(++) Rome and Jerusalem: The Clash of Ancient Civilizations (2007 Goodman), book

Rome and Jerusalem: The Clash of Ancient Civilizations (2007) is a book by Martin Goodman.

Abstract

This text is Goodman’s explanation of the Jewish Revolt in the years 66-73 CE. Goodman argues that Jews in the time of Jesus lived under Roman rule but did not feel oppressed by Rome. Rather, the Jews depended upon the Romans to maintain peace and stability in their corner of the Roman world. For the most part the Jews and Romans co-existed in Palestine. Caligula’s installation of a statue in the temple was an aberration, and conflict was the exception and not the rule. Why then did the revolt happen? Following the interpretation of Josephus, Goodman argues that it was an unfortunate accident. The Great Jewish Revolt was not an inevitability; co-existence was not an impossibility and Titus did not intend to burn Jerusalem.

Editions and translations

Published in London: Allen, 2007 and New York, NY: Knopf, 2007. Translated into Polish (2007).

• Rzym i Jerozolima: zderzenie antycznych cywilizacji (2007 Goodman), book (Polish ed.)

Table of contents

Introduction: the main witness

Prologue: the destruction of Jerusalem, 66-70 CE

Part One: A Mediterranean World

• 1. A Mediterranean world. A tale of two cities

• 2. One world under Rome

• 3. Diversity and toleration

Part Two: Romans and Jews

• 4. Identities

• 5. Communities

• 6. Perspectives

• 7. Lifestyles

• 8. Government

• 9. Politics

• 10. Romans and Jews

Part Three: Conflict

• 11. The Road to Destruction, 37 BCE-70 CE

• 12. Reactions, 70-312 CE

• 13. The Growth of the Church

• 14. A New Rome and a New Jerusalem

Epilogue: The Origins of Antisemitism

External links

• Google Books (partial text)