๐ŸŒ Welcome to the Journey: Islam Through the Ages

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Ancient Jerico
A blog project for curious minds, young historians, and those seeking roots through story.

There’s something powerful about knowing where you come from — and even more powerful when you can feel it.

This blog marks the beginning of a long-term series called “Islam Through the Ages” — a journey through space and time, where each chapter takes us into a different era, location, and cultural heartbeat of the Islamic world. This is not a traditional history project. This is living history — imagined through the eyes of those who might have been there.

We're starting where so much began: Palestine.

๐Ÿ“š Palestine Through the Ages: The First Book in the Series

This first book is called Palestine Through the Ages and it starts in one of the oldest cities in the world — Jericho. We begin during the Canaanite era, long before the names we now recognize filled our textbooks, and instead walk through the lives of real people: farmers, mothers, merchants, children, herbalists, priests.

The format of the book is simple:
Each chapter is a scene from daily life — a market day, a harvest celebration, a religious ceremony, a family returning home at sunset. You will feel the stone under your feet, smell the spices in the air, and sense the rhythms of prayer and life around you.

๐ŸŒพ Why This Series?

As a mother and a researcher, I believe history should not just be read — it should be walked through. Children learn best when their senses are involved. And as Muslims, we owe it to our next generation to pass down a vision of the Islamic world that is not reduced to timelines or tragedies — but instead, filled with humanity, growth, beauty, and meaning.

The world of Islam didn't begin and end in a vacuum. It rose through:

  • Civilizations that laid the groundwork

  • Cities that flourished with gardens, libraries, and calligraphy

  • People who passed on knowledge, hospitality, and resilience

✨ What Makes This Series Different?

This series is written like a traveler’s log through time. Each scene is a glimpse — vivid, emotionally resonant, and historically grounded. We may use imagined characters, but every moment is built on what really happened — informed by archaeology, scholarly research, and cultural anthropology.

We don’t claim to know exactly what every detail looked like, but we do aim to honor the spirit and truth of the time.

Each scene includes:

  • A rich image description (to guide illustrations, AI or hand-drawn)

  • Historical notes and sources used

  • Cultural insights (food, language, clothing, faith, beliefs)

  • A short narrative — like a child's travel journal or an explorer's sketchbook

๐Ÿ”ง How This Blog Works

This blog will serve as the working project space for the books. I will:

  • Introduce each era and location

  • Build the scenes out one by one

  • Layer in historical notes and cultural context

  • Add illustrations, map references, and character snapshots

At the moment, the visuals are simple placeholders — AI-supported, just to help with mood and layout. As the project progresses, these may be refined or adapted depending on the medium of publication.

I'm not focused on traffic or public promotion right now — this is a creative development space. But eventually, the polished books will be available in full: either as print editions or downloadable books.

๐Ÿงญ What’s Coming Next?

For Palestine Through the Ages, we’re mapping out scenes such as:

  • A bustling Jericho market at sunrise

  • A family preparing for a religious festival

  • An ancient temple ritual

  • A child’s first day of schooling

  • A healer visiting a village

  • A harvest feast with music and storytelling

✨ Chapter Highlights

๐Ÿบ Chapter 1: Canaanite Civilization

Main Scene: A busy market day in Jericho
Key Event: The Canaanites as early Mediterranean traders
Mini Story: A young merchant boy discovers new spices and languages
Transition: Rise of the Hebrew people

✡️ Chapter 2: The Hebrew Kingdoms and Jerusalem

Main Scene: A sacred ceremony at the Temple of Solomon
Key Event: The dedication of the First Temple
Mini Story: A priest and his apprentice prepare for a grand festival
Transition: The fall of the Temple and Babylonian exile

๐Ÿ› Chapter 3: Roman Occupation

Main Scene: Bethlehem under Roman rule
Key Event: The birth of Jesus in a politically tense Judea
Mini Story: A Roman soldier on patrol reflects on unrest
Transition: Into the Christian Byzantine period

⚔️ Chapter 4: The Crusader Period

Main Scene: The Siege of Jerusalem
Key Event: The Crusaders take the city in 1099
Mini Story: A knight writes his fears in a journal
Transition: The rise of Saladin and Islamic resistance

Each one will have sensory depth and historical grounding. From there, the series will expand into:

  • Cordoba (Al-Andalus, Spain)

  • Baghdad during its golden age

  • Timbuktu and its university networks
    …and many more.

๐Ÿ•Š️ Why Palestine, and Why Now?

Because Palestine is not just a place of current struggle. It is also a cradle of civilization, a spiritual homeland, and a center of continuity. This project is about preserving dignity, culture, and humanity — across centuries.

✍๐Ÿผ Final Note

If you’ve found your way here, thank you.
Whether you're a parent, teacher, student, or simply curious, I hope this project helps you and your family connect more deeply to the layered and luminous history of the Muslim world.

Feel free to return here often — I’ll update scenes, add reflections, and slowly stitch this storybook into something complete, inshฤ’Allฤh.

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