Alexander the Great conquered an immensely vast area during 336 – 323 BCE-defeats Persian King Darius 333 BCE
-captures Jerusalem 332 BCE
-death of Alexander 323 BCE -> division of Kingdom
-Josephus: main historian of Jewish history (Antiquities)
Ptolemies control Palestine, 300-201 BCE
-Jerusalem given autonomy, could chose own High Priest
-During this period, Jerusalem was under the secular leadership of the priests rather than kings. The High Priest becomes the civil administrator
Seleucids Rule
-Antiochus III defeats Ptolemy V in 198 BCE
-Thoroughly and aggressively advocate Hellenism (gymnasium, even sells high priesthood)
-Turn Jerusalem into Polis (cultural and intellectual center)
-suppress Jewish resistance: loot the Temple Treasury, outlaw Jewish religious practices, defame Temple Alter, convert Temple into Temple of Zeus
Hellenization
-every aspect of Jewish life affected—language, literature, philosophy, religion
-Jewish tombs looked Greek
-Jewish burial inscriptions contained Jewish symbols, but Greek inscriptions
-Sepphoris Mosaic: Jewish home has center piece contains Greek mythology story -> shows how Hellenized Judaism has become
-Beth Alpha Mosaic: Zodiac in synagogue
-even Bible goes Greek
Reaction to Hellinization
-varied: some welcomed it and other resisted
-Jewish infighting became intense: led to sects and factions -> leads to revolt
Hasmonean Jerusalem
Maccabean Revolt
-led by Judas Maccabeus and “conservative” Jews
-attacked “renegade” Jews and Seleucid armies
-employed guerilla tactics
-revolt was amazingly successful
-regained control of Jerusalem and Temple from Seleucids
-resumed sacrifical system
-established Hanukkah
Hasmonean Rule (165/4 – 63 BCE)
-rebuilt on the lines of the “First Kings”: problem because they’re not of the genealogy
-restores the “Golden Age”
-greatly expanded Jewish territory
-Hasmonean rules became increasingly Hellenized, secular, corrupt: assumed office of High Priest as well as King, insensitive to Jewish religions traditions, forcibly “Judaism” surrounding gentile regions
-got legitimacy by connecting their kingdom to David’s & Solomon’s Kingdom
-Hasmonean’s Dyansty ends when Romans conquer in 63 BCE
Was Jerusalem called Palestine during the Hellenistic Period? In the lecture, it's always quoted as "Jerusalem and Palestine," so are they not interchangeable?
Also, how was it possible for the Jewish army to overthrow the Seleucid army?? Given their circumstances at the time, it seems like such an impossible feat... It's also interesting to see how the Jews tried to free themselves from the oppressive regime but they became an oppressive regime themselves. It is something that we constantly see throughout history.. and it dates back all the way back to BCE.
Was Jerusalem called Palestine during the Hellenistic Period? In the lecture, it's always quoted as "Jerusalem and Palestine," so are they not interchangeable?
Also, how was it possible for the Jewish army to overthrow the Seleucid army?? Given their circumstances at the time, it seems like such an impossible feat... It's also interesting to see how the Jews tried to free themselves from the oppressive regime but they became an oppressive regime themselves. It is something that we constantly see throughout history.. and it dates back all the way back to BCE.
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