HousesAlthough houses in Palestine were somewhat small, they housed parents, young children, unmarried adults, married sons and their spouses would live under one roof. These living circumstances featured little-to-no privacy and very few comforts. Usually, the houses were made of mud brick with a flat roof made out of woven brushwood branches covered in a thick layer of clay which acted as a plaster. Most houses had wooden doors hung on leather hinges, and the house usually did not have many cabinets or closets because of a low material wealth. Also, there was no bathroom because washing was best done in the courtyard or out in the street. The roof was a crucial part of the house, and owners would often keep the roof in the best shape they could by applying a fresh coat of plaster over the roof after a heavy rainstorm and replacing sections of the roof when needed. Additional rooms would be added to the houses if a family grew too large. There was typically a courtyard out front of the houses where the woman would complete most of there daily work, and any animals would be kept outside the house in order to keep the inside clean. The courtyard also featured a large oven either made of clay, mud brick, or stone which was used for making bread.
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OccupationsIn ancient Palestine, there was specialized occupations for men and women. Typically, women were expected to spin and make the clothes, look after the children, clean the house, and prepare the daily bread, which was tedious and religious work. Men on the other hand had occupations outside of the house. Most villages had many different craftsmen which specialized in their own trade. Some professions were carpenters, blacksmiths, potters, dyers, basket weavers, mat makers, tanners, and leather makers. Some trades were more valued than others. Carpentry was one of the most respected trade, and every village supported at least one carpenter. Carpenters would craft furniture, farm tools, house construction parts, and kitchen implements of wood while the eyes of their son would observe their craftsmanship and hopefully earn the title of apprentice after 15 years. Pottery was also a very useful trade in ancient Palestine. Potters would craft household ovens, oil lamps, and containers that were used for cooking, storing preserved foods, important documents, and precious oils and wines.
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FoodAs obvious as it might seem, water was a crucial part of a person's diet. However, since it only heavily rained in Palestine for about 3-4 months the water had to be stored and rationed per family because of limited resources. Some of the food came from the forest, such as herbs, berries, fruits, and almonds, which were very valuable because their fat content and the ability to preserve them. Meat also came from the forest. Hunters would hunt dear and mostly fowl. Farms in Palestine provided vegetables, chickens (for eggs and other purposes) goats, and cattle. If you lived by the ocean, fish was a big part of your diet, however it was hard to preserve it. In the New Testament, families are depicted to be salting the fish which became a major industry.
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