Have you ever wondered about

The origins of antisemitism

The Roman conquest of Jerusalem

The differences and similarities of Ancient Roman and Jewish attitudes towards wealth, the elderly, entertainment, food, government, justice, and taxes

Who was Herod the Great

What is portrayed on the Arch of Titus in Rome

What happened at Masada

Why  the Romans destroyed the Temple at Jerusalem

Oxford University professor of Roman and Jewish history Martin Goodman explains all this and much more in our core book, Rome and Jerusalem, The Clash of Ancient Civilizations. In this sdg we will learn about the complex and tumultuous relationship between the Roman Empire and the Jewish World which set the stage for the profound cultural and religious shifts that have shaped Western Civilization. We will learn about the pivotal events and ideological clashes that culminated in the devastating Jewish Revolt and the subsequent destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE. Sixty years later, after further violent rebellions and the city’s final destruction, Roman Emperor 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.  The book also offers an exceptional account of the origins of antisemitism, the history of which reverberates still. Our core book not only chronicles historical facts; we will step into an era where empires clashed and destinies were forged to uncover the echoes of antiquity that still resonate today.

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