Download PPT

Overview of Second Temple Period
Geography
Major cities, regions and empires




Persia
Babylon / Mesopotamia
Syria (Antioch)
Palestine





Galilee
Samaria
Judea (Jerusalem)
Egypt (Alexandria)
Rome
Alexander the
Great, 333-323
Damascus
Galilee
Samaria
Mt. Gerizim
Shechem
Judea (Jerusalem)
Romans
Seleucids
Hasmoneans
Ptolemies
Roman Empire
Overview of Second Temple Period
Major periods of political history
Major periods within the Second Temple
Period by control of Jerusalem





538-333, Persian Period
333, Alexander the Great, begins Hellenistic Period
305-198, Ptolemaic Period (Greek kings in Egypt rule over
Jerusalem)
198-164, Seleucid Period (Greek kings in Syria rule over
Jerusalem)
152-63 Hasmonean Period


164-152 could be categorized as the dawning of the
Hasmonean period, or simply as anarchic
63 BCE until fourth or seventh century CE, Roman
Period
538-333 Persian Period





538 Cyrus of Persia conquered Babylon
516 Jerusalem Temple rebuilt
458-432 Ezra and Nehemiah
Persia rulers gave Judeans considerable autonomy,
especially in religion.
If there was a culture clash between Persia and Judea, it is
not evident in the sources.
333, Alexander the Great, begins Hellenistic
Period



Alexander conquered from Macedonia to Egypt and then
East to India, then died young with no adult heir
Alexander’s empire was divided between his generals
(violently), with Jerusalem in the disputed region between
the Ptolemies (based in Alexandria, Egypt) and the
Seleucids (based in Antioch and Damascus)
In general, compared to the Persians, the Greeks were
more interested in spreading Greek culture and less
interested in tolerating local diversity.
305-198, Ptolemaic Period (Greek kings in
Egypt rule over Jerusalem)



Translation of the Torah (five books of Moses) into Greek
(called the Septuagint, abbreviated LXX)
Jewish community in Alexandria seems to have had more
ups than downs.
Relatively few conflicts with Jerusalem recorded in the
available sources.
198-164, Seleucid Period (Greek kings in
Syria rule over Jerusalem)



The Ptolemies continued to rule in Egypt, but the border
between Seleucids and Ptolemies moved south, such that
Jerusalem was now under the Seleucids.
190, first major victory of the Romans in the region
175, Antiochus IV Epiphanes begins bidding war for high
priesthood of Jerusalem Temple





175-172 Jason
172-162 Menelaus
162-159 Alcimus
167, non-Kosher altar brought into Temple, Maccabean revolt
begins
164, Judah Maccabee redicates the Temple, forges alliance with
Rome
152-63 Hasmonean Period






164-152 could be categorized as the dawning of the Hasmonean
period, or simply as anarchic
152, Judah Maccabee’s brother claims high-priesthood with
Seleucid consent
Judah Maccabee’s family is the Hasmonean family
The Hasmoneans rule Palestine with relative independence while
navigating between the Romans and Seleucids, and power
struggles among the Seleucids
67-63, two Hasmonean brothers fight each other, and both appeal
to the Romans for support.
63, the Roman general Pompey resolves the matter by taking
over, beginning centuries of direct or indirect Roman rule.
63 BCE until fourth or seventh century CE,
Roman Period










63 BCE, Roman general Pompey enters Jerusalem
37-4 BCE, Herod the Great, most famous vassal king under Romans
6-66 CE, direct rule of Roman procurators (except for Agrippa 1,
41-44)
66-74, Jewish revolt in Palestine against Rome
70, Temple destroyed
115-117, revolt of Jews in Egypt
132-135, Bar Kokhba revolt fails, ends Jewish life in Jerusalem
200-220, the editing of the Mishnah (first major Rabbinic document)
In the fourth century “Roman” rule of Palestine moves from Rome
proper to Constantinople (Byzantium)
In the seventh century the Islamic conquest incorporates Jerusalem
and the site of the Temple becomes holy in Islam