历史上和《圣经》上的地名。其边界常改变，但均以巴勒斯坦为中心。沿海的迦南文明可以追溯到旧石器时代和中石器时代，但直到新石器时代（西元前7000?～西元前4000?年）才出现固定的城乡居民点。有文字记载的历史约始于西元前15世纪。约西元前1200年希伯来人入侵并在南部地区定居，后受到非利士人的进一步入侵。大卫王（西元前10世纪）所率以色列人最终得以打垮非利士军队，并同时征服原住民迦南人。此后，迦南实际上就成了“以色列的土地”。

 Ancient name for an area of shifting boundaries but
centered on Palestine. Coastal Canaanite civilization dates to the Paleolithic
era; towns developed in Neolithic times (c. 7000-4000 BC). The name appears in
writings from the 15th century BC. Invaded by the Hebrews (Jews) c. 1200 BC, who
settled in southern areas, it was later invaded by the Philistines. In the 10th
century BC the Israelites, under King David, broke the Philistine power, and
Canaan became the Land of Israel, the “Promised Land” of the biblical book of
Exodus

　

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