Beginning in 63 BC, Jerusalem was first under Roman rule. The temple in Jerusalem was enlarged by Herod and ultimately finished in 63 AD. This was the temple where Jesus cast out the merchants ( Matt.21:12-13) and predicted that "not one stone will be left upon another". In 66 AD, Florus, the Roman governor of Judea, stole money out of the temple treasury. (Ferguson pg. 335) He also sent soldiers after the Jews to stir them up into a revolt. If the Jews revolted, then he could conquer them and get their wealth and land. (Encyclopedia of the Bible) The Jews began the Great Revolt and Titus, the son of Vespasion, quelled the revolt. He set siege to Jerusalem and, to his dismay, the city was ruined and the temple was burnt. (Boon www.newadvent.org/cathen/08355a.htm) In 73, Masada, the outpost that had provided weapons to Jerusalem during the Great Revolt, was ultimately conquered only to find that hundreds of defenders had chosen suicide over slavery. (Encyclopedia of the Bible, volume 4, pg. 112). In 132 AD the next major Jerusalem catastrophe began. Jerusalem became a Roman colony, and an altar of Jupiter being put up there desecrated the temple area. Simon Bar Kochba led the revolt against the Romans, and was able to help Israel hold power for 3 years before Hadrian stopped the revolt in a campaign that killed over half a million people. (http://jtf27.tripod.com/chrisper.htm) Hadrian forbid Jews to enter or live in Jerusalem and also forbid Christianity although allowed Christians residence in the city. Because of this Jerusalem became unimportant in government or Church hierarchy because the governor lived in Ceasarea. (Boon www.newadvent.org/cathen/08355a.htm)

After the Western Roman Empire fell, the eastern side, or the Byzantine Empire became the most important. Jerusalem thrived during the Byzantine period of 324-638. Constantine converted to Christianity, and made Christianity the state religion of his empire. This increased the interest in Jerusalem, and many pilgrimages took place. The bishop of Jerusalem became more important, and many significant churches were built including the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. (Boon, www.newadvent.org/cathn/08355a.htm) For a brief period of time Jerusalem was conquered by the Persians, who had been fighting the Roman and Byzantine empire for a long time. They forced the Jews out of the city and ruined many Christian buildings. Then Heraclium attacked the Persians and recaptured Jerusalem in 629. (Wilber Collier's Encyclopedia)

After the Byzantine Empire, Muslim caliphs ruled Jerusalem. The Persian Empire was burnt out with their many wars and too weak to fight Islam. (Wilber, Persia: Ancient Civilization) The Muslims conquered parts of the Byzantine Empire in a similar way. The Byzantine Empire was spent from their counter-war against Persia. When Caliph Omar, a fanatic for Islam, (Williams Collier's Encyclopedia) controlled Jerusalem he let the Jews back in. The Abbassids had moved the capitol to Baghdad, not Jerusalem. This made Jerusalem shrink in size and usually be a poor city because it was ruled from far away Baghdad. Then in 1010 Caliph al-Hakim pressured all non-Muslims to convert to Islam and ruined many Christian and Jewish buildings in Jerusalem. However, Jerusalem continued to serve a purpose. If a Muslim couldn't make it to Mecca or Medina, Jerusalem was the next best spot. (Indinopulos Collier's Encyclopedia) The Dome of the Rock and the al-Aqsa mosque were built in Jerusalem during the Muslim rule over the ruins of Herod's temple.

Next began the Crusade period of 1099-1244 to take back what Islam had ravaged. In the late 11th century, the Byzantine Empire had been hurt by the vicious Hakim, Christian pilgramages were restricted, and the Seljuk Turks were now invading. Emperors begged for the Roman Empire to help them. Finally, Pope Urban II listened, gathered an army through promises of eternal rewards, and sent it to capture Jerusalem from the Muslims. In 1099 the crusaders regained it and, although they were 'Christian', they slaughtered Muslims and Jews alike. Jerusalem became the capitol once again. Saladin, who became the sultan of Egypt, united the people to fight against the crusaders. In 1192 Saladin recaptured Jerusalem. In 1192, Richard the Lion Hearted after being deserted by 2 other leaders, tried to reconquer Jerusalem but only succeeded in making an agreement with Saladin that Christians could enter the city and take pilgrimages there. (Krueger, 1998 from Collier’s Encyclopedia)

Next Jerusalem came under the control of the Mamluks. The Mamluks were slave generals who conquered their masters, the Abbuybids, or descendants of Saladin. (Beinin, 1998 from Collier’s Encyclopedia) The Mamluks benefited from the invasions by the Mongols around the rest of Europe and Asia. In 1240 they captured Jerusalem, and ruined it's economy by over-taxation. (http://www.israel-mfa.gov.il/mfa/go.asp?MFAH00w50) When the Black Death ravaged Europe, it also claimed Jerusalem in 1348 as one of it's victims. (Matthews, 1998 from Collier’s Encyclopedia)

The Mamluks trade declined when Portugal rounded Africa and shut off the Red Sea. This caused there to be economic crisis and the Ottomans, under Selim took control of Jerusalem in 1517. Next Sultan Suleiman, the sultan at the height of the Ottoman Empire, was in charge. He greatly benefited Jerusalem by rebuilding the walls and adding fountains and adding tiling to the Dome of the Rock. (http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/72E2FDE3-CDF2-475A-B020-B282DE638811.htm)

The Ottoman Empire began to decline and was finally defeated during World War I by Britain. During the British period, Britain tried to help Jerusalem get back on it's feet after World War I had reduced it to poverty, in necessities and education. Britain received a mandate from the UN to rule Jerusalem. After working with them from many years, the British stopped the mandate because dealing with the Jewish/Arab controversies and fighting was draining their country economically. (Indinopulos Collier's Encyclopedia)

Finally began the Israeli period. The UN suggested that Jerusalem be an international city, with Palestine being divided between Arabs and Jews. As soon as that happened Jews declared Jerusalem to be the capitol of Israel. This led to a war between Israel and the Arabs (Jordanians), what Israelis call the "War of Independence" in 1948. Israel captured the New City, the part that had expanded outside the walls due to increased population in 1860 due to immigrations from Russia. The Arabs captured the West Side of the city, which contained the Jewish quarter and the old holy sites. In 1967, during the miraculous six day war, Israel united Jerusalem by capturing the West side. They established freedom of worship for all religions in contrast to the previous two decades of Arab persecution. Jerusalem was legally the capitol of Israel in 1980. (Reich Collier's Encyclopedia) Under international pressure, the capitol was changed to Tel Aviv, but Jerusalem is still the biggest city in Israel. (http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/72E2FDE3-CDF2-475A-B020-B282DE638811.htm) Israel continues to be a tumultuous nation as it is surrounded by aggressive nations.

Ever since King David bought the threshing floor to sacrifice to God, what became the temple mount has stood for over 3000 years. Jerusalem is a city that has endured numerous destructions and rebuildings. It has been conquered by people of 3 different religions, ruled by 9 different peoples (www.centuryone.com/hstjrslm.html), and is still growing today! In the 1900's Jerusalem continues to experienced immigrations of Jews from Germany, Argentina, Yemen, Iraq, and many other regions. The regathering of Israel after more than 1400 years of being scattered to the nations, is an astounding event. Considering the persecutions under Muslim rule, the Spanish Inquisition, Russian pogroms, ghettos and the holocaust, it is an amazing faith that Jews hold in the promises of God to sustain them through all the horror of the ages. The Promised Land will endure as long as God's word is true.

Who destroyed the Temple in 70 AD?
a) Titus
b) Vespasian
c) Big Bird
d) Snuffleupagus
e) Yasir Arafat

When did the crusaders from the first crusade capture Jerusalem>
a) 1099
b) 1234
c) 1517
d) 1948
e) 2001

Was Jerusalem part of the Ottoman Empire?
a) no
b) maybe
c) yes, but only for 4 hours
d) yes, for 40 years
e) yes, for over 400 years

In what war did Israel capture all of Jerusalem, reuniting it after the Western side was ruled by Arabs?
a) The War of Independence
b) World War I
c) World War II
d) the Revolutionary War
e) The Six Day War

Answers: 1-a, 2-a, 3-e, 4-e

Bibliography:

1. Wilber, Donald N. "Persia: Ancient Civilization." Collier's Encyclopedia. CD-ROM. Collier Newfield, Inc. 1998.

2. Hussey, J. M. "Byzantine Empire." Collier's Encyclopedia. CD-ROM. Collier Newfield, Inc. 1998.

3. Krueger, Hilmar C. "Crusades." Collier's Encyclopedia. CD-ROM. Collier Newfield, Inc. 1998.

4. Matthews, Frank P. "Black Death." Collier's Encyclopedia. CD-ROM. Collier Newfield, Inc. 1998.

5.Indinopulos, Thomas. "Jerusalem." Collier's Encyclopedia. CD-ROM. Collier Newfield, Inc. 1998.

6. Reich, Bernard. "Israel ( Country)." Collier's Encyclopedia. CD-ROM. Collier Newfield, Inc. 1998.

7. Williams, John Alden. "Muslims." Collier's Encyclopedia. CD-ROM. Collier Newfield, Inc. 1998.

8. Beinin, Joel. "Egypt." Collier's Encyclopeida. CD-ROM. Collier Newfield, Inc. 1998.

9. Author Unknown. "History of Jerusalem." Aljazeera.net. 23, Jan. 2004. <http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/72E2FDE3-CDF2-475A-B020-B282DE638811.htm> ( Jan 23, 2004).

10. Donald J. Boon. "Jerusalem ( AD 71-1099)". New Advent. 23, Jan. 2004. <www.newadvent.org/cathen/08355a.htm> ( Jan 23, 2004)

11. Author Unknown. "Through the Centuries". Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 23, Jan. 2004. < www.israel-mfa.gov.il/mfa/go.asp?MFAH00w50> ( Jan 23, 2004)

12. Author Unknown. "The Early Church". Just the Facts. 23, Jan. 2004. <http://jtf27.tripod.com/chrisper.htm> ( Jan 23, 2004)

13. Author Unknown. "Jerusalem the Endless Crusade". CenturyOne Bookstore. 23, Jan. 2004. <www.centuryone.com/hstjrslm.html> ( Jan 23, 2004)

14. Fergysib, Everett. Backgrounds of Early Christianity. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Eerdmans Publishing Compangy, 1987.

15. The Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible. 5 volumes. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1976. I used: Foerster, G. "Masada."

16. Contributed by: Cohen, Shaul. "Jerusalem". Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2004. 1997-2004 Microsoft Corporation. <http://encarta.msn.com/enyclopedia_761572316_2/Jerusalem.html> (Jan. 24, 2004)

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