Ca´naan, the ancient name of that portion of Palestine which lay to the west of the Jordan (; ; ; ), the part beyond the Jordan eastward being distinguished by the general name of Gilead (comp. ). The denomination Canaan included Philistia and Phoenicia (comp. ; ; ). The name occurs on Phoenician coins, and was not even unknown to the Carthaginians. For an account of the geography, etc. of the country, see Palestine.