Philistia

Philistia was an ancient region located along the southeastern coast of modern-day Israel and Gaza Strip. It was inhabited by the Philistines, a seafaring people who arrived in the Mediterranean around the 12th century BCE. Known for their city-states like Gaza, Ashkelon, and Ashdod, they often clashed with neighboring Israelites. Philistia played a significant role in early regional history, especially during the Iron Age, and is frequently mentioned in biblical texts. It eventually declined and was absorbed by other empires, but its legacy influences historical and archaeological understanding of the ancient Near East.