What was the ancient name for modern day Israel?

It's been called Palestine since about 100AD, when it was so named by a Roman emperor. Before that parts of it were called Canaan, other parts, "Philistia". (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestine)

re: Comments

The region had many kingdoms, including the Kingdom of Israel. A complete list of the kingdoms of the region are covered in the Wikipedia article.

There was a relatively brief time 3000 years ago when the Kingdom of Israel ruled the area, and Canaan was called Israel. That lasted for about 200 years, then Israel was absorbed by the Assyrian Empire.

re: Comments

Nevets: Are you saying that Wikipedia has it wrong? I count 6 kingdoms in the region at the time that the Kingdom of Israel ruled the area (~800 BC). (Map image from wikipedia.)

That region has been known by many names. It was the country of Israel under the reign of the judges. Then it became the kingdom of Israel under Kings Saul, David, and Solomon. After this it divided into two kingdoms the northern one retained the name Israel and the southern one became the Kingdom of Judah. During the period of Roman domination before the destruction of Jerusalem, the are was broken into the districts of Judea, Samaria, and Galilee. These are the names by which the territory now called Israel were know when it was occupied and ruled to some extent by members of the tribe of Israel.

Before the time of King David Israel had 2 parts the Nort was Israel and the South was Judah.

Palestine....