What is the importance of Canaan in the book, When God Was a Woman?

The region encompassing Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, and Syria, Canaan is center to Neolithic societies that worship the Goddess. Adath, the "Important Lady of the Royal House", rules in Ugarit in northern Canaan in the fourteenth century BCE. Even after the Northern invasion ca. 2000 BCE by Hittite armies, women's status is not greatly diminished, as they act in official capacities among the Ammonites. The Hittites and Egyptians battle regularly for control of Canaan, but it goes instead to the Hebrews, bearers of a new morality that demands virginity until marriage for all women and fidelity of wives to husbands—both on threat of death. Baal comes to be the male consort of the Goddess in Canaan and the consort of Ashtoreth after the time of Moses.

The Hebrews have buried their dead in Canaan at the time of Abraham, but then go into Egypt, whence they are led out by Moses and told to dispossess the old inhabitants for committing "abominations" and "sexual license". Yahweh blesses bloody massacres and then divides Canaan among the tribes. The Levites live among them and regularly—and violently—attack the Goddess religion that tempts many away. Scholars note that Ashtoreth and Yahweh are worshiped side-by-side in Jerusalem and Shiloh. The esteem paid to the Serpent Goddess in Canaan results in Her practices being carried to great distances, for Phoenicians sail as far as the British Isles in pre-Roman times, and earlier "Sea People", including the Philistines, travel widely and establish settlements.