Judaea and
the Romans
The Jews and the Romans
 Roman
rule of Judaea led some Jews to
oppose Rome peacefully, while others
walked a different path and rebelled.
The Jews and the Romans
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
Suppose you were separated from your home and
could not easily return to it.
What effect might this have on you and your family?
The Jews and the Romans
 This
is how the Jews felt when Rome forced
them to leave their Capital City of
Jerusalem.
The Jews and the Romans
 During
the 900’s B.C.E., two great kings,
David and Solomon, united the Israelites
and created the Kingdom of Israel.
 The Israelites were the chosen people who
God told Moses to save and get out of
Egypt.
The Jews and the Romans
 The
Kingdom of Israel also created a
beautiful capital city, Jerusalem
The Jews and the Romans
The Jews and the Romans
The Jews and the Romans
 This
unity did not last long, Israel divided
into two Kingdoms: Israel and Judah.
 These small kingdoms were later taken over
by more powerful neighbors…ROME
The Jews and the Romans
 Israel
was destroyed and its people were
scattered. The Jews, however, the people
of Judah, survived.
Roman Rule
 In
63 B.C.E. the Romans took over Judah…at
first, they ruled through Jewish Kings.
 Then in 6 C.E. Emperor Augustus turned Judah
into a Roman province called Judaea.
Roman Rule
 Instead
of a King, a Roman governor called a
Procurator ruled the new province on the
Emperor’s behalf. This created anger and the
people of Judaea argued among themselves
over what to do about the Romans.
Roman Rule
 Others
opposed the Romans rule by closely
following Jewish traditions.
 While others turned their backs on Rome.
Roman Rule
 These
few who turned their backs on the
Romans settled in isolated areas and
shared their belongings with their
community.
Roman Rule
 Questions:
 1)
What was the name of the capital city of
Israel?
 Jerusalem
 2) Emperor Augustus turned Judah into a
Roman province called ___________?
 Judaea
 3) What was the name for the Roman
governor of this province?
 Procurator
Rebellion
 Some
Jews believed that they should fight
the Romans and take back control of their
Kingdom. These people, called Zealots,
convinced many Jews to take up arms
against the Romans in 66 C.E.
Rebellion
 The
rebellion was brutally crushed by Rome.
 The Romans destroyed the Jewish Temple
and killed thousands of the Rebels.
Rebellion
 In
the Jewish religion a “Temple” or
Synagogue is where worship takes place.
Rebellion
 During
this rebellion the Romans completely
destroyed the second Jewish Temple…all
that is left of the temple is the Western Wall.
Rebellion
 The
Western Wall is the retaining wall for the
courtyard of the ancient temple…perhaps in
modern terms, we would consider it
something of a "curb" around a parking lot. It
is the only structure remaining of the ancient
Jewish temple…it is thought that you can
write messages to god, and put them into the
cracks of the wall and god will receive them.
Rebellion
 The
Battle of Masada:
 Masada was originally built as a citadel on
a huge peak near the Dead Sea.
Rebellion
 After
the Romans had defeated the Jewish uprising
and had taken Jerusalem the Zealots, had retreated
to Masada to avoid capture or death.
 The Zealots had good reason to believe they could
hold out indefinitely at Masada, the cliffs were
hundreds of feet high there were reservoirs of water
and they had plenty of food.
Rebellion
 After
an initial failed attempt to take the
fortress, the Romans settled down for a
siege. They actually built a rampart up
along one cliff wall, making their own
pathway up against the walls of the fortress.
Rebellion
 The
Romans were then able to advance a
battering ram up and eventually breached
the wall. When the Romans entered Masada
however, they found the defenders dead.
Rebellion
A
Jewish general named Josephus fought in
the war but later sided with the Romans
gives us a primary account of this event. He
states that the defenders killed each other
to avoid the sin of suicide.
Rebellion
 Josephus
wrote about the horrors of
Jerusalem’s fall in his book called the
History of the Jewish War…which can be
purchased today
Rebellion
 The
Jews rebelled again in 132 C.E. and
were once again defeated. This time the
Romans forced all Jews to leave Jerusalem
and banned them from ever returning to
the city.
Rebellion
 Saddened
by the loss of their city Jerusalem,
many Jews found new homes in other parts
of Europe.
Rebellion
 By
700 C.E., the Jews had set up communities
as far west as Spain and as far east as central
Asia. In later centuries, Jewish settlers
throughout other parts of the world as well,
even the United States.
Rebellion
 In
their new scattered communities, the
Jewish people kept their faith alive by
studying and following their religious laws.
 They passed their knowledge down to their
children and their religion survived.
Rebellion
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Questions:
4) What were the Jewish rebels who wanted to fight
Rome called?
Zealots
5) What happened during the first two Jewish
rebellions?
They were crushed by the Romans
6) 6)How did the Zealots die during the battle of
Masada?
Killed each other, to avoid the sin of suicide.
7) Why did the Jews have to leave Jerusalem?
The Romans banned them from ever returning
8) What areas of the world did the Jewish people settle
after the rebellions?
Europe, Asia…specifically Spain and the United States