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Historical Period

Herod, the rise of Christianity, the fall of the Temple, and the diaspora.

Use the timeline below to navigate through major events and milestones.

Roman Judea · 63 BC-AD 135
The Ancient Levant

Roman Judea

Under Rome, the land saw its most fateful centuries. Herod rebuilt the Temple on a colossal scale; a Galilean teacher named Jesus gave rise to a new faith; and two desperate revolts against Rome ended in the destruction of the Temple and the barring of Jews from Jerusalem. From these catastrophes emerged rabbinic Judaism and Christianity — two faiths that would remake the world. Slide across the Roman age of the Levant.

37 BC
Herodian Kingdom
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37 BC

Herodian Kingdom
  • Political

    Herod the Great

    Rome installs Herod as king of Judea, a brilliant, ruthless builder who rules for thirty-three years.

10 milestones

Meanwhile

Around 37 BC

Full Chronicle

Roman Judea

Under Rome, the land saw its most fateful centuries. Herod rebuilt the Temple on a colossal scale; a Galilean teacher named Jesus gave rise to a new faith; and two desperate revolts against Rome ended in the destruction of the Temple and the barring of Jews from Jerusalem. From these catastrophes emerged rabbinic Judaism and Christianity — two faiths that would remake the world. Slide across the Roman age of the Levant.

  1. Herodian Kingdom

    • Herod the Great

      Rome installs Herod as king of Judea, a brilliant, ruthless builder who rules for thirty-three years.

  2. Herodian Kingdom

    • Herod's Temple

      Herod rebuilds the Second Temple on a magnificent scale, its great platform surviving as the Western Wall.

  3. Roman Province

    • Judea becomes a Roman province

      Rome takes over direct rule of Judea, governing through prefects and a census that stokes unrest.

  4. Roman Province

    • Jesus of Nazareth

      A Jewish teacher from Galilee is crucified in Jerusalem; from his followers arises Christianity.

  5. The Great Revolt

    • The Great Jewish Revolt

      Judea rises against Rome, expelling the Romans from Jerusalem and igniting a devastating war.

  6. The Great Revolt

    • The destruction of the Second Temple

      Titus storms Jerusalem and burns the Temple, a catastrophe that transforms Judaism forever.

  7. The Great Revolt

    • The last stand at Masada

      The final rebels hold out on the desert fortress of Masada until the Romans breach its walls.

  8. After the Temple

    • The rabbis of Yavneh

      Sages gathering at Yavneh reshape Judaism around study and the Law after the Temple's loss.

  9. Bar Kokhba Revolt

    • The Bar Kokhba Revolt

      A last great revolt under Simon bar Kokhba briefly frees Judea before Rome crushes it.

  10. Aelia Capitolina

    • Aelia Capitolina and the diaspora

      Rome rebuilds Jerusalem as a pagan city and bars Jews from it, deepening the long dispersion.