History, as in the Greek ἱστορία, has the meaning of inquiry, or of knowledge so obtained. It acquires a more nuanced sense when referring to a written narrative, which constitutes a continuous methodical record in order of time, of important or public events especially those connected with a particular country, people or individuals. It is then a matter of inquiry, to seek knowledge, to interpret and record, and then to write without prejudice. Influenced as we are by our own experiences, both past and present, the objectivity required is often difficult to achieve. As suggested in previous chapters, any pursuit in an attempt to construct an unbiased ‘history’ of the Ituraeans is fraught with obstacles, and in fact may never be fully achieved.

The quotation above testifies to a long-accepted view of the Ituraeans, an understanding of their history as interpreted from the written documents. That they emerged as a political power beginning in the mid-first century BCE, that they were an Arab people known mainly for their raiding, and that they conquered the region of the Lebanon/Anti-Lebanon, the Biqa‘ valley and areas to the east and south are commonly held perceptions.