history of Israel, Judaism, Christianity, and the bible

[mel]

Hi everyone

Could someone please direct me on sources for the actual history and development of Judaism and Christianity from it's earliest days? I'm also interested on the actual history of Israel, as well as the bible itself

I love reading the bible and the lessons it teaches, but I've been curious for quite a long time on the background to my beliefs. There'll probably be some who will say that my enquiries will not be healthy in the long run...but I think I'll take a chance..

Thanks in advance!

Mel

[stlekee]

"A History of God" by Karen Armstrong is a good place to start. She attempts covers 3000 years of Jewish, Christioan and Islamic religious thought