The World History Encyclopedia (WHE) will review and make changes to articles on Ancient Middle Eastern history, following comments on terminology by UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI).
Thutmose I
UKLFI’s letter, sent on 29 April 2026, drew attention to the anachronistic use of the term “Palestine” in several articles dealing with ancient history on the WHE website.
Joshua J. Mark, Content Director of WHE, confirmed that they would review the material raised. He wrote: “The articles will be reviewed and changes made in the next few weeks.”
UKLFI noted that WHE had itself explained in its articles on Palestine and Canaan that the earliest known references to the term Palestine was in Herodotus’s History, written in the 5th century BCE, when the term Palaistine referred to the coastal strip south of Phoenicia, then inhabited by the Philistine people. This coastal region was distinct from the inland territories of Judea, Samaria and Galilee.
The term Palestine as a reference to the inland territories first emerged in 135 CE following the Bar Kokhba revolt. After the Roman Emperor Hadrian crushed the revolt, he renamed the province of Judea “Syria Palaestina”, referencing the Philistines, who were the ancient enemies of Israel, in order to minimise Jewish connection to the land.
UKLFI pointed out that applying the term to significantly earlier periods creates an impression of continuity that does not reflect the historical record.
UKLFI drew attention to several instances in WHE’s online articles where the term Palestine had been incorrectly used. Some examples:
- The WHE entry on Ancient Egypt stated: “Between 1504-1492 BCE the pharaoh Thutmose I (Tuthmosis I) consolidated his power and expanded the boundaries of Egypt to the Euphrates River in the north, Syria and Palestine to the west, and Nubia to the south.”
- The WHE entry on Ancient Egyptian Warfare states, with reference to the inscription of soldiers during the time of the Old Kingdom (c. 2613-2181 BCE) that “The effectiveness of this early militia is attested to by the successful campaigns in Nubia, Syria, and Palestine of Old Kingdom monarchs to either secure the borders, quell uprisings, or seize resources for the crown.”
- The entry on Ancient Israelite & Judean Religion describes the people in the region “before Saul & David” as “people within Syria-Palestine”.
- the entry on Palestine states that “The region of Palestine is among the earliest sites of human habitation in the world. Archaeological evidence suggests a hunter-gatherer community living a nomadic existence in the region pre-10,000 BCE.”
- It describes the “cities of Palestine” being rebuilt following the expulsion of the Hyksos, and states that “some of the most famous Egyptian pharaohs … patronized Palestine in trade and through building projects”.
UKLFI emphasised to WHE the importance of using historically appropriate terminology, particularly in educational resources relied upon by a global audience. It recommended that regions be described using names that correspond to the specific periods being discussed, such as Canaan or the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah where relevant.
UKLFI noted that careful language is especially important in areas where historical interpretation intersects with contemporary sensitivities.
WHE’s response has been welcomed by UKLFI as a constructive step towards ensuring clarity and accuracy in historical presentation.
A spokesperson for UKLFI said:
“We welcome the prompt and constructive engagement by the World History Encyclopedia in response to the issues raised. It is essential, particularly for organisations providing educational content, that historical terminology is applied with precision. We hope that the proposed review will ensure that the relevant materials accurately reflect the historical record and avoid any scope for misinterpretation.”