Centre for Lifelong Learning Online Catalogue

Roman Judaea was a whirlpool of political and religious tensions, and apocalyptic expectations. These exploded into full-scale revolts against Roman rule in 66 and 132 AD. Rome's 'Jewish wars' were bitterly fought and witnessed appalling atrocities as the Jews formed 'the army of God' for 'a day of vengeance by the sword of God' to destroy the Romans. This is also the world of Jesus of Nazareth, the emergence of Christianity and of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Drawing on a range of written and archaeological sources we will look at the causes of the revolts, the sieges of Jerusalem and Masada, climaxing with the 'damnation' of Jerusalem and Judaea by the Emperor Hadrian. Rome's Jewish wars go to the very root of the conflicts in the modern Near East, and have shaped Christianity, Judaism and the 'mythology' of modern Zionism. Learn through illustrated lectures and online resources.