The study of 1st century CE Galilee has become an important subfield within the broader disciplines of Ancient Judaism and Early Christianity. In Mapping Galilee, John M. Vonder Bruegge examines how Galilee is portrayed, both in ancient writings and current scholarship, as a variously mapped space using insights from critical geography as an evaluative lens. Conventional approaches to Galilee treat it as a static backdrop for a deliberate and dynamic historical drama. By reasserting geography as a creative process rather than a passive description, Vonder Bruegge also reasserts ancient Galilee as an interpreted spaceâa series of conceptualized "maps"âladen with meaning, significance, and purpose for each individual author.
John M. Vonder Bruegge, Ph.D. (Yale University, 2011), is Assistant Professor of Religion and Co-Director of the Honors Program at Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa.
Contents
1 Galilee and Critical Geography: The Lay of the Land
Introduction
Trajectory #1: Critical Geography
Trajectory #2: Galilee in History
The Point of Intersection
Galilee, by Way of Critical Geography
Mapping Galilee
2 Josephusâ Galilee
Introduction
Review of Scholarship
Josephus and Critical Geography
Josephusâ Galilee as âFirstspaceâ
Josephusâ Galilee as âSecondspaceâ
Josephusâ Galilee as âThirdspaceâ
Josephusâ Galilee and Critical Geography: Implications
3 Lukeâs Galilee
Introduction
Review of Scholarship
Luke and Critical Geography
Lukeâs Galilee as âImaginative Geographyâ
Lukeâs Galilee and Critical Geography: Implications
4 Johnâs Galilee
Introduction
Review of Scholarship
John and Critical Geography
Johnâs Galilee and âCartographic Meaningâ
Johnâs Galilee and Critical Geography: Implications
5 Galilee and Critical Geography: A New âSpatial Turnâ
Challenge #1: Utilizing Critical Geography
Challenge #2: Understanding Ancient Space
Conclusion: The Quest for the Geographical Galilee
Bibliography
Index of Modern Authors
Index of Ancient Sources
Index of Geographical Features and Locales
Index of Subjects
Students and specialists interested in 1st century CE Galilee and the application of modern geographical theories to the interpretation of ancient texts.