The History of the World Podcast, written and presented by Chris Hasler

Volume 4, the Medieval World.

Episode 38 The Battle of Assuuf. Oh, In the last episode of the History of the World Podcast we told the story of the Battle of

Hatin. The Battle of Hatin took place just to the west of the Sea of Galilee in the modern country of Israel.

This episode discusses a battle which took place four years after, once again in the lands of the modern country of Israel, but on this

occasion near the coast around 50 miles southwest from Hatine. The site of Tel-Arshaf is a high point overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, but even

though it may have been an attractive vantage point, there is little evidence of a settlement before the middle of the first millennium

B.C. E. It is very evident that human activity existed in this area of the world for as long as human beings first ventured into this area and this would have been due to the fertility and resources of the land here.

A rich ancient trade network would have certainly gone through this area

and it is difficult to imagine that this site may not have been put to use, which makes it all the more

surprising not to find an earlier settlement.

If it is truly the case that this site was not in use before this period, it may be because sites such as Kissaria and Yaffa were favoured instead.

Its time would come during the period of the Akeminid Persians,

when it appears, according to archaeology, that its usage became truly evident. As we mentioned there was significant human

activity in this area before the Akeminid Persian period and our previous episodes on the Siege of Jerusalem during the First Crusade

and the aforementioned Battle of Hatin will explain the history of Israel and Jerusalem in more detail but we will spare repeating

ourselves and move forward from this point. The settlement that did emerge in this

area was referred to by the name Apollonia, which is a distinctly Greek name.

Some historians suggest that this means that the settlement was established by Phoenicians

rather than Persians but it is all supposition. We do know that this area fell to

Alexander the Great of Macedon which ushered in the Hellenistic period and therefore

it would make sense for the Port Town to be referred to by a Greek name in this case. The Port Town developed over time to become an

...