Synopses & Reviews
A magisterial history of the titanic struggle between the Roman and Jewish worlds that led to the destruction of Jerusalem.In 70 C.E., after a four-year war, three Roman legions besieged and eventually devastated Jerusalem, destroying Herods magnificent Temple. Sixty years later, after further violent rebellions and the citys final destruction, Hadrian built the new city of Aelia Capitolina where Jerusalem had once stood. Jews were barred from entering its territory. They were taxed simply for being Jewish. They were forbidden to worship their god. They were wholly reviled.What brought about this conflict between the Romans and the subjects they had previously treated with tolerance? Martin Goodmanequally renowned in Jewish and in Roman studiesexamines this conflict, its causes, and its consequences with unprecedented authority and thoroughness. He delineates the incompatibility between the cultural, political, and religious beliefs and practices of the two peoples. He explains how Romes interests were served by a policy of brutality against the Jews. He makes clear how the original Christians first distanced themselves from their origins, and then became increasingly hostile toward Jews as Christian influence spread within the empire. The book thus also offers an exceptional account of the origins of anti-Semitism, the history of which reverberates still.An indispensable book.
Synopsis
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."