Samaria [Historical]/(Samaritan Israelite) (jan 1, 537 BC – jan 1, 331 BC)

Description:

After the destruction of the Kingdom of Israel, the Assyrian Empire ruled the area as the province of Samerina, based at the Israelite capital of Samaria. It seems that the administration was carried out by foreign populations deported to the region, though the majority population was Israelite. The foreign population gradually assimilated into Israelite culture and religion.

It's unclear who governed the province during Babylonian rule. By Persian rule, it is fairly clear that the governers were themselves Israelites, and that the Israelite community worshipping YHWH and centered at Mt. Gerizim was politically influential even outside Samaria.

The Israelite governors rebelled against Alexander the Great and were quickly defeated, and the autonomy seems to have ceased then, with the area being placed under Greek administration.

Samaria was very prosperous throughout this period.

Note that this period predates the Jewish/Samaritan split, and contacts between Israelites in Yehud (Judah) and Samaria were generally positive.

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