A History of the Jewish War: AD 66–74A conflict that erupted between Roman legions and some Judaeans in late AD 66 had an incalculable impact on Rome's physical appearance and imperial governance; on ancient Jews bereft of their mother-city and temple; and on early Christian fortunes. Historical scholarship and cinema alike tend to see the conflict as the culmination of long Jewish resistance to Roman oppression. In this volume, Steven Mason re-examines the war in all relevant contexts (such as the Parthian dimension, and Judaea's place in Roman Syria) and phases, from the Hasmoneans to the fall of Masada. Mason approaches each topic as a historical investigation, clarifying problems that need to be solved, understanding the available evidence, and considering scenarios that might explain the evidence. The simplest reconstructions make the conflict more humanly intelligible while casting doubt on received knowledge. |
Contents
War in context | |
Warfare in Human Perspective | |
Investigations | |
and causes of the revolt | |
Appendix | |
Bibliographical Abbreviations | |
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Common terms and phrases
Agrippa Agrippa II allied Ananus ancient Antioch Arch Archelaus army audience Augustus auxiliary BeitHoron besieged Book Caesarea camp cavalry century Cestius Gallus Chapter chōra Christian city’s Claudius cohorts coins commander conflict Corbulo desert Eleazar elite emperor enemy equestrian evidence faction fight Flavian Florus force fortress Gabaon Gaius Galba Galilean Galilee Gamala garrison Gischala Greek Hasmonean Herod Herodian Hist historians honour Idumaeans imagine Iotapata Jerusalem Jewish Jews Joazar John John of Gischala John’s Josephus Judaean Judas killed king later leaders legate legionaries legions literary Machaerus Masada mentions militants military narrative Nero Nero's Nero’s Parthian perhaps Placidus poleis polis political Polybius priest problem province Ptolemais rebels remained revolt Roman Rome Rome's Rome’s Samarian scholars seems Sepphoris sicarii side siege silver Simon Simon bar Giora soldiers story Suetonius suggests Sulpicius surrender Syria Tacitus Taricheae temple temple’s Tiberias Titus triumph Vespasian Vitellius walls War’s Zealots