I am delighted to report that my Hoover colleague (and emeritus professor at Cornell), Barry Strauss, can be guest-blogging this week about this new e-book of his. This is the writer’s abstract:
A brand new historical past of two centuries of Jewish revolts in opposition to the Roman Empire, drawing on latest archeological discoveries and new scholarship by main historian Barry Strauss.
Jews vs. Romeis a gripping account of some of the momentous eras in human historical past: the 200 years of historical Israel’s battles in opposition to Rome that reshaped Judaism and gave rise to Christianity. Barry Strauss vividly captures the drama of this period, highlighting the brave but tragic uprisings, the geopolitical conflict between the empires of Rome and Persia, and the interior conflicts amongst Jews.
Between 63 BCE and 136 CE, the Jewish individuals launched a number of revolts pushed by deep-seated spiritual beliefs and resentment in direction of Roman rule. Judea, a province on Rome’s jap fringe, grew to become a focus of stress and revolt. Jews vs. Rome recounts the three main uprisings: the Nice Revolt of 66–70 CE, which led to the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, culminating within the Siege of Masada, the place defenders selected mass suicide over give up; the Diaspora Revolt, ignited by heavy taxes throughout the Empire; and the Bar Kokhba Revolt. We meet pivotal figures similar to Simon Bar Kokhba but in addition a few of these lesser-known girls of the period like Berenice, a Jewish princess who performed a serious function within the politics of the Nice Revolt and was improbably the love of Titus—Rome’s future emperor and the person who destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple.
As we speak, echoes of these battles resonate because the Jewish nation faces new challenges and conflicts. Jews vs. Rome affords a charming narrative that connects the previous with the current, interesting to anybody concerned about Rome, Jewish historical past, or the compelling true tales of resilience and resistance.
And the blurbs:
“Judaism as we all know it right now isn’t the Judaism of the Bible—it’s the Judaism that emerged from the destruction of the Second Jewish Commonwealth by the hands of the Romans. As Barry Strauss illustrates on this riveting account, this pivotal interval was outlined by conflicting values and visions amongst Jews, corruption of their spiritual establishments, infighting once they may least afford it and far more that our personal time eerily echoes. This beautiful account leaves us with a a lot deeper understanding of not solely the Jews’ previous, however their current as properly, and even perhaps their future.” — Daniel Gordis, writer of Israel: A Concise Historical past of a Nation Reborn
“Historian Strauss hits one other dwelling run with this thorough account of the tumultuous relations between Rome and its most contentious topics, the Jews, in historical instances…. There isn’t a higher historical past of this essential however little-known topic.” — Library Journal (starred evaluate)
“Incisive, well timed, and thought-provoking, Jews vs. Rome is an insightful historical past of the best way implacable religion and resistance fueled two centuries of Judea’s doomed blows in opposition to the Empire. Barry Strauss is a grasp at illuminating the robust personalities, complicated motives, and turbulence throughout Rome’s battle to regulate the Center East.” — Adrienne Mayor, Analysis scholar, Division of Classics and Historical past and Philosophy of Science, Stanford College, and writer of Flying Snakes and Griffin Claws, and Different Classical Myths, Historic Oddities, and Scientific Curiosities
“For 200 years, the Jews fought the world’s biggest energy–Imperial Rome–and by doing so, gained their rightful place as certainly one of historical past’s most consequential individuals. Instructed by the grasp historian of the traditional world, this can be a fantastic and essential learn.” — Karl Rove, former White Home Senior Advisor and Deputy Chief of Employees and writer of The Triumph of William McKinley
“Jews vs. Rome retells, with ardour and immediacy, the Jews’ steady confrontations with the good energy of Rome and their very own unceasing, typically violent inner disputes, and finally signifies an everlasting religious energy to clarify their survival as a individuals. Behind the story of survival is a dire warning in opposition to disunity in perilous instances.” — Jonathan J. Worth, the Fred and Helen Lessing Professor of Historical Historical past, Departments of Classics and Normal Historical past, Tel Aviv College
