “I Am”…..

  2. e.k.bara says:

    I am looking forward to know more about book of genesis. Thanks for giving beautiful ideas and education.

  3. ROGER DALE FAULK says:

    In the name of Jesus Christ I write these things. Jesus said a 1000 years is like a day and a day is like a 1000 years, thus signifing GOD did not consider the time, whatever the time, he was willing to spend it. As tedious the works may be, he was willing to do whatever it took. From the smallest creature, to the largest, GOD sheperded our creation. Be of good comfort, Jesus is yesterday, today and tomorrow as our shepherd. The Darwin theory is more correct than you think. With much works, patience and anguish more than we know, GOD has brought us to this now. With much anguish our Father and has allowed much harm to fall upon himself and us.
    Freewill is a most high with GOD and persecutions a cross for us to bare. With the many snares, you will find many you thought would not come back and more pleasures than you where taught. Thou shalt not force nor threaten, a prime rule of governing the grace and good character. Remember Lot’s wife? Her family and neighbors destroyed. She watched, regardless God’s command and was turned into a pillar of salt. Unconditional love, fulfilling Jesus’ statement about loving thy neighbor and praying for thy enemy. Jesus actually gave her honor when he said we are the salt of the earth. Remember the same sex issue? Jesus said to give your life for your brother is no higher love, especially after hell was attached to it. Be like Thomas one of Jesus’ disciples, wait to see. Like I said, freewill is high on our Father’s list, courage is also on that list. I know there is more, but use your common since and care about other’s feelings. If you think about the whys, you’ll find the answers and an adequate means of getting your message across. The goal is to save all and the world. Remember? God said, I give my son to save the “world”. To me, the glory is Jesus coming back with my family. Yes, I want to save the world and we will, as we progress. In the name of JESUS CHRIST, I have written these things.

    1. John says:

      Roger says: “Jesus said a ‘1000 years is like a day and a day is like a 1000 years,’ thus signifing GOD did not consider the time………”
      That is incorrect Roger Jesus never said that at all.
      The first time that it was said, Moses said it at Psalm 90:4 (Moses composed that Psalm)
      The second time this phrase was mentioned was by the apostle Peter at 2 Peter 3:8

    2. Rucker Linda Scheper says:

      Well said Roger

  4. Rev. Michael says:

    thank God for all the beautiful ideas and the education given to believers

  5. Raj Kumar Rathore says:

    Doing great job for those Christians who are living far off places from the Lord,s land God bless you and your team

  6. DAVID WESONGO FROM GHANA says:

    Am bless to hear this.May GOD increase you and bring out more revealing truth to help we younger generation.

  7. Alex says:

    Leon, what is the name of our God?

    1. John says:

      Alexander it is apparent that no one has answered your question as yet!
      The name of God is well known from the ancient manuscripts; Gog’s name is known as the Tetragramaton, which consists of the four Hebrew consonants YHWH, which in English is commonly translated Jehovah.
      Several Bible translations use the name of God, but, other translations do not use it, however they still use all other Biblical names…….and, of course many do not like the name Jehovah.
      When going back, not too many years, many Bibles used God’s name, but as I said many refuse to use the name, in our so-called ‘modern age’

  8. Leon Seidman says:

    I wish you would stop calling our G-D Yahweh. That is not his name.

  9. annc41 says:

    Awesome books. Thanks so much

  10. Doyle smith says:

    I am looking forward to the book. Genesis is a challenging part of the Bible and the reading should be very interesting. thanks

  11. norma beringuel says:

    As a bible believer I want to know more about ancient Israel history. As historian more items or books to read

  12. bobhogan says:

    They are in your download directory… It will not take up all your hard drive space or slow down your computer. You can’t download it to your Kindle but can open it in Kindle.

  13. joseph says:

    Its a privilege for me to come across such an informative site,may God increase the vision that brings truth and evidence , n bless all the persons that has been the tools in the hands of God by which an a benefactor. Let your light so shine among men

Write a Reply or Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


Send this to a friend