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, 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

63 BCE until fourth or seventh century CE, Roman Period