Back to Main Page
orthopedic pain management
image description
 

The city of Rome is founded.

 
 

Siddhartha Gautama, known as the Buddha, is born in India.

 
 

Athenians condemn Socrates to death in Greece.

 
 

Qin Dynasty unifies China.

 
 

Jesus is born in Judea.

 
 

The Second Persian Empire (Sassanid Empire) is founded.

 
 

The Western Roman Empire ends.

 
 

The Empire of Ghana is established in Africa.

 
 

Japan's Feudal period begins.

 
 

Tenochtitlan, capital of the Aztecs, is founded in Mexico.

 
 

The United States declares independence.

 
 

Israelites create a kingdom. First Temple built in in Jerusalem in 962.

 
 

Babylonians destroy the First Temple and Jews begin the Babylonian Exile; Exile ends and Jews begin construction of the Second Temple in 538.

 
 

Rome begin to dominate the eastern Mediteranean. The Jewish Kingdom of Judea becomes a Roman province in 6 CE.

 
 

Romans destroy the Second Temple when the Jews attempt to regain independence.

 
 

The second Jewish revolt ends; Judea is renamed Palestine by the Roman Emperor.

 
 

Muhammad begins preaching. Caliph Umar starts the Arab conquests in 634; the Dome of the Rock built in Jerusalem in 691.

 
 

The Abbasid dynasty founded - from this point on, multiple Muslim kingdoms exist.

 
 

Pope Urban II calls for a crusade to recapture the "Holy Land" from Muslims, who had conquered the area in the mid-600s.

 
 

The Ottoman Empire is founded.

 
 

The Ottoman Empire gains control of the three holiest cities of Islam: Mecca, Medina, and Jerusalem.

 
1 of 6 pages
  • Roman Rule

    In 63 BCE, approximately 1,000 years after the establishment of the Kingdom of Israel, the Romans began to dominate the Eastern Mediterranean. In 6 CE they incorporated the Jewish kingdom of Judea into their empire as the province of Judea. The Romans were not the first foreign empire to take control of the area. As you learned, an earlier Jewish kingdom was conquered by the Babylonians in the sixth century BCE. Several empires conquered the area from each other until Jews revolted in the second century BCE and regained their independence. Before becoming a Roman province, the Jewish kingdom of Judea had been independent for almost 150 years.

    LEARN MORE Regaining Independence and the Holiday of Hanukah
    Close

    Alexander the Great conquered the Persian province of Judah in 332 BCE. After his death, Alexander’s generals divided his empire. Judah remained under the rule of Alexander’s successors. Some Jews adopted Greek practices; others followed their traditional customs. Over time, tensions between the groups grew. This was increased by the Greek ruler who controlled the area, Antiochus Epiphanes of Syria, who seized wealth from the Temple and supported plans to make Jerusalem a Greek city. As tensions increased, Antiochus cracked down on Judaism. In 167 BCE he outlawed Jewish practices and began to persecute Jews who kept their traditions.


    Jews revolted and began fighting against the Syrian troops. Despite being outnumbered, they eventually won and freed Jerusalem. They then purified and rededicated the Temple, which Antiochus had turned into a shrine to the Greek god Zeus, and tore down the idols that had been placed there.


    According to Jewish tradition, these Jews then lit the menorah, the Temple’s sacred candle holder that was traditionally lit every day. However, they discovered there was only enough oil for one day. Miraculously, the oil lasted for eight days until more oil could be obtained. The eight day Jewish holiday of Hanukah celebrates this miracle, the victory over the superior forces of Antiochus, and the survival of Judaism.


    Following the revolt, Jewish leaders gradually increased their power and their self-rule. Eventually, in 142 BCE, the Syrian Greek ruler recognized Judea as a completely independent kingdom. This kingdom flourished, but eventually it fell under Roman dominance and then was absorbed into the Roman Empire. The story of the revolt against Antiochus and the renewal of an independent Jewish kingdom helped inspire Jews centuries later to again revolt against the mighty empire that ruled them. As you will learn, the results were disastrous.

    Close
  • image description

    This is a map of the Roman Empire in the year 120. The province of Judea is highlighted in pink. The Romans called the Mediterranean Sea Mare Nostrum which means “our sea.” Why do you think they called it this?

  • Roman rule and taxes were harsh on the Jews, and at times Romans interfered with Jewish religious practice. In 66 CE, the Jews began a revolt, called the First Roman-Jewish War, to regain their independence. By the year 70, the Romans had crushed the revolt and destroyed the Temple in Jerusalem - the center of Jewish religious life.


    For millennia, the only part of the temple complex that remained accessible was one outer wall, the Western Wall. Recent excavations have also uncovered tunnels and the Southern Wall of the Temple. The Western Wall was and continues to be one of the most common motifs in Jewish art and one of the most important destinations for Jewish travelers. As the image on the next page shows, Jews from across the world continue to gather together to pray at this wall.


    According to Judaism, the area where the Temple once stood is the most sacred place on earth. Jerusalem is the most holy city for Jews because this place and many other sacred sites are located there. As you will learn, Jerusalem is also important to Christians and Muslims, and two of the most important Muslim buildings are located on the site where the Temple stood.

  • image description

    This is a picture of the Western Wall at dusk. Why do you think Jews would travel from all over the world to pray here?


  • image descriptionimage description

    Masada was the last Jewish fortress to fall during the First Roman-Jewish War. Jews there held out until 73 CE, three years after Jerusalem fell. What features helped to make Masada a strong fortress?


    Israeli soldiers used to be sworn in at Masada after their basic training. The saying “Masada will not fall again” is still popular among Israelis. US President Bush used this quote after discussing threats that Israel faces when he addressed the Israeli parliament in 2008. What idea does the statement “Masada will not fall again” express?

  • QUIZ
    1. What place do Jews see as most sacred?





    2. Why did Jews begin the First Roman-Jewish War?





    3. Which of the following was a consequence of the First Roman-Jewish War?