A comprehensive and accessible study of two great ancient cities
that finally came to fatal blows.As a scholar of both Roman and
Jewish studies, Goodman (Jewish Studies/Oxford) displays impressive
depth in his fleshing out of the two cities in terms of their sense
of identities, communities, lifestyles, government, politics and
religion. Relying on the writings of the "main witness" Josephus, a
priest in Jerusalem who eventually turned sides, Goodman
demonstrates how Roman rule of Judea was relatively benign since
Herod was appointed king in 40 BCE and devoted himself to
rebuilding Jerusalem and embellishing his Temple. Both cultures
adapted to the Hellenism pervasive in the area since Alexander's
conquest, and both were fairly tolerant of diversity. The first
signs of trouble, writes Goodman, were mainly isolated skirmishes
"largely internal to Jewish society rather than symptoms of
widespread resentment to Roman rule." After a series of venal Roman
governors, the Captain of the Temple, Eleazar son of Ananias,
persuaded his fellow priests in 66 CE to stop offering sacrifices
made to the Jewish God on behalf of the Roman emperor - an
assertion of war by the ruling elite. Roman reaction was swift and
brutal over the next four years, culminating in Emperor Vespasian's
instructions to his son Titus to squelch the rebellion at any cost.
With the razing of the Temple in the summer of 70 CE, 60 years of
rebellion followed, and Hadrian's new Roman city Aelia Capitolina
was established on the site. Goodman pursues the growth of the
Church in the wake of Constantine's embrace of Christianity, which
changed the nature of the region and pushed Jews increasingly to
the margins. He also devotes a fine epilogue to the origins of
anti-Semitism.Absorbing work by a strong, capable writer and
teacher who imparts his vast knowledge with great style and
clarity. (Kirkus Reviews)
In Rome and Jerusalem: The Clash of Ancient Civilizations, Martin
Goodman explores the history of a titanic struggle whose
repercussions are still felt today. In 70CE, after four years of
Jewish rebellion, Roman legions devastated the great city of
Jerusalem. Sixty years later, its ruin was completed when Emperor
Hadrian built a new city on top of it that Jews were forbidden even
to enter. In this highly acclaimed book, Martin Goodman examines
the background and course of this titanic conflict - from the
political ambitions of Roman military leaders to the spread of
Christian influence through the empire - and its lasting
consequences. 'In this remarkable book Martin Goodman casts a truly
fresh eye over well-known figures and events' History Today
'Important and powerfully expressed ... The best available general
account of a turning point not just in the history of the Roman
Empire but also in the development of the modern West' Simon
Goldhill, The Times Higher Education Supplement 'Should be read by
anyone seeking seriously to understand modern Middle Eastern
tangles ... a lucid account of ancient tragedy' Diarmaid
MacCulloch, Guardian 'Splendid ... an important book, on a
difficult subject : the reason why Romans sought to destroy the
Jews and Judaism completely. Only one man would have written it'
Paul Johnson, Tablet Martin Goodman has divided his intellectual
life between the Roman and Jewish worlds. He has edited both the
Journal of Roman Studies and the Journal of Jewish Studies. He has
taught Roman History at Birmingham and Oxford Universities, and is
currently Professor of Jewish Studies at Oxford.
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