History of Jerusalem final

Question 1

Pompey

Answer 1

Rome (in Italy) is the growing power in the East as the Greek world is declining. The Roman world is
rising; Chashmonaim invite the Romans in (they invite Pompey) and he comes and stays. 63 BCE—
Romans stay for very long time because they aren’t pushed out. They are there for 600 years. They get
divided up into a couple of periods because right now Rome is pagan, but in a few hundred years, they
become Christian, Byzantine Empire, so it’s another period in history.
The Roman entrance into land of Israel/Jerusalem begins with a violation of the BH. Pompey enters
the BH and people die and ruin BH. After his victory, Pompey imposed harsh terms on land of Israel.
1. He took some land away from Chashmonaim. They were allowed to still have control of Jerusalem,
Idumea, Transjordan Area (Paraya), and the Galilee. They don’t have control over Samaria
anymore, and some northern areas. They lose out on some of the land.
2. The Indumeans were forced to convert or flee (under the Chashmonaim), one of things that
Pompey does is that he allows people who fled to move back into the land. As a result of the battle,
Aristobulus the 2nd=son of Shlom Tzion Hamalka—he is taken back to Rome in chains. Hyrcanus
the 2nd=winner between the 2 brothers–he loses political control, but Pompey allows him to be
Kohen Gadol. So Hyrcanus has an ethnic role now.

Question 2

Antipater

Answer 2

The political power is in Antipater-father of
Herod. He is known as an Idumean. Religiously he is a Jew, but he’s born in Rome. Antipater is
given control of the army and Judea after backing Pompey. The Romans set up in Damascus-where their governor is.
Political power (not independent because Rome is in charge) now rests with Antipater and then
passes on to his son (Herod).

Question 3

Herod

Answer 3

Herod the Great (Antipater, his father, is no longer alive) takes this opportunity to escape to Rome and
convinces Rome that he is the one to keep Parthians at bay. Roman senators name him king of Jews.
He returns to Israel and in year 39, with help of Mark Antony, they go to Galilee and conquer Galilee
and make their way down to Jerusalem and lay siege to the city. Eventually, they gain control of
Jerusalem and conquer it (from Parthians).
Herod request that Mark Antony execute Antigonus. This is the first time in history that the Romans commit capital punishment of a king—Antigonus was a Chashmonai king. This is the end of Antigonus.
Herod marries Mariamme who is the niece of Matityahu Antigonus. It was the great-grandchild of the
father of 2 warring brothers (alexander yannai). He appoints his brother in law as Kohen Gadol. When
the Jews see Aristobulus wearing clothes of Kohen Gadol, they go crazy and Herod decides that it’s not
a good idea so he kills him.
Now Herod is fully in charge–Herod now has total control and disposed of the Chashmonaim threat,
conquered Jerusalem…People liked his father better than him though. He has full control over Judea
and complete Roman backing. He issues a bunch of coins—no human images on any of the coins.
o How religious was Herod? Augustus says it was better to be his pig than his son because he
observed Jewish law (he didn’t eat pork), but he murdered his children. He was that kind of
person.
Despite his brutal conquest of Jerusalem, he did have support. Supported Herod because they were
opposed to the Chashmonaim. He tries to make nice—he marries Chashmonaim princess (Mariamme) and
appoints brother in law (but kills him). Any time Herod felt threatened by anyone, he killed them. He
was still a very gifted king and was able to impose a very long and lasting peace on Judea. During his
reign, Judea thrives and he builds a ton. His imprint is very strong on the country because he left
buildings everywhere–like Herodian, Massada… He liked these desert retreats as a place for safety.
Cesarea, Chevron, Banias, and Jerusalem. He was a phenomenal builder.
He could appoint the Kohel Gadol at will. He would appoint and depose the Kohen Gadol and no one
objected. Kohen Gadol becomes a political position under Herod. But he does keep the robes for
Kohen Gadol locked up and only lets them wear them at appropriate time—these garments had such an
aura about them that he had to have them locked up.
While Herod himself was a practicing Jew, he was a very practical guy so had no problem building
pagan temples for his pagan subjects—it’s a muti-cultural state now (Romans control areas around
Jerusalem….) And he uses this as an opportunity to give back to the pagans. Unlike the Chashmoanim,
he doesn’t insist that all pagan subjects become Jewish–He wanted loyalty from his pagan subjects. He
builds temples in Greek and Roman styles in the pagan cities, not in Jerusalem obviously.
After the battle of Actium (32BCE)—battle between Augustus and Mark Antony for who gets control.
Antony loses (and Julius Cesare is assassinated); Octavian (Augustus—first emperor of ancient Rome)
wins and becomes the first Roman Emperor. Herod is such a survivor and he immediately goes to
Rome, hands crown to Octavian. Herod immediately builds a temple right near Shomron and builds a
pagan temple there in honor of Augustus.
Herod builds Caesarea

Question 4

Herod’s rebuilding of Jerusalem

Answer 4

Herod does incredible building in Jerusalem also. Herod is aware that Jerusalem is a Jewish city so he
would not build a pagan temple in Jerusalem like he did in Caesarea. He has big ambitions; he doesn’t
do anything on a small scale. Ever-mindful of security (walls were built by his father) but his first act was
to build a massive fortress on the site where Nechemia built—in north west corner=most vulnerable part
of city

o He turns his attention to Jerusalem beginning in year 23. The year prior to year 23, there
was a famine and Herod used his own money (had lots of money because owned silver mines…)
and bought food for everyone. So now people like him better. So now in year 23, he now has
good will from people, he built up rest of country, so now ready to focus now on Jerusalem,
and because of economic hardship, there are lots of unemployed people. He turns his attention
to Jerusalem and begins. Then he builds himself a palace. (Still have Siluom pool in Jerusalem.) His palace
was joined by water gardens…it was luxurious. We don’t really have anything from his palace in
Jerusalem. We know from his other palaces that he would have had both Mikvaot and Roman
baths, probably next to each other. A Roman bath had to have 3 rooms—Koldarium (hot water
room), Tempiderium (warm water room), Frigidareum (cold water). Sometimes, in some places
(probably not the palace because Herod could probably afford both), the Frigidarium would do
double duty, it would also be a kosher Mikvah. So after have the cold bath, you would be able
to leave pure. For Herod, this was the perfect mixture—because have the Roman pleasure and
also the Jewish purity from one place. In Chashmonaiam palace, they would have been
separate. Herod probably maybe combined it because he liked the symbolism of it, but he really
technically could afford both.
Herod tried to impose a grid to make planning and traffic easier. He created a theater and Hippodrome
(where they have chariot races) in Jerusalem. We also know that during Herod’s time, every five years,
he held games in Jerusalem in honor of Augustus, which drew crowds of distinguished athletes. Herod
loved the Olympic games, but he had his own version like the Maccabee games. Under Herod though,
Jerusalem becomes a super imposing city, very well built, and materials are exquisite and fine. It now
has 120,000 are people in Jerusalem, enough space for them, it’s huge. He rebuilds city walls just to
makes them better and stronger—refurbishes them because his dad already built them back up, so he
just makes them better. He builds even outer walls—another ring of walls around to provide more
defense.
Some items that were found in Jewish quarter excavated from Herod time-second temple period. You
can see how affluent the people are.
Beautiful mosaic tiles, stole tables and stone vessels. The upper city is the kind of the rich part
in town and lots of Kohanim lived there which probably explain why we found lots of Mikvaot
and stone vessels. Mikvaot so they could do their work and stone vessels because they don’t get
Tumah. Pillar of Absalom—around this time period. It’s a very affluent time you can see this from this
pillar.

Question 5

Antonia Fortress

Answer 5

Battle of Actium was in 31 BCE. When Herod builds this in year 35, it’s 4 years before Mark Antony is defeated. He names it after Antony—he wouldn’t name it after Antony after he’s defeated by Augustus. So the fortress is named after Antony–Antonia Fortress named for Mark
Antony 4 years before he’s defeated. So the city during Herodian times has this fortress. Its
built on a very steep rock. There are slabs (sides of the fortress) that are very smooth so no one
can climb up them. It rises about 60 feet above the 75 feet that its built on (the rock it’s built
on). Has 4 towers and housed a large garrison. This was for soldiers—where they lived and
worked. It’s very luxurious—Herod built it! It’s like a palace almost! Very luxurious. Antonia
Fortress is built before he expands temple mount.
He also builds this pool called Struthion Pool (near Antonia fortress) which provides good
defense. This is all in year 35.

Question 6

Upper city

Answer 6

Antonia fortress was the first thing, but now Herod begins in upper city and fortifies it and builds 3 towers –Hippocus (named after his friend), Mariamme (wife),
Phasael (brother). One of the towers (probably Hippocus) is the one that survives and you
see it when walk into Shaar Yafo (Migdal David Museum). The bases of that tower is
Herodian.

Question 7

Royal Stoa

Answer 7

The Agora was another institution and that was the marketplace and meeting place. Up to this time,
marketplaces were at the gate to the city, but now with Hellenistic period, the gates are going to change,
they don’t have a wider space anymore, gates were now just an entrance and exit, instead now you have a
designated marketplace (agora). Agora was a rectangular space surrounded by buildings. Stoa forms the edge of an agora and it’s a long building with lots of shops. It’s the fancy shops. When Herod redesigns the temple mount and builds royal stoa on temple mount it’s a statement
that he’s treating temple mount as an agora.

Question 8

Pontius Pilate

Answer 8

In year 26, Romans appoint a prefect (administrator/leader) Pontius Pilate. The prefect is like the governor; he is in Caesarea mostly because Romans find
Jerusalem boring. One of first thing he does when comes to Jerusalem is going up into Har Habayit and
violates it—goes into places where he should not. This unites the Jews—they all don’t like him at all. we arrest Jesus. He is convicted of blasphemy by Jews, and then sent to Pontius Pilot for sentencing. Pontius sentences jesus to death by crucifixion. Later Christian tradition (Romans become Christians later on) will exonerate Pontius Pilot and his wife, Christian tradition later on says that Pontius converted to Christianity (which isn’t true) because can’t
blame the Roman empire for killing jesus once Roman Empire become Christians.

Question 9

Caiaphas

Answer 9

This was not completed when Herod died and when Herod dies around year 4 BCE, the kingdom kind of
passes from him to a Roman prefect (leader). Caesarea is where Romans liked to be so that becomes capital
of the area. There were some riots when Herod dies but were put down harshly. The Pharisees are still
opposed to monarchy, but Kohanim want to keep peace so they need a leader of high power. In year 18 CE
(CE!!) Caiaphas was appointed Kohen Gadol. Caiaphas was aware of the apocalyptic implications of what Jesus was saying –Jesus was saying that end of world was near. Caiaphas didn’t want another riot on temple mount so has jesus arrested on charge of blasphemy.

Question 10

Jesus

Answer 10

Jesus—he was a real person and was a Jew. He was killed because he was a Jew. He was from the north, like a preacher (a Jewish one). He comes to Jerusalem and goes to temple mount (everyone’s allowed on it as long
as they stick to the rules) he has apocalyptic visions and says that temple is corrupt and that it will be
destroyed. He is not condemning the commercial use of this place- (money changer places)—he said they
these were essential to running the temple, but he was upset that he found thing too expensive which made
it hard for the poor to participate. He argues that real temple will be made by god. Jews at the time
don’t have the authority to inflict capital punishment—only Romans can. But we arrest him. He is
convicted of blasphemy by Jews, and then sent to Pontius Pilot for sentencing. Pontius sentences jesus to
death by crucifixion. Crucifies Heel Bone (not Jesus’s, but from this time).

This should’ve been the end of the matter but it’s not. On Sunday when they went back to take body to
move it, body was gone. For Christians, they say he’s risen. For us, we think someone took the body.
Rumors start to spread that jesus had risen. Mary Mandolin claims to have seen him walking around
Jerusalem, Other people start having visions that they see him. These people are all Jews at the time—so if
you see someone who was dead and now he’s walking around, that’s Techiat Hametim (that’s why in book
of Daniel, even at that time, this was an important concept.) Only the Pharisees believe in Techiat
Hametim, not the Sadducees, our view is that someone moved the body but didn’t say anything. Since his
disciples say he has risen, they come to think that its time of Techiat Hametim, which is associated with
Mashiach. All of a sudden, jesus is Mashiach they think. The upshot is that the Romans just crucified
Mashiach. At the time, his followers don’t think they are starting a new religion—they are all Jews, refer to
themselves as Evyonim (the poor,) this group of jesus followers in Jerusalem is led by jesus’s brother James.

Question 11

Jewish Revolt

Answer 11

So after jesus’s death, Jews become more defensive of BH. Pontius appointed Herod’s grandson to be king
of Jewish land/Judea. Jews do well under his Greek rule. Temple was finally completed. In year 60, Romans
began appointing leaders and riots broke out

Not all Jews supported the rebels–There was much less
support for the revolt against Rome in year 70 than there was at the Babylonians at 586. Many of the rural
aristocracy didn’t support, urban Jews didn’t support, many Pharisees didn’t–They were more concerned
with religion than politics. They had an awareness that what happened in land in Israel may have
repercussions for Jews living in different parts of the empire—Pharisees were worried that if there was a
rebellion, it would negatively impact the Jews living elsewhere. Political leader at time was Agrippa.
Zealots was a party that rose to oppose the Romans. They believed Rome was in decline, so it would be easy
for them to fight them. They made a huge mistake because they are not in decline. They thought Jews had
good chance at success. Only a small percentage of Jews supported the zealots. When brew a rebellion, need
to make coins that symbolize that show your independence. So they issued coins for the first revolt as
attesting to their independence. The language they are using is Ktav Ivri=nationalist script. Jewish
Christians left Jerusalem because this was not their rebellion, thought it was too radical.

Question 12

Vespasian

Answer 12

Jews were unlucky—Rome dispatched their best general at the time, Vespasian. He arrives in Israel and
starts in north, works his way south, and systematically defeats any resistance he encounters. In year 70, he
becomes emperor. He leaves to go back to Rome because now he’s emperor. The person who takes his place and conquers Jerusalem is Titus. Titus is Vespasian’s son. When Vespasian leaves to go back to Rome, he leaves his son to fight against Judea.

Question 13

Josephus

Answer 13

first century Jewish historian who backed up Titus and reported the story of Titus’s takeover of Jerusalem
Josephus - he was a macabean. born Joseph ben Matityahu, fought against the Romans until surrending to the Roman forces led by Vespasian. Vespasian made Josephus a slave and then Josephus fully defected to the Romans, and recorded Jewish History, with a special emphasis on the first Jewish-Roman war.Not sure if we can really trust his account of Jewish history because he is writing for a roman persepective~ josephus switched sides!

Question 14

Arch of Titus

Answer 14

In 81, a triumphal arch was built in Rome—the money from Judea was used to fund this also– Arch of
Titus. Sacred vessels from BH were on display in Rome. As Rome started having its own problems, vessels
were most likely melted down.

Question 15

IUDAEA CAPTA coins

Answer 15

Years after they were still making coins—Judaea Capta—the Judeans are captured. Coins shows a
woman (representing a Jewish woman) tied up, then Roman soldier with his foot resting on his
helmet near palm tree (symbol of Judea), roman soldier standing over bound woman with palm tree
(this means Judea is captured). On other side had Vespasian because he is emperor at the time, and
it says in Latin his name. thousands of thee coins were struck in all sorts of denominations—gold,
silver, bronze. They issue more of these coins than any other commemorative coins that they made
for any other victory. Shows the important the romans attached to this victory. It’s been said that
the looting form Judea and the money that the soldiers took and brought back to Rome was used
to build the colosseum.

Question 16

Tenth Legion

Answer 16

The tenth legion is the legion that participated in conquering Jerusalem and they stay there and occupy Judah. They execute any Jew who claimed to be a descendant of King David
As a result of destruction of BH and destruction of Judea, Judea was now a full province under Rome.
All Jewish land was confiscated and became property of emperor, but Romans left most former owners to
keep their land—they tried to be fair because romans knew that many people didn’t want the rebellion.
Despite this, roman victory continued to be painful for the Jews.

Question 17

Hadrian

Answer 17

In year 118, Hadrian becomes emperor. Hadrian wanted to unify the roman empire and show benevolence to his people. He is considered a great emperor according to romans. He arrived in land of Israel and in Jerusalem (all his empire now!) he gets to Jerusalem in 130. Jerusalem between year 70 and 130 is essentially a ruin. Unlike Babylonians when everyone from Judea was deported. Jews are still living in Judea, but in Jerusalem only the 10th legion is there near area of Shaar Yafo. They lived in tents… it was a military town not a civilian town. Hadrian comes to Jerusalem and decides that he’ll give a gift to Jewish people—a new city. He would replace the ruined land with a modern metropolis which would bear his
own name. The plan filled people with horror. Aelia Capitolina was this metropolitan city. (Aelia is part
of Hadrian’s name. Capitolina was Jupiter’s temple in Rome.) This was the beginning of the construction of Jerusalem as a pagan city which
was the catalyst for the Bar Kochva Rebelling (2nd revolt against roman). Hadrian didn’t understand who wouldn’t want this city instead of the ruined city, he went around
his entire empire and built beautiful cities and upgraded the destruction into a beautiful functioning place.
People were grateful for it, only in Jerusalem did people not appreciate what he’s trying to do. For Hadrian,
this was a manner of civilization—can’t have ruins in his empire, must have beauty. Also it was a way for
him to draw the people into the empire. Roman always had difficulty with the Jews—didn’t get the fact that
they didn’t want to be Roman, so he wanted to draw them into Roman Empire by making Jerusalem an
official roman city. Then they would have tax benefits if it’s a roman city, so from his perspective, who
wouldn’t prefer a beautiful city instead of a ruin, and also he was going to build the city—he was going to
hire them and pay them for building it. Hadrian thought Judaism was primitive and that he needed to drag
them into modern world, as a result he made a miscalculation. As he’s getting ready to rebuild the city, he also decided to attack Judaism. That’s what the problem was. In year 131 he issues series of edicts
designed to make Jews abandon all their laws and customs and fit into everyone else. He outlaws smicha,
brit mila, Limud Torah, and any kind of Jewish public gatherings like going to shul. Once these edicts were
passed, even the most moderate of rabbis (from Pharisees) realized another roman war was coming, this was a spiritual attack! It was an attack on Judaism, not only Jews. So inevitable that there will be another war
on Rome. And indeed there was.

Question 18

Julius Severus

Answer 18

Roman commander who suppressed the revolt of *Bar Kokhba. He was governor of Britain at the outbreak of the revolt and was called to Judea after *Tinneius Rufus, procurator of Judea, and Marcellus, governor of Syria, had failed to suppress it. Considered one of Hadrian’s most able commanders, Julius Severus, according to Dio Cassius, avoided pitched battles and obliged the rebels to engage in a defensive war (Historiae Romanae, 69:13). He fought a war of attrition, attacking each fortress and citadel individually, until the whole country, with the exception of Bethar, had been conquered. Dio Cassius relates that dozens of fortresses as well as hundreds of villages were destroyed, and that over half a million people were killed, in addition to those who died of hunger and disease. Jewish sources also testify to the great carnage of the war, in which the Romans likewise suffered heavy losses. The fall of Bethar marked the end of the war. The Romans, regarding Severus’ victory as one of special importance, conferred special honors on him.

Question 19

Fall of Beitar—

Answer 19

that was the last city to hold out against the romans in the second revolt. It was Beitar
because it was a walled city so you can defend it. Bar kochva go to Beitar because has fortification but
Romans eventually conquer Beitar and destroy the city, that’s the end of the rebellion and Bar Kochva is
killed. 2nd Jewish revolt is now over, Bar Kochva is dead, Rome has control over everything.
Cave of letters—found letters dating from Bar Kochva times.

Question 20

2nd Jewish Revolt

Answer 20

Rebellion is called the Bar Kochba Revolt (2nd revolt on Rome) from 132-135. It was planned by Bar
Kochva and organized down to the smallest detail. It was guerilla warfare. See the issuing of coins again. Bar
Kochva do take over Jerusalem (10th legion is out) and issues coin—Bar Kochva Coin—re-stamped earlier
coins actually-can see that stamp is different size than the coin. Took Roman coins, smoothed them down,
and re-stamped them. The coin had the BH on it (BH was the ultimate goal.) Bar Kochva cared most about
Jerusalem and bringing back the BH.
The tenth legion leaves Jerusalem because they have to fight elsewhere and Bar Kochva occupies the city,
Romans aren’t doing well, Hadrian has to send his best general to Judea. Jewish army is just too small to
hold out against the might of Rome. Jerusalem which doesn’t have any fortification/walls now so Jerusalem
is impossible to defend. So Bar Kochva has to leave Jerusalem because can’t defend themselves there.
Romans start in galilee and work their way down destroying Jews. Dio Cassius tells us that Romans killed
many Jews. Bar Kochva is driven out of Jerusalem (Alien Capitalia) and goes to Beitar (the last place he’s
in).

Question 21

Post BK revolt

Answer 21

On Tisha Beav we fast for: fall of Beitar, both temples (2), meraglim, the guy who plows Jerusalem. Beitar
and the plowing of Jerusalem date from this time period.
The Jews had been able to inflict very heavy casualties on Romans. Shocked Romans. Romans actually
respected Jews a little because of it. Such heavy causalities that when Hadrian reported victory to the senate,
because they had such serious losses, he didn’t write the classic thing you write to senate “I am well, and the
army is well.” Roman army suffered a lot. Jews are no longer regarded as the miserable defeated people.
They get respect from Rome.
Hadrian is now furious. He was going to give the Jews a brand new city and they just rebel against him and
he has to bring his entire military force to fight them and he loses lots of his people. Hadrian is not looking
favorably at the Jews at this moment. He is very mad. Once he crushed the Jews, Hadrian resolves that he’ll
wipe the Jews and Judea off the map. He takes the Philistia and applies it to Judea—he is wiping Judea off
the map. He calls it Palestina—that’s how the land becomes Palastina (he refuses to use the word Judea so
applies the name Palestina to Judea.) also, Jerusalem is no longer called Jerusalem, he refuses to use that
name. it will only be called Aelia Capatalia. Palestina (there’s a town called Aelia Capatalia,) he also bans
the Jews from living in that area (what was Judea), it was against the law now, can be put to death if they
walk around Jerusalem.
He plans for building this new city in Jerusalem. Rufus Tamayus is the one appointed to plow Jerusalem
(one of the things we mourn on Tisha Beav). Roman custom that when build roman city, need to first plow
the city. Grading, making it flat, getting rid of debris. But it’s also symbolic—plow the area were the borders
are. We mourn for this because that’s the symbolic destruction of Jerusalem as a Jewish city and now have
roman city on top.

Question 22

Byzantine Jerusalem – New Jerusalem (326-638)

Answer 22

Byzantine just means roman Christian. Still roman, no political change. Just Christianity becomes official
religion of roman empire. 326 is when Constantine declares Christianity the official religion. In 638 the
conquest of Jerusalem by Islam—byzantine Jerusalem ends when Muslims come in

Question 23

Constantine

Answer 23

Constantine became emperor after victory at Milvian bridge—civil war between E and W roman empire. He
wins and as a result he combines E and W sides. Constantinople is his capital (today is Istanbul)—in east. In
323 he defeats the emperor of Eastern provinces and becomes ruler of roman world. Makes Arch of
Constantine to commemorate this victory. He’s not a Christian at his moment, he was born pagan. He
attributes his success in battle to god of Christians. He had no idea of their theology and it’s not even clear
if he himself becomes a Christian. No one is born a Christian! In Judaism, you’re born a Jew—if mother is
Jewish you are born a Jew. In Christianity, you become Christian when you are baptized. Catholic baptize
babies. Protestants say you can’t baptize babies because baptism is a choice and can’t make a choice when
you’re a baby.
Nevertheless, he becomes loyal to church. What’s driving him to recognize Christianity which up to that
point was an illegal religion in Rome? Constantine hoped that Christianity would become a cohesive force
for his empire. At beginning of his reign, 20% of empire was already Christian. Why was Christianity so
popular? People lost all faith in pagan religion. Monotheism of Christians gave much more support to
people in times of anxiety. That god gave them a blessed life, a bible=authoritative text which pagans didn’t
have. This religion inspired hope in the people. Also Christians were organized and committed to
charitable missions and ideas. it was organized—had parish, priests, Bishops… Also lots of Christians were
killed by roman emperor so have whole list of martyrs which commanded respect from the people.

Question 24

Helena

Answer 24

Helena is Constantine’s mother. She was a Christian before Constantine. Constantine never actually visited
Jerusalem, his mother did though. She came to Jerusalem and one of the things she does is go around
identifying holy places in Jerusalem and in land of Israel. She gives Christian significance to the places in
Israel—like said this place is where jesus did this… Before all of this/excavation at temple of Aphrodite,
there were no pilgrimages to Jerusalem so Helena is the first. Pilgrims start coming after Helena who was
the first to go on pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
In 325 the church is built-Constantine’s Church. Edicule sits right above the tomb. Church is built around
it. Another building is built near the crucifixion site. Helena finds pieces of the cross—this idea of relex.
Finish this church and have this edicule and the only thing left of that is the limestone slab below the
edicule which is the only original part that exists from the church. Building was destroyed during crusades.

Question 25

Anastasis (Church of Holy Sepulcher) and Golgotha

Answer 25

Church of the Holy Sepulchre, also called Holy Sepulchre, church built on the traditional site of Jesus’ Crucifixion and burial. According to the Bible (John 19:41–42), his tomb was close to the place of the Crucifixion, and so the church was planned to enclose the site of both the cross and the tomb.

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre lies in the northwest quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem. Constantine the Great first built a church on the site.

Golgotha=a site immediately outside Jerusalem’s walls where Jesus was crucified
Anastasis: church of resurrection, main attraction for christians.
on golgotha was the temple of jupiter in the time of aelia capitolina
during chritisinaity time, golgotha wasin the south eastern corner of the holy garden that was enclosed in an open chapel. the gold-domed rotunda (anastasis) opened to the sky so that the light shone down on jesus’s tomb.

Question 26

Julian (A Third Temple?)

Answer 26

Suddenly, an emperor dies and is replaced by his nephew Julian the Apostate. Julian is a hugely interesting
emperor. He is a byzantine emperor. He was raised a Christian but became pagan –he rejects Christianity!
He goes back to pagan religion, loves paganism. Julian wrote a polemic against Christianity and makes
official religion of empire pagan. One of the things that motivates him is that he loves animal sacrifice. He
believed that prayer was incomplete without sacrifice. He hated Christians and loved animal sacrifices. So
he gives permission to Jews that they could offer animal sacrifices. But to do that they need BH. so around
361 there is a brief period where the Jews have this hope that they would finally get to build BH. one of
Christianity’s ideas was that they were the new Judaism. So Jews were kind of like the rejected people and
lived horrible lives with no power—this is why Christians never rebuild temple mount and build a church
there because they want to leave it as a ruin to show that this is what happens when you reject Christianity—
your religion is just a ruin now. Julian saw Jewish communities outside Israel that were flourishing so he
wanted to promote Jews in order to get back at Christians because he hated them.
So need to clear temple mount, get financial support from Julian. In 363, Jewish workers began to uncover
foundations of 2nd BH of Herodian times. The work continues and then there’s an earthquake which
stopped construction. After, Julian is killed in battle. He is succeeded by Jovian which was a Christian.

Question 27

Madaba Map

Answer 27

Madaba Map of Jerusalem was found in church in Jordan. It was a mosaic on the floor. This map is the
oldest map of Jerusalem and it’s a byzantine Jerusalem. temple mount is on the map but it’s obviously not
as important to Christian world. This map it reflects the sacred geography of Christian world. The center of
Jerusalem had shifted to Christian quarter during this time. like the city of David is not even in it anymore.

Question 28

Islamic Pd

Answer 28

638 is when Islam makes its way to land of Israel/Jerusalem. Mohammed had his first revelation in year
610. 20 years later they conquer Jerusalem. 1099 is the crusades—they put an end to this first Islamic period.

Jerusalem—third holy site. In Arabic its known as the City of the Temple. Why did Jerusalem become
holy to Muslims? Later tradition, you have this idea of Mohammed’s night journey—later traditions say
Mohammed took a night journey from mecca to Jerusalem and from there he ascended to heaven.
Jerusalem was already holy to Jews so Muslims probably also said its holy to them (because they are all
about improving the Jewish and Christian tradition).

In year 632, Mohammed dies and buried in Medina. At this point, the local people begin to campaign
outside, they are united. One thing that Islam is able to do is unite these tribes. Islam unites all the people
in Arabian Peninsula (Who were always fighting with each other). Then they begin their expansion out.
they begin to spread out looking for more fertile land. Sasanian and Byzantine Empire are the 2 empires at
the moment on this part of the world. They are exhausted because they’ve been fighting each other for a
long time. So Muslims have this advantage of perfect timing. Byzantine (Christina) and Sasanian (Persian)
empire are exhausted from fighting each other and both are pretty weak and as a result, Muslims emerge
and blast right through and rupture the 2 empires and take them over. The Jews, who are living in Israel,
they are no big fans of the byzantine empire (Christians—they are not nice) so Jews are happy and they
welcome the Muslims—it’s an energetic faith…from Jewish perspective it’s a good thing when they come.
Expansion of Muslims is rapid because Islam is unified people who had previously not been unified. From
mecca and medina, if go north you hit Jerusalem first. So they get there first.

Question 29

Madinat Beit Al Maqdis

Answer 29

Umayyuad caliph Abd al-Malik transforms Ilya into the “City of the Holy House” (madinat bayt al-maqdis) by rebuilding the Solomonic temple as a commemorative shrine to prophet Muhammad’s mystical ascent to heaven, creating the best-known symbol of the Holy City, the Dome of the Rock.

Question 30

Umar (Omar)/Umayyads

Answer 30

The companion of the prophet is Umar ibn Al-Khattab. Umar is the one who receives the surrender of
Jerusalem. It’s a peaceful and bloodless conquest. There is no destruction of property no burning…he
doesn’t burn the Christian churches, doesn’t expel anyone. There is no attempt to force the inhabitance to
convert to Islam. So for a long time Jerusalem remains Christian even though it’s under Islam control. But
he also makes Jerusalem his own.

Jerusalem as a byzantine city—how it looked like when Umar showed up in Jerusalem. Very Christian city,
but Umar is anxious to see Solomon’s temple. So he heads towards temple mount which is still in ruins.
Christians theology requires that temple mount stay a ruin as a symbol as what happens to what happens to
people who reject Jesus. So they don’t build a church there a=or anything. It’s all a metaphor. Umar is
sensitive—he wants to build Islamic structures but he doesn’t want to destroy anything. The temple mount
space is available and there’s nothing there! So that’s the best place to build something! He will destroy the
metaphor. So he concentrates his efforts there. Christianity will maintain their influence in the city, but
Islamic influence he’ll build in temple mount area. Umar has Islamic view of protecting minorities so he
invites the Jews back into the city. In year 644, Umar is killed, which leads to Sunni Shia Split. He is
succeeded by a Sunni and ushers in what’s called the Umayyids.

Question 31

Dome of the Rock/ Abd al-Malik

Answer 31

The dome of the rock—the ruler associated with its construction is Abd al Malik. His purpose for building this is subtle and concrete but complex—he wished to erect a beautiful Islamic building. He wanted to build it
that it could compete with the churches in Jerusalem. He wants to compete with majestic churches. He’s
also making a symbolic statement to Christians and Jews that Islam is superior. The building spoke to Jews
by its location. This location is the site of the BH. he’s telling Jews that the days of your BH are over, this is
the new reality, Islam is the new reality, we are here to stay and reserves your location and not giving it back.
So for Jews it’s a complex time—they are welcomed back into the city and can build their synagogues, but at
the same time, the site of the temple mount is now taken over by Islam. It’s an 8 sided building, byzantine
kind of style, have pillars inside…It spoke to Christians by the inscriptions. All the inscriptions inside is
writing. There is writing all throughout the internal dome of the rock. It’s a direct attack on Christianity.
The interior decorations said there is no god but god, jesus is also a prophet (all good till now), god has no
son… basically it’s saying that we accept jesus as a prophet but he is not divine (totally against Christianity).
Basically saying that Jews lost their place, and Christians-we don’t accept your theology. Sending very
telescoped messages to Jews and to Christians. Doesn’t leave anything in doubt-we are superior now. None
of these inscriptions inside dome of rock mention Mohammed’s night journey which is why we think this
legend had no yet come about, Al Aqsa mosque (below)
Dome of the rock—what is it? It’s not a mosque, it’s a shrine for visitors and pilgrims. When you come to
the dome of the rock you are supposed to, after admiring the great beauty, it’s a site for Muslim pilgrims
they are supposed to admire and walk around, outside and inside, read inscriptions…it’s just a place for
contemplation and visitation…

Question 32

Al Aqsa mosque/ Walid

Answer 32

The mosque is next to the dome of the rock, that was the place for actual
praying.
The town of Jerusalem when dome is being built, Muslims are still a minority, it’s still Christian
town, Jews are welcomed in. Jews approved of the inscriptions inside dome (like that god is god), dome of
the rock becomes the model for all future Muslim shrines. The mosque is built along the southern wall
(where royal stoa was during Herodian time). then next to that is there palace. They take advantage of the
fact that this area is all uninhabited and in ruins. They aren’t building in the heart of Jerusalem where
Christians are. Then Wallid the first repairs wall of temple mount. When you’re at the kotel you see
Herodian stones and then Muslim stones—that’s his repairs.
Motivation to build mosque in south because on temple mount, it’s the closest area to mecca (south). So
Muslims pray towards mecca, towards the south. So in temple mount area just have mosque and dome of
the rock. They build a lot more stuff there over time.

In Jerusalem, al-Walid continued his father’s (abd al Malik) works on the Haram al-Sharif (Temple Mount).[25] A number of medieval-era Muslim accounts credit the construction of the al-Aqsa Mosque to al-Walid, while others credit his father.[25] Furthermore, it is likely that the currently unfinished administrative and residential structures that were built opposite the southern and eastern walls of the Haram, next to the mosque, date to the era of al-Walid, who died before they could be completed and were not finished by his successors.[44]

Question 33

Abassids

Answer 33

Abbasid Dynasty, before Fatimids—also Sunnis. They are based in Baghdad and are not nearly as
interested in Jerusalem as the ummayids were. They invented the institution of military slavery—they
secured a cast of administrators that were loyal to their rulers rather than their families. They did rebuild
the Al Aqsa mosque and help repair the dome of the rock. During their time period, the Sunnis a lot of
them move to Jerusalem and cluster around temple mount—in 8th and 9th century. North of the dome,
there’s a smaller dome that’s put up (called dome of the prophet,) things start being built up there during
Abbasid period.

Question 34

Fatimids

Answer 34

In 841 there’s a peasant’s revolt. Karaites begin moving into Jerusalem (Jewish sect that rejected torah shebal
peh). They were into tanach and into the land of Israel. In 969, the Fatami Caliphate takes precedent.
Fatimids are Shiites. Their capital is Kairo. First time have Shiites in Israel. They came from north Africa
and brought trading practices to Egypt.
Found gold coins in caesaria in the water. These coins date to Fatimid period. These coins are 1000 years
old.

Question 35

Crusader Period (1099-1187)

Answer 35

x

Question 36

Pope Urban II

Answer 36

Battle of Manzikert in 1071 is between the Seljuqs (Sunni Muslims) against byzantine empire (roman
Christian empire). As a result of this battle, byzantine empire loses virtually all of Asia to the Seljuqs. the
emperor of the byzantine empire is Alexios Komnenos (Christian Muslim). He decides to reach out to the
Christian people in the west and sends to the pope asking for help. He’s expecting that pope will dispatch a
few Normans to come help him fight because his army is weak and have suffered terrible losses. Pope
Urban II has a much bigger plan. He preaches a holy war of liberation. In time of mid evil Europe there is
constant fighting. No one is getting along… So he sees this as an opportunity to get the knights to stop
fighting each other and to unite. They are going to liberate Jerusalem from the infidel (people that don’t
believe in the religion), and this is a great way to unify yourselves and stop fighting. This becomes known as
the first crusade. Alexios just asked for a little help, but Pope turns it into something much more. For
Alexios, this was just to help him fight the church so they don’t keep reducing his territory. But turns out
much more than that because pope made it a religious thing.

Question 37

Franks

Answer 37

x

Occupied Temple Mount, Baldwino Templarso Hospitallerso Re-built Church of the Holy Sepulchero Baldwin III

Question 38

Occupied Temple Mount

Answer 38

The crusaders turn out to actually be secular. They don’t impact the religious life of Jerusalem—like the
whole city doesn’t get filled with Christianity religion stuff. Instead, they put a cross on dome of rock and
they turn it into a church. This is the only time when there’s a Christian presence of har habayit. The
crusaders are taking this shrine and turning it into a church. The mosque next to it turns into a palace. The
rock in the dome of the rock they incase in marble. All the Arabic texts in dome of the rock (antiChristian) is covered over—encased it with marble. Metal grille/enclosure—put up during crusader times
and considered the height of mid evil grille work—very beautiful. This is the one thing that’s still left
from their era.
Ultimately, this is what Jerusalem looked like during crusader times. Christians quarter continues to
function well. The dome of the rock is now a church. The Al Aqsa Mosque was turned into a palace. The
city becomes Christianized a little. No Jews or Muslims living there during that time. crusader kingdom is at
its height now. Goes to 1291. The last holdout was Akko-the last city to fall. Saladin conquers Jerusalem.

Question 39

Baldwin

Answer 39

The first Frankish king is Godfrey—he decides he will stay in Jerusalem. the city is uninhabitable because
everyone was killed and everything is destroyed. So he moves up to temple mount and moves into Al Aqsa
mosque and turns it into his palace. He dies the next year in year 1100. He is buried in the church of the
holy cefel. He is replaced by his brother Baldwin. He knows that he needs allies if he will build a Christian
kingdom in Jerusalem. he turns to other Christian groups that are local and imports them into the city—
Christians from Syria and Transjordan. Because of what the crusaders have done, Christians in Sunni
Muslim land are punished, so Christians are happy to leave those lands and be under protection of
Christians king, so those Christians agree to come.

Question 40

Templars

Answer 40

2 orders of catholic knights that were both born in Jerusalem during this time period. First one is the
Templars. In 1119, small band of knights who were called the Poor Soldiers of Jesus presented themselves
to king and offered to provide charitable service. Eventually they became very wealthy, they modeled
themselves after the Maccabees. They were recognized by the pope. At the time, one of the problems was
that the roads were very unsafe. The Frankish king were dealing with this—if inside city walls you were fine,
but if go out you are putting yourself at risk of being attacked by highway men. So these people offered to
protect the roads when pilgrims come (Jerusalem is religious place now). This is exactly what kingdom
needed. Al Aqsa mosque he shares with the Templars. So they move in there and live there. Solomon
Stables—down below where arches were, this is where Templars keep their horses. Templars—they live on
temple mount. As a result of this, violence is reduced. They are a rescue team and evolve into an elite
military unite and lead subsequent crusades. Then they become very wealthy because they have churches
and lots of people donate to them. they evolve into bankers because have network of churches and each
church has a repository for money—churches collect money and save it. In old days, if wanted to transfer
money from places, they had to actually take the money and bring it to place. Easy to steal money this way.
Templars fixe this problem—don’t have to move the money, jut have to bring the draft note to the place you
are transferring money to. Draft note said—please give this amount of money to this person when they
arrive at this place…. Early banking system. As a result, they become quite wealthy. Templars become
popular and had popular appeal. Leadership in Europe actually feels threatened by the rising power of
Templars –kings are threatened. So Templars are put down and killed eventually. So no Templars alive
today. They become this model for touch, but pure at heart… they are born in Jerusalem, live in Jerusalem,
turn al Aqsa into their compound, keep their horsed in stable. The part they get in al Aqsa they divide up
and make separate rooms, fill some rooms with weapons and supplies…They do build on to the al aqsa.
Build cellars—Christians drink wine (Muslims don’t). by beginning of 14th century, king Philip of France put
Templars down.

Question 41

Hospitallers

Answer 41

Next group is Hospitallers (their base is Christian quarter). Hospitallars actually still exist today. They are
rivals of the Templars. They were Jerusalem centered and originate in year 1080, which precedes the
crusaders. They also got the military wing, but mostly known for their hospital work. Today, they are known
as the Knights of Molta (catholic branch and descend from hospitals) and Anglicans. The Hospitallars build
a huge compound south of church of holy cefelarcur, where they cared for sick and poor. Today, right
outside church of holy cefelacur, known as Muristan Square. Muristan is based on Persian word for
hospital. There was this huge hospital right there. Hospital itself was almost 4 acres inside. Its recently been
excavated and you can see the architecture is crusader architecture (thick internal walls/pillars). The
building was exquisite, ceiling was over 18 feet high. Hospital was divided into 11 wings according to
patient’s illness. Very sophisticated. In an emergency, it can hold up to 1000 patients at one time. the
knights cared for both men and women and all religions. They even served kosher foods to Jews. Also
served as an orphanage—back then, it also included when an unwedded mother has children and she
couldn’t care for the child so hospital took the children in. or if married couples couldn’t afford to take
care of children, hospital took them in. hospital suffer damage in 15 century. There used to be a market in
the hospital.
The Christian pilgrims arrive in increasing numbers. Now have 2 orders of knights that help them—
Templars help keep roads safe and Hospitallars help if they are injured.

Question 42

Re-built Church of the Holy Sepulcher

Answer 42

The church was smashed to pieces by the mad Caliph then kind of rebuilt. The crusaders now do a massive
building of the church –rebuild it. Even though gothic architecture has already begun in Europe, crusader
aren’t aware of it, which is why it’s built in roman architecture. It looks like an earlier medieval church,
because they haven’t seen the new style of architecture—so build old style. so very heavy, thick pillars. They
incorporate all of what had previously been other structure and make it into one building—the tomb,
edicule, where bedrock is (where crucifixion is)—incorporate all this into one building. Incorporate other
chapels…becomes this one massive building.
Crusader’s Church—kind of what it looks like today still. It’s this huge building. This is what it looks like
now.
The outside of the building is Romanesque. Walls are super thick. Church of Holy Sepulcher.

Question 43

Baldwin III

Answer 43

Excavations outside Zion gate—found evidence of in the mid 12th century there was a Baldwin the Third his
father died when he was young so his mother rules as a regent till he comes of age. When he comes of age,
his mother doesn’t give up her rule as quickly as he would like. So Baldwin attacks his mother in Jerusalem.
so they found evidence of that near Zion gate. Also found a coin from the Baldwin era probably around
1152/3.
Baldwin placed his camp on west of the city and began to attack, the city inhabitant opened the gate and
once he got in, he set up, eventually mother and son reconcile. Baldwin the third becomes king in
Jerusalem and his mother moves to north and in charge of Yehuda and Shomron.
Sephelacure –the church!
Baldwin the third battles with his mom. Crusaders in Jerusalem by this time have gone native—this happens
when a group starts to adopt the customs of the world they live. As a result, all that initial Christian fervor
from Europe diminishes. They relax their attitudes towards the Muslims and Jews. They want to normalize
relations with them—this leads to conflict with the Christians back in Europe. Start to interact with
Muslims and Jews and realize they are actually normal people. So Christians start to fight. Baldwin is
succeeded Amalrik

Question 44

Islamic Reconquest (1187-1516)

Answer 44

Baldwin is succeeded Amalrik who is succeeded by another Baldwin who is 13 years old. He makes a bad decision to attack the Muslims– while Christians are becoming disunited, the Muslims become united (crusaders were
successful because they weren’t united!)
Muslims unite under Saladin
1187 is when he takes Jerusalem so he has it for a few generations. The Islamic world absorbs the
crusader incursion—they respond to it by becoming incredibly defensive about Jerusalem and their
devotion to the city explodes—they lost it once before and now they finally got it back so they
become more dedicated and devoted to it. So Jerusalem goes through a period where it become
aggressively Islamic. In some cases, they’ll even take over some of the things that used to become
Christians. Now that they kicked out crusades, they are less forgiving so they’ll take over their
buildings.
The Christians are pushed out of Jerusalem and go to Akko. This is Saladin who the Rambam is his
personal position.

Question 45

US Embassy

Answer 45

United States Embassy—for a long time, Israel maintained that Jerusaelm was its capital. UN think
otherwise. For Israel, jeru ahs been the capital since 48. Most of the world don’t recognize jerusalme as the
capital because they think jeru is an international city. Then in 67 when Israel units the city and has
political control over all of Jerusalem and declare it their eternal capital, all the countries keep there
embassies in tel aviv. They refues to inetrantionally acknowledge Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. People
always preferred the coast to jerusaselm. So significant for US to move its embassy to Jerusalem. by moving
it there, its making a statemtn countering that Jerusalem cannot be israels capital because it cant be a capital
of a city, it has to be an international city

Question 46

Saladin/Ayyubids

Answer 46

he is the Sultan and for a movement to succeeded you have to have a real goal—Saladin had a real goal which was to drive crusaders out of Jerusalem, Saladin was born in Iraq, he united Muslims under a banner of Jihad that they will drive out crusaders. He is Kurdish
(norther Iraq)—he is super Muslim. He has personal body guard consisting of Mamluks He is
buried in Damascus ultimately. He took Jerusalem peacefully in 1187. This is a huge contrast to the
way the crusaders took the city—crusaders too city and left tons of dead bodies! Whole city was full
of blood because of crusades. Saladin takes Jerusalem peacefully—not one person dies. That doesn’t
mean he’s a man of peace, but he kind of conquered it like David—no one dies. he allows crusaders
40 days in which they can ransom themselves—if they pay money, he will let them leave back to
Europe. The rich crusaders do that—pay the ransom and leave. Saladin was shocked that they would
ransom themselves but leave the poor Christians behind. Saladin is recognized for his fair
treatment so he has a good reputation. He was ruthless in other battles and hated Templars but
overall he is fair. After this happens, he established his dynasty—Ayyubids—this is his
empire/dynasty. This Muslim group has control of Jerusalem. It will be this way until year 1250.

Question 47

Rambam

Answer 47

personal position under Saladin
Mamluks base is Cairo. Damascus and Jerusalem are also important to them. The defeat by the Mamluks in
Akko in 1291. Once they’ve driven out Christians and Mongols. The Muslims now feel safe to return to
Jerusalem so city goes through a revival. There’s peace in land, city flourishes. They also start building up.
they build schools, houses, hospitals, institutions… they develop Jerusalem and it’s at this time that Jews
have the self-imposed restrictions—it’s not that Muslims don’t allow Jews on temple mount, Jews don’t let
themselves onto temple mount. This is because Jews should not go up to temple mount—it had to do with
the fact that Jerusalem is a very Muslim and Christian place and it’s hard to see the Jewish imprint on the
city-it became diminished over time. so Rambam makes this restriction because he’s telling Jews to view
temple mount as if the BH is still standing. Clearly it’s not standing and that it’s a Muslim city, but we
don’t have to yield our spiritual power. So philosophically, don’t have to go to temple mount in order
preserve out spiritual connection to Jerusalem—we will act as BH is still standing there and we will believe
that Jerusalem is still a Jewish city. Jews turned all the offers from Muslims to work in Jerusalem. the
Muslims are very dedicated to temple mount

Question 48

Re-Islamization of Temple Mount

Answer 48

Al Aqsa is cleaned—it was partly a headquarters for Templars and also the palace for crusader king. So they
have to re-purify it and all those dividing walls put up in there, were taken down. Dome of rock also goes
through purification process—cross is removed, the marble is removed, and all the writings the crusader get
rid of. The removed the Christians overlay that was put on top of things.

Question 49

Mamluks

Answer 49

=originally
they were slave soldiers who were abducted from Asians and raised as warriors—elite group of
soldiers that aren’t related to anyone in Saladin’s government so they just have loyalty to him.

Question 50

Waqf endowments

Answer 50

In 1194, Saladin dies and his empire is split up. The enthusiasm that the ayyubids have for Jerusalem
doesn’t diminish—build lots of mosques and schools and also start Waqf Endowments—donor would
surrender his ownership of an income producing property, such as a shop, and dedicate profits to a good
cause. It was a charity. This increased wealth in Jerusalem and used to build up the society in Jerusalem schools… It increased number of institutions in the city and allowed them to employ many people. This was
good for the city and the Muslims in the city. It was designed to serve Muslim population, not general
population. Muslims still felt threatened by the Christians in the coast (driven out of Jerusalem but still in
Israel).

Question 51

Ramban Synagogue

Answer 51

The Ramban took over a broken down house built with marble columns and a handsome dome. Made it into a prayer house. during the mamluks era, the ramban synagogue was where jews in jewish quarter prayed and the center of Jewish life.
(in the Jewish Quarter). Jews have synagogues in the Jewish Quarter. They can even live in the Arab Quarter. Can’t live in Christian Quarter because of the agreement (Frederick)

Question 52

Ottoman Period (1516-1918)

Answer 52

The Ottomans (1517-1917)—1517 is when Ottomans Turks conquer Jerusalem. In 1917, the British take
over (WW1)-British conquer Jerusalem. The current walls of Jerusalem, are the Ottoman walls. The
Ottoman’s rebuild walls of Jerusalem. When the Ottomans come, the people in Jerusalem welcome them
with relief. As the Mamluk empire declined, the city gets neglected—the economy was depressed and also if
you don’t have people controlling the roads, the Bedouins will rob the people or killed people on the
streets. So area became unsafe. City was walled (Mamluks walled it) so if you’re in the city your safe. The
ottomans brought a lot of administration to Jerusalem (good for Jerusalem). They are primarily a military
power. At its peak, the ottoman empire control Hungary all the way to Iraq, have control over the holy sites
in Saudi Arabia (Mecca and Medina), control Egypt, North Africa. This is a huge empire and extremely
profitable one. Around 1700 it reaches its height. In 1517, it’s a fresh and expansive and has a great leader
(Suleiman the Magnificent). The Ottomans became the Ottomans because of salve military—salve military is
the bases for so many of these Islamic Empires. The real power of the Ottomans are the salves) are known
as the Janissaries—they are the height of the army and their origins were the Sultans body guards but grow
into this incredible elite. Gunpowder was a Chinese invention and used it early on for fireworks, but the
Turks realized they could use it in weapons so they are the first military to adopt firearms (guns). They
invented the first effective cannon. It was capable of destroying walls of Constantinople (Ottoman’s
conquer it from Byzantines). It was a 27 long foot cannon and the cannon ball was 70 feet in
circumference. It could travel over a mile.
Janissaries are really the back bone of Ottoman Empire and it’s what led to their expansion. They did a few
things that were significant from the beginning—with their efficient administration, they held the Bedouins
in check—made sure the roads were safe so you can have commerce, pilgrims, travel. Ottomans brought
with them this efficient administration system. In 7th century as a result, the economy improved—trading
improved. Also Turks didn’t repopulate Jerusalem with Turks-didn’t attempt this because no Turks would
really want to come. There is a group that’s interested in moving to Jerusalem though—in 1492, Spanish
inquisition is going on—so many Jews are being forced to leave Spanish lands and as a result of that,
Suleiman invited the Jews expelled from Spain to move into Ottoman Empire. He also offers them to move
in Jerusalem—he needs people in Jerusalem. So Jews move to Jerusalem and also get lots of Jews just moving
into Ottoman empire. Turks don’t move in so in Jerusalem there is a rise in Jewish population.

Question 53

Suleiman

Answer 53

Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent has good reputation on Jews. He claims he has a dream from Mohammed
that tells him that he needs to rebuild walls of Jerusalem. His turban in the picture looks like a tulip—
Ottomans loved tulips. The headwear looked like tulips. So he had dream to rebuild city walls and this is
the city walls that we see today. It’s an Ottoman wall today. It about 40 feet high and it completely encircles
the city but it leaves out the part near Ir David and Har Tzion. It included 34 towers and 7 open gates.
Shaar Yafo, Tzion, Ashpaot, Golden Gate (it’s been closed), Lions (to Har Hazetim), Herods Gate/Shar
Haprachim, Damascus Gate. Today there are 7 open gates because have the new gate and Golden Gate has
been closed. When the wall was finished, Jerusalem is now really properly fortified for the first time in
about 300 years (Mamluks don’t really do a good job with walls, Ottomans do a good job). He also invests a
lot in the city.

Question 54

Kotel

Answer 54

During the construction of the city wall, the architect (Sinan) issued an official Ottoman Edict (firman)
permitted the Jews to have a place at Kotel for praying. Up until the point, if look at Ottoman Jerusalem,
see Christian quarter and sacred area, Muslim have sacred area, and Jews only have synagogue. The
Muslims had built up a lot of Jerusalem and built up area around Temple mount because they want to be
close to it (so put their schools and stuff there—so use the wall of Temple mount as the back of their
building, so there are building all there). So just by chance, there happens to be a small section of the wall
where there are no homes, schools, shops still against it…it was still exposed. The Jews had never before
showed interest in that small piece of open wall. In Herodian times, that area was all shops along that wall.
Up to this point, when Jews came and wanted to gather and pray together overlooking the city, it was
usually on Har Hazetim. Sometimes they’d go to Kidron Valley. But problem was that if you were outside
the city walls, you are vulnerable to attack. So as a result, because it was dangerous there prior to the
Ottomans, Jews began to congregate in that little bit of wall that was exposed. During construction of the
city walls, Ottomans decided to make it an official place of Jewish gathering—not meant to be a Bet Kneset,
but still can pray there. It was the Ottomans recognizing that the Jews were important to the city and he
invited them to his Empire—so Suleiman was happy to have the Jews in. He invited them into his Empire,
invited them to settle in Jerusalem, and to develop better relations with them, he makes it an official edict
that this is Jewish Sacred space—this is today called the Kotel. It used to be very narrow. Different styles of
stones of kotel—bottom are Herodian (he designed the temple mount), then get to Ayyubid stones (first
Islamic design when decided to put Al Aqsa mosque and they fixe the walls that Romans destroyed), then
smaller stones are Ottoman.
Sinan designs it and its pretty narrow. But even though the wall isn’t as high as it is today (today more is
exposed because dug down), because you are in a narrow area and you are smack against the wall, it still
would have been amazing. Once it becomes official and its designed and nicely paved for people, this now
becomes the center of Jewish religious life in Jerusalem. there were no formal devotions that took place
there, Jews would congregate there and read Tehillim… Suleiman saw this as marketing (not just a nice
thing to do)—he hoped to attract Jews to the city. Jews have favorable opinion of Suleiman. He is a friend
and patron of the Jews. Over time, the Kotel begins to attract the usual mix. It believes that the shechina
would hover here. Since its close to where BH was, it was said that the gate of heaven was there—so if daven
at kotel, it would go straight to Shamayim. The wall became a symbol of the Jews—this little bit of wall
managed to survive, just like the Jews. They knew it was a remnant of the days of the BH and somehow that
survived, and we Jews also survived. We embraced this wall like no other. we loved this wall. It reminded us
of what we had lost and that why today people call it the Wailing Wall—you would go there to wail over the
destruction of the BH. but for us it’s the Kotel, the Wall.

Question 55

Jewish Quarter

Answer 55

Life under the Ottomans wasn’t perfect though. The Ramban synagogue is close to this mosque. This
created some tension. Muslims weren’t happy with the Jews because ottomans are Muslim and this is a
Muslim city so what are Jews doing here. They tried getting shul to close, so Ramban synagogue gets closed.
Jews were allowed to keep Torah and pray in their houses, but synagogue itself was locked. By the end of
16th century, Jews are beginning to congregate in an area because want to be closer to Kotel. Officially, it
becomes known as the Jewish quarter, separate from Muslims. The arrival of the Ottoman Turks also causes
disruption for Christians—Christians are wide spread so Christians in Europe and also in Middle east, but
the Greek orthodox, Syrians, and Armenian Christians were now part of Ottoman empire. The Catholics
are not. So there is a flip in power structure among Christians in Jerusalem. All Christians in Jerusalem
have citizenships—citizens of Ottoman Empire.

Question 56

Shabbetai Zevi

Answer 56

In 1665, Shabbetei Tzvi proclaims himself Mashiach and announces that he was about to go up to
Jerusalem. He was from Ottoman Empire. Jews in Jerusalem are panicked because there were tensions
between Jews and Muslims. Jews in Jerusalem are part of the city and the last thing they want is to be kicked
out. So they are not interested in some outsider coming in and shaking things up. So they panic because
they are sensitive and know that if someone like Shabbetai Tzvi comes in saying he’s Mashiach and going to HH, Muslims are going to go mad. So they beg him to not do this. When he arrives in Jerusalem, he
declared himself king of Israel. Rabbis in Jerusalem send him to local authorities—he was crazy and not in
his right mind. After he’s let go, he goes on a horse and wears green—but only Muslims can go on horseback
and green was color of the prophet—this was a violation!! They eventually get him to leave and he’s
imprisoned. Given a choice to convert or die, he converts to Islam in 1666. 1665-1666 have this intense
encounter of Shabtai Tzvi and Jerusalem. once he leaves Jerusalem to Constantinople, he converts to
Islam. After all this, in beginning of 18th century, there is stability in Jerusalem. pilgrims continue to come,
and also tourism begins to start. By 18th century, Ottoman Empire is pretty weak. Wakifs were pretty
bankrupt, Jewish community wasn’t looking so good. In 1720 Ashkenzaim come and take a big mortgage
out for a new neighborhood, but ended up losing everything. It’s mostly Sephardic Jews there at that
moment. Have high disease. The people best off during that time was the Catholic Latins because get
donations from Europe.

Question 57

Revival

Answer 57

Revival- Jerusalem will come back! Revival. By 1800, Jerusalem had about 8,750 inhabitants, 4,000 muslims, 2,000 christians, 2,000 jews.

Question 58

Ibrahim Pasha

Answer 58

In 1830s, Mohammed Ali of Egypt was an Albanian Turk and Ottoman commander. He became ruler of
Egypt and Sudan with Ottoman’s approval. He wanted those places to modernize. He installs his son,
Ibrahim Pasha, as the ruler in Palestine. The son in land of Israel sets up a new judicial system and
threatens the Bedouins and gets them to behave. He then gives full rights to non-Muslims which is good for
Jews. He builds windmills which is good for the economies. During his time, new synagogues are built
including the Chorva synagogue (1837). It was destroyed in 48, but then rebuilt later on.

Question 59

Status Quo Agreement (Church of Holy Sepulchre)

Answer 59

Jerusalem is impoverished. Poor water supply, lots of poverty. Most prominent families in Jerusalem lived in
very nice homes. By 1800, Jerusalem is a small town and at that point, Muslims are in the majority.
Muslims, Christians, and Jews have common market place. Jews are getting along better with Muslims.
Ashkenaim still fighting with Sephardi. There was a fire in church of Sepulcre. Jews are fighting so much
with each other that Muslim family is given key to the church and to this day, this Muslim family has the
privilege of locking and unlocking church each day. So a group can’t go in without the other group—so one
group can’t go in and move things of other group.
Common areas are quart yard, edicule is common, the fasad and external part are common. What do you
do with the common areas because it’s something that they share? There’s a ladder placed outside the
window ledge facing the church quartyard. So this ladder has been there since almost 1839. Today its called
the immovable ladder and there’s something called the Status Quo (from 1852)—This ladder was left as a
symbol of this Status Quo Agreement. Window ledges are considered shared space, unanimous agreement
is required by all groups who share those areas, so anything that’s done on shared space needs unanimous
approval. So if you wanted to fix a window ledge, you need unanimous agreement… It’s left there just as a
symbol today. In 2017 when they decided to renovate the edicule (the little house that goes above the
cave)—it was falling apart and blackened form the fire that they light in there… But to fix it, you need
agreement from all the groups. So in 2017, according to Status Quo, needed to get permission from all 6 of
the church groups. And they got permission from all of them so they were allowed to repair it.

Question 60

Protestant Missionaries

Answer 60

The Englihs are the first to come and open up a consulut. This ties in to a very interesting
dynamic that has to do with being protestant vs not protestants. English (Since Henry broke away from
Catholic church) are protestants. As a result, they don’t have a place in church of holy sephalcure. The
Europeans, if you were catholic, you had a connection to christains that were in the Jerusalem and you can
go to church of holy sephlcre and feel like you have a plcae there. The English ont really have a connection
to any local Christian group—don’t identify with the catholics or greek orthodox or Russian orthodox…they
don’t have a christain group they dientfy with, so there is no protestant community prior to this time. So
they adopt the local Jewish community—The London Society for promoting Christainity among the Jews
(The London Jews Society)

Question 61

London Jews Society

Answer 61

they are protestant missionaries who come to land of Israel who have a focus
on the Jews, protecting an helping them and converting them. so they set up school, hospitals…they treat
anybody and while you are in the hospital you recover and as you recover they begin to discuss how your
recovery was due to jesus—kind of try converting you during your vulnerable time. or they get the kids in the
school and teach the mabout christainity as part of ciriculum. So this church was constructed in 1848 and it
was by the London Jews Society—they are coming as missionaries, they are Anglicans. First protestant
building constructed in the Middle East. It is still there. It became the seat of the Anglican Bishop and
center for protestant life and serves as the British consolut. This is a church and a political center and later
on they have a spiritual center that’s also set up.

Question 62

Moses Shapira

Answer 62

One of the converts by the London Jews DSociety is Moses Shapira. He was Jewish and he is orphaned and
sets of with his grandfather for Israel in 1855. His grandfather dies in Bucharest and there he meets
members of LJS because they are also on their way to Israel. He has no family…Christian group take him
under their wing and he converts. He continues to Jerusalem and hes Christians so allowess to settle in
hristisn quarter. He sets up a jewelry shop and he lived in the Ticho House. He opens up this antiquity
shop. Lots of tourist coming t oIsrael and everyone wants to take home an antiquity. There is a tremendous
demand for antiquity for these tourists and travelers. So he comes up with an idea to meet that demand
when the supply is not high enough—he makes fakes. The market ets fludded with these fakes. He has a
reputation for doing this. Lots of travelers don’t really care either—as long as they can tell people it’s the real
thing. He discovers a scroll he said—he finds this scroll which he claimed is an ancient scroll and travels to
England and on the verge of selling this scroll for tons of money (happens in 1883)—it is 70 years vbefore
dead sea scrolls are found. he claimed the scrolls are an original book of the book of devarim. He is this
close to make a deal to sell it for a crazy amount of money. Right before the british museam is about to
close, an arch nemesis comes forward and tells museum not to believe him. so museum declines, moses
shapira commits suicide. The people are obsessed with his scroll—no one knows where he put the scroll.
They think he may have had an actual dead sea scroll. People have been obsessed with finding this scroll for
generations. His papers somehow made their away to san fransisco and they found in that collection that he
had cut certain old scrolls—he used old parchment that he wrote his own forgery on. He is a hracter that
exemplifies the era—lots of tourists, supply and demand, jew who converts

Question 63

Edward Robinson

Answer 63

Edward Robinson—our scholars are coming, particularly protestant scholars. They are coming to land of
Israel to rediscover biblical Israel. If you went to Israel in 1840 and got a map of Palestine, all the city names
would say Jerusalem but most of names are Arabic names. So Edward spoke Arabic and he knew the
Hebrew bible. So he tried to bring back/reimpose the biblical map on the modern world at that time. he
would find the names of the Arabic town and see that it preserved in it the old name—so gave back the
biblical names for towns (like Shchem comes back, Shiloh comes back()—all these names that were lost and
were not on the mpa anymore he brought back. The modern map of Israel has all these biblical names and
it goes back to the workd of Edward. This is a huge leap of reconnecting and bringing back the biblical
world so tangibly—biblical world is not a metaphore anymore. Robinson’s arch—he rediscovered that it was
part of the Herodian complex.

Question 64

New Neighborhoods

Answer 64

Population—place grows tremendously. In 1850, Jews were the minority with the highest population. Jewish
population then rises and other population are growing naturaly. Jewish population—people move in. in
1870 there is a huge jump. Zionist Aliyah movment—most aren’t moving to Jerusalem. mostly religious
people move to Jerusalem. see a pattern of population in general increasing, particularly the Jews
population. Conseuqences of rising population—tehres a wall around Jerusalem so now city gets more and
more dense as population rises, to the pioint where it’s a crowded city. So now during Ottoman Period
(late) have first neighborhood outside city walls.

Question 65

Yemin Moshe, Mea Shearim

Answer 65

City is getting quite crowded so start having new beighborhoods developing for first time. as its getting too
crowded. One of the problems people have to deal with when living in a dense enviro, is desease. So there
was always epiemics. More and more corwding in old city and this need to find new places to build houses.
So in 1850-1860 you start to see movemebt outside Jerusalem. so ealrliest neighborhoods are Yemin Moshe
and Mea Shaarim. Yemin Moshew as names for Moses Montefiore—it was known as an Ashkenaaz
community, the Arabs also establish new neighborhoods like Katemon. An American colony is also set up
and then later on you start seeing the German colony, Russian coony, Italian colony…. All a response to the
crowding in Jerusalem. in 18060s there was an epidemic

Question 66

Moses Montefiore

Answer 66

LJS opening up school and hospitals and some Jews leaders inEurope think this is a not good thing!
Christains are converting the JEWS! We need to do something to counter this. So Montefiore and
Rothschild decide to combat that. so Motefriore sets up a Jewsi hclinic and Rothchild sets up Misgav
Ladach. Set up schools and provide funds. Jewish Philanthropists step in to counter Christians influence
on Jews. Montefiore—he is the one who had that final row of stones on the Kotel because Ottoman Law
stated that a wall belonged to the person who added on the upper most layer of the wall—so that fine nice
white small stones are at the very top of the kotel is his project. So they start to invest in Jewish
infrastructure to improve the poor Jewish population.

Question 67

Captain Charles Wilson (Wilson’s Arch)

Answer 67

(Colora Empidemic)—you get Collora from feses in
water—Jerusdalem’s water came from cisterns wand sometimes the cisterns would get infected and it ended
when new rains came and flooded out the bacteria. Colora is not uniwue to Jerusalem, whole world had it.
London had just gotten over the colora epidemic and their approach was to deisgn a whole new water
system. So London redid the entire London water system. So with this enthusiasm, engineers came to
Jerusalem with the idea that the ywould build a new water system to counteract this colora epidemic. These
are the best engineers in the world. In order to build a new ater system and don’t have electric pumps, need
gravity, but need to have an accurate topographical graph of the city. So the person whos put in charge of
that is Captain Charles Wilson—his job was to create an ordinance map of the city that could then be used
to design a water system. So he creates this map and the colora epidemic ends but never build the new
water system. But now they do have the map. Wilson’s arch is names after him and can access it near the
men’s section of kotel—it was the arch the above it was the bridge that led to BH.

Question 68

Charles Warren

Answer 68

Chrales Warren—he also comes to Jerusalem during this time. in 1867 he conducts the irst major
excavation of Jerusalmes temple mount. His omst significant discovery was the Water Shaft known as
Warren’s Shaft. He found tunnels under the temple mount. The Arabs weren’t happy with the digging
under Temple Monut. But he found 37 underground structures under the temple mont and cisterns
and water aqueducts. In 1870 he was forces to return to England.

Question 69

Garden Tomb

Answer 69

General Charles George Gordon—in 1881-1882, these were watershed years for history of Jerusalem. in
1881, british establish themselves politically by conquering Egypt. Its still Ottoman Palestine but English
are in Egypt. Gordon finds something called the Garden Tomb. This is protestant sacred space in
Jerusalem. it is an alternative to the church of holy sephalcre—protestants don’t have a pkalce in church of
holy sephlecre, so they take the approach where they don’t want it anyway. The protestants focus just on the
bible and on history and science. So Gordon studies the ordinance map that was creates by Wilson—it
shows all the topography of Jerusalem. by studyin this map, he decides that church of sephlcre is innacurate
bc jews don’t bury inside city walls and they believe that that part of city was part of Herodian jerusalme.
The ordinance map showed that the place where he was crucified is Golgotha. This place looks ilke a scull.
He said this is the place where he is crucified, not at the church of holy sephlcre. So this is the Garden Tob
and is known as where hes crucified. Nearby they found this tomb with this rock that you slide and roll
over. This is protestant sacred space and where they believe jesus was crucified and buried. It is a
beautiful area and place for contemplation. It is where protestants come and it is sacred space for them.
protestants odnt like church of holy sephacre it is too noisey and insense, they like the garden tomb.

Question 70

General Allenby

Answer 70

The british arrive. Genreal Allenby—when he came, out of respect to the city, he
comes in on foot an respecting the holiness of the city. Allenby was told by british prime minister that he
would conquer Jerusalem as a present for Christians. The icty was already evacuated so people aren’t really
living there. The mayor of Jerusalem who was still there, on December 11 1917, the mayor doesn’t
surrender to british army, he surrenders to the british scouts. There is no bloodshed… Allenby arrives
through shaar yafo on dec 11 1917.
This finishes up the Ottoman Period.

Question 71

British Mandate

Answer 71

British Mandate Period and Israel (1917-1948, 1948-present) Last 100 years of Israel starts with the British Mandate. Allenby takes over Jerusalem, Ottomans are out. after WW1 Ottoman Empire is broken up (no more Ottoman Empire). Britsih mandate is 30 years period
(till 1948).

Question 72

Balfour Declaration

Answer 72

Balfour Decleration impacts the future of Jerusalem. Balfour Decleration is November 2nd
1917—it was written before the birtish actually had control over the land of Israel. Why would they do that?
when Britsih get control over Israel, this is the first time youll have non Muslim control since the crusader
time. basically, in 1917 with the exception of crusader period, you are ending 1300 years of Islamic rule in
Jerusalem. it’s a major shift for the muslim world. In 1917, arabs form about 90 percent of total Palestine
and just under 50 percent of Jeruaslem. So now the question is—how did this balfour declaration come
about in 1917? This is 20 years after Herzl’s dream. Now one of major empires in the world (Russians,
German, British are the 3 major empires in world at this time). how did this happen? Skills of Zionist
laeders, also we Jews for a brief moment managed to overcome ideological divisions and as Zionsit were
negotiating, managed to speak with unified voice. Arabs were not unified and always said no, they wanted
everything

Balfour Decleration—its addressed to Lord Rothschild. Lord Walter Rothchild is part of the banking family.
He loved animals and had tamed zebras and rode them. he is the representative of jewish community so it
makes sense that the british are writing it to him. so it says—says that Palestine is national home of Jewish
people.
Why issue it in first palce? Chaim wezmann (leader of jewish community in England) had won over many
british leaders to the Zionist cause (this is 20 years after herzls first Zionist conference). British agreed to it.
Good that ottomans or germans didn’t agree to it because they don’t exist anymore at this point. British
laways had this soft spot for jews—london jews community (wanted to convert them but still they were more
jewish accepting). Second reason is that they basically overestimated how much power the jews had and
thought this would keep America and Russia in the war—they thought the jews would make sure that they
stay in WW1. Third reason is that even though they didn’t control Palestine yet, they knew they would get
it. It was to minimize the French response—You took it for yourself…
They don’t attach a map to the balfour decleration..

Question 73

Herbert Samuel

Answer 73

Herbert Samuel was
appointed in 1920-1925 the high commissioner of Palestine. HS is the first Jew to have authority over
jewish homeland since the bar kochva rebellion (almost 2000 years!). he was called by his jews the
Nechemia of our times. It was not an easy job for HS. He attempted to mediate between Zionist and arab
interests. Arab thought he was favoring the jews and jews thought the opposite. No one was happy. Have 2
competing interests and both think youre favoring the other. jewish immigration in the 20s does slow
underneath him (to appease the arabs)—he wanted to get arab participation in mandate affairs.

At the same time, he had the respect of the Jews,. His shul
was the chorva synagogue. He is remembered kindly neither by the majority of the Zionist historians nor by
the arabs. He didn’t do such a abd job tohugh.

Question 74

The Mufti

Answer 74

Islamic custom at the time was that the chief Islamic leader was to be chosen by atemporal leader. The
ottoman sultan in Constantinople had been doing that, but after british conquer Palestine, HS chooses the
leader (he becomes a hige enemy of the jews).

Question 75

Divided City

Answer 75

Partition plan—directly affects how the UN has treated Israel since then. According to the orginal UN
Partition plan, the original Jerusalem was to be an international city that didn’t belong to the jerusalem
state or arab state. There hasn’t been successful inetrantional cities., but Jerusalem never became an
international city. The UN still acts and makes many of their decisions base don the fact that Jerusalem is
to be an international city. The Partition plan, then had the war, then had the armicase. In 48-67 have 2
decades of a divided city

Question 76

Mandelbaum Gate

Answer 76

Mandelbaum’s Gate—
there was 1.5 miles of fortified area with barbed wire (on the border). It was this no mans land between
Israel and Jordan. Mandelbaum’s gate was the only crossing point in near the old city where you could cross
from isarel into Jordan. Only clergy and diplomats and privileged people were alolowed to cross. Jews could
not go back and forth, only chrustians really could. When they entered Jordan, they had to show proof of
their baptism. Mount scopus which stayed under Israeli control was like this tiny Israeli onclave. On mount
scopus is Hebrew University. Between 48 and 67, University had to moe their campus. On mount scopus
also have hadasah hospital. So they also had to close and move. The UN was responsible for making sure
things didt get destroyed up there. Since there were soldiers there, there was a convoy that was allowed from
Israel to mount scopus.
Mandelbaums gate—it was where the mandelbaum’s house was. Named for a family. King Abdullah is the
great grandfather of the current king of Jordan. From 48 to 67, east Jerusalem includeing old city was
officially part of Jordan. He has an important role as being the person responsible for temple mount area.
Would go to al aqsa and was then assassinated by a Palestinian nationalist. Murdered as hes leaving al aqsa.
King Abdullah wanted to normalize relationships with Israel.

Question 77

Reunification 1967

Answer 77

conquering of rest of israel

Question 78

UN Resolution 2334

Answer 78

The Security Council reaffirmed this afternoon that Israel’s establishment of settlements in Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, had no legal validity, constituting a flagrant violation under international law and a major obstacle to the vision of two States living side-by-side in peace and security, within internationally recognized borders.

Question 79

end of 1st Jewish revolt/destruction of temple

Answer 79

Dio Cassius, a historian, said Jews defended themselves till death, till the end they observed the purity laws—each fighting in the place that they can enter, without passing the limits. So priests defended temple building itself, ordinary people fought in ordinary people area… Once
temple was destroyed, the Jews gave up. In Jerusalem, the fighting is over with the destruction of the BH.
The Temple Mount now is just a complete heap of rubble–We are in 70 CE. Apart from western wall of
Dvir, only the platform of the BH survived (what we have today). Titus’s men then went on a rampage after
destroyed BH and Temple Mount–head towards the western hill where wealthy lived and they smash and
destroy every house and pull down Herod’s palace. From archeological remains, we can see how destroyed
everything was—everything was smashed into pieces. City walls were completely demolished except section
of the upper city near Shaar Yafo. Reason they didn’t destroy that part because that’s where they set up
their army and used that part of wall for protection. the romans collected machazit hashekel instead of Jews giving it to BH.

Question 80

Titus

Answer 80

When Vespasian leaves to go back to Rome, he
leaves his son to fight against Judea. Titus begins the siege of Jerusalem in February, by May he broke
through the northern wall—the weakness in Jerusalem is in the north! A week later he comes to a second
wall that protects these markets and breaks through that. Then fighting turn towards BH itself. Late in July
they capture the Antonia Fortress (NW fortress of Temple Mount). Then they bombard the Temple
Last sacrifice that’s offered is in August. When romans brake through Temple Mount, they found
Zealots waiting to fight to their death.

Question 81

Rebuilding of temple mount and temple by Herod (before Jewish revolt)

Answer 81

In year 19 BCE, Herod turns his attention to BH. He decides to rebuilt the BH. The people are a
little concerned. Is he going to tear down the building? Is he going to finish a new building once he
tears the old one down? Is it going to be faithful to our traditional precepts/guidelines or will Herod do
it his own way? Herod was sensitive to these concerns and did not start working on it until he gathered
all the materials. Herod got things done—he assembles things first; he then carefully reproduces the old
dimensions of the BH. He creates this glorious façade. To build BH, only Kohanim are allowed to be in
a certain area. So need Kohanim to build in those parts of the BH. So he trains Kohanim to become
stone masons and carpenters because they are the only ones who can work where Heichal and Dvir
were. Sacrifices continues uninterrupted. Only took him 18 months to build BH. Temple mount is a
different story because he does a lot more to that. For BH, he didn’t alter shape, but made it much
more beautiful and more rich—golden doors, curtains… The building remains small though. With
temple mount itself—it’s not a perfect rectangle, it a 4 sided structure. The longer side is western
side…Temple mount was much smaller before—that’s why people think that if you stand in the area
where Herod built, you are fine—you are not in original temple mount so sanctity is lower. To extend it
to south, it’s hard because there’s a steep decline to south, so builds an artificial platform that holds it
up. So it took 80 years to complete temple mount (he was dead by that time). It was very hard. They
finished temple mount and romans destroy it right after.

Question 82

Hakim—The Mad Caliph

Answer 82

Hakim, the Mad Caliph. Hakim’s mother was Christian and his father was Muslim. He is part of the
Fatimids—The Shiites. He goes to Jerusalem and goes on a total rampage and knocks down the church of
Sephacre?. Hacks the shrine and the place where jesus was crucified. He destroys the whole platform there.
This was in year 1009. Christians give money to the Muslims/fattamids for permission to be the only ones
to live in the Christian quarter. That’s why Christian quarter has remained very Christian and Muslims
don’t really settle there. Italian merchants start to arrive; Armenian community continues to grow. During
this time, Zion Church (today right outside Shaar Tzion)-the Armeaneans take it. Armenians do not accept
converts. So you can’t convert to become an Armenian Christian. So their community can only grow by
natural birthrates. That’s why the community is pretty tight and all related to each other and know each
other.
In year 1073, there is a group of Turks who gain control and the city surrenders to them. there is no
destruction at the time. but the church was Shiites but now it goes back to Sunnis. Historically, the Jews
liked the Fatimids, they were the most favorable to the Jews. The walls get rebuilt. In year 1098, Fatimids
come back and gain control again. This is why there’s a lot of divisions in Islam at the time and this is why
crusaders are successful. Wraps up world of Islam.

Question 83

rambam

Answer 83

1135-1204. Born in Cordoba Spain. Ramabm comes to Jerusalem Rambam was Saladin’s physician. Psychologically is hard for the Jews since there the city is Muslim. So Rambam writes a law which says that the Jews do not go up to the Temple Mount. Rambam says Jews need to act in a way as if the Temple is still up there.