Download File - Ms. Fitzgibbon`s World History Class

King Herod
Although King Herod championed the Roman emperor as
god-like, he belongs in the Hall of Fame because he fostered
unity in Judea.
Kaolin McEvoy
http://goo.gl/ok6xfc
Justified Militant Overthrow
King Herod came from a wealthy political
family, and eventually became governor
of Galilee, a land rife with political and
cultural tension. This tension was
emblematic of the region, as Rome and
Judea had a contentious relationship,
which was exemplified by Pompey’s
violent conquering and heinous acts in the
Temple in 63 BCE. He was able to
officially capture Jerusalem with help of
Romans in 37 BCE, due to allegiance he
extended to Augustus. After obtaining
Judea via violent overthrow, his reign
from 37 BCE - 4 BCE was characterized by
harshness, but also savvy, diplomacy and
reasonable actions given the political
climate.
http://goo.gl/2VO2AL
Facilitated Cultural Synthesis
http://goo.gl/MP1BFa
“[He gathered] around him some of the
leading scholars, poets, sculptors,
painters, and architects of the east and
west. He gave with kingly generosity, to
his own subjects in times of famine and
natural disaster, and far beyond the
boundaries of his kingdom, in Greece and
Asia Minor. [In fact] the citizens of
Olympia were so grateful for his lavish
donations that they elected him
agonothete, or president, of the Olympic
Games” (Mueller 34). Herod was not
simply interested in quelling the
destruction and violence of the past, but
actively creating a most robust Judea. His
tendency to openly accept and encourage
people from diverse backgrounds turned
Judea into a cosmopolitan scene, capable
of solving new problems with rich, and
assorted cultural solutions.
Created Political and Religious
Harmony
“The Jews were loth to have their Temple
pulled down, fearing lest it might not be
rebuilt. To demonstrate his good faith,
Herod accumulated the materials for the
new building before the old one was taken
down. The new Temple was rebuilt as
rapidly as possible. As it was unlawful for
any but priests to enter the Temple, Herod
employed 1,000 of them as masons and
carpenters” (Jewish Encyclopedia).
By subscribing to Jewish religious law in
rebuilding the Temple, Herod underscored
his own Jewish background, and revealed
that he was committed to political
stability. Because so many citizens of
Judea were Jewish, he recognized and
respected the importance of following
their customs in order to maintain
stability, as religious intolerance had
prompted political unrest in the recent
past.
http://goo.gl/ZHtF3t
Encouraged Assimilation
The employment generated by his large
building projects like: the harbor at
Caesarea, the development of water
supplies for Jerusalem, the fortress at
Herodium, resulted in an exchange of
culture which is evident in the blending of
styles seen in the various projects (Levine
78). Herod’s commitment to public
infrastructure projects resulted in
disparate groups actively working together
to solve new architectural problems. This
prompted assimilation which actively
blended the community, causing a more
harmonious existence for the citizens of
Judea compared to their recent violent
experiences.
http://goo.gl/Zk31IV
Reverence in Death
“...Herod's funeral procession suggests the
respect, even the reverence, that his subjects
still felt for him. [His] body was placed on a
golden bier studded with gemstones and
draped in royal purple, with a scepter in his
right hand and a gold crown on his head. His
numerous family ranged themselves around
the bier, together with his army dressed in
full battle array and 500 servants and freed
slaves carrying spices. Together they escorted
Herod 25 long, hot miles southwest, to a
cone-shaped hill at the edge of the desert that
gleamed with white stonework. Here they laid
him to rest” (Mueller 37). While his allegiance
to Rome, and criticisms about the extent to
which he was Jewish abound in historical
record, the actions of his subjects at the time
of his death underscore his commitment to
Judea and that this legacy was felt and acted
upon by the people.
http://goo.gl/rEuAVc
Works Cited
Emmons, Jim Tschen. "Nerva." World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras. ABC-CLIO, n.d. Web. 23 Feb.
2015.
Rabello, Alfredo. "Marcus Cocceius Nerva." Biography in Context. Encyclopaedia Judaica, n.d. Web. 25 Feb.
2015.
Scarre, Chris. Chronicle of the Roman Emperors. London: Thames and Hudson Inc, n.d. Print.
"Silver Denarius of Roman emperor Nerva." World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras. ABC-CLIO, n.d. Web.
11 Feb. 2015.
"Silver Denarius Of Roman Emperor Nerva (Reverse)." World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras. ABC-CLIO,