Israel Through History: Who Ruled Its Lands
The land of today's Israel appears on 39 historical border maps from 500 BC to today. Over that time it was held, in whole or in part, by 15 different states, among them Ottoman Empire, Israel, Mamluk Sultanate, Eastern Roman Empire, Fatimid Caliphate.
IsraelExplore the history of Israel in the interactive map
Who ruled the land of Israel, map by map
Share of sample points inside today's borders held by each state on each map. Areas with no organised state on the map are left out.
Historic cities in Israel
Famous people of Israel
| Lived | Person | |
|---|---|---|
| c. 634 BC – 562 BC | Nebuchadnezzar II | King of Babylon |
| c. 4 BC – AD 30 | Jesus of Nazareth | Central figure of Christianity |
| 1137 – 1193 | Saladin | Sultan of Egypt and Syria |
Battles and historic sites
| Year | Battle or site |
|---|---|
| 1187 | Battle of Hattin |
| 1260 | Battle of Ain Jalut |
Questions
Which empires and states ruled the territory of Israel?
On the border maps from 500 BC to today, the largest shares of the territory of modern Israel belonged to Ottoman Empire, Israel, Mamluk Sultanate, Eastern Roman Empire, Fatimid Caliphate, Achaemenid Empire, along with 9 other states.
What was Israel part of in 1000?
On the border map for 1000, most of the territory of today's Israel lay within Fatimid Caliphate.
What was Israel part of in 1500?
On the border map for 1500, most of the territory of today's Israel lay within Mamluk Sultanate.
What was Israel part of in 1900?
On the border map for 1900, most of the territory of today's Israel lay within Ottoman Empire.
Further reading
Last updated 9 November 2026. Sources: border data from historical-basemaps, land and rivers from Natural Earth; texts written for Chronica Maps from standard reference works. How we make the maps.