Transcript File

A Brief History of Palestine
Forged in Continuous Conflict
Week 5
Slides may be found at www.wllc.org/adult-education.html
Palestine has been controlled by
numerous different peoples,
including the Ancient Egyptians,
Canaanites, Philistines, Hyksos,
Hittites,Tjekker, Ancient Israelites,
Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians,
Ancient Greeks, Romans,
Byzantines, early Muslims
(Umayads, Abbasids, Seljuqs,
Fatimids), Crusaders, later Muslims
(Ayyubids, Mameluks, Ottomans),
the British, the Hashemite Kingdom
of Jordan (1948–1967, on the "West
Bank") and Egyptian Republic (in
Gaza), and modern Israelis and
Palestinians.
Last Time: Judea Under Roman Rule
• 36 B.C. Herod appointed Client-King by
Romans – Brutal madman; considered a
“half-Jew”, Rebuilt the Temple.
• 4 B.C. Birth of Jesus
• 4 B.C. Herod the Great dies; Romans
divide Kingdom; Archelaus became
ethnarch of the tetrarchy of Judea, Herod
Antipas became tetrarch of Galilee and
Peraea, and Philip became tetrarch of
territories east of the Jordan.
• 6 A.D. Judea becomes a Roman
Province – Archelaus removed
• 16 A.D. Pontius Pilate - 5th Prefect of
Judea. 36 A.D. deposed by Syrian Legate
Lucius Vitellius
• 18 A.D. Caiaphas - appointed High Priest
of the Temple. 36 A.D. deposed by
Syrian Legate Lucius Vitellius
• 30 A.D. Death of Jesus
Last Time: Judeans Under Roman Rule
• 300 B.C. – 300 A.D. Greco-Roman period
• Romans keep Greek as Official language of Empire
• Jews allowed Religious Freedom
• Jews exempt from serving in, or supporting, Roman Army
• Judeans taxed to pay for Herod’s building projects
• Judeans include both Gentiles and Jews – Herod also built
pagan temples
• Most Judeans never saw a Roman soldier in everyday life
• Prefect kept his personal cohort at his residence in
Caesarea on the coast. Only brought troops to Jerusalem
once per year, at time of Passover.
• Passover recalls the freeing of the Jews from foreign
oppression, but also looks ahead.
• Prefect had only two responsibilities: Keep peace and
collect taxes
Last Time: Jewish Revolts
• Judaea was the stage of three major rebellions against Roman rule:
• 66–70 A.D. - first rebellion, followed by the destruction of Herod's Temple and
the siege of Jerusalem (Josephus) Josephus was commander of the rebels in
Galilee. Vespasian crushed Josephus’ troops. 97,000 enslaved.
• 115–117 A.D. - second rebellion, called Kito’s War, in Egypt, Libya, Judea, Cyprus,
(Lukuas or Andreas) Spread to Mesopotamia and Syria; Jews expelled from Cypus
• 132–135 A.D. - third rebellion, Bar Kokhba's revolt (Simon Son of a Star); When
ended, 580,000 Jews were dead (Cassius Dio) “Romans killed until the blood
reached the nostrils of the horses” (Talmud)
• Following the suppression of Bar Kokhba's revolt, the emperor Hadrian changed
the name of the province to Syria Palaestina and Jerusalem became Aelia
Capitolina to erase the historical ties of the Jewish people to the region. Jews
forbidden to enter the city except for day of Tisha B’Av
Last Time: Roman Empire Divides
• Constantine (272 A.D. – 337 A.D.)
• Declared Emperor in the West
306 A.D.
• 311 A.D. Edict of Toleration
• 312 A.D. Battle of Milvian Bridge
– “In this sign, conquer”
• 313 A.D. Edict of Milan – treat
Christians benevolently.
• Reunites Empire by 324 A.D.,
after 1st split
• 380 A.D. Christianity made state
religion by Theodosius I – Edict of
Thessalonica
•
Divides 2 more times. 3rd time
final.
• Empire in the West later falls
under attacks by Visigoths, Huns,
and Vandals
• Last attempt to reunite under
Eastern Emperor Justinian failed.
Samaritan Revolts
• After Jewish-Roman wars, Jewish community nearly extinct in
Judaea. Samaritans and Byzantine Christians filled this vacuum.
• 135 A.D. - 362 A.D. Golden Age. Temple at Gerizim rebuilt. Baba
Rabba, a great reformer, captured when Byzantines overran
Samaria.
• Emperor Zeno (ruled 471 A.D. -491 A.D.) persecutes the
Samaritans.
• 484 A.D. Samaritans revolt, elect Justa and take Caesarea, burn
Church of St. Procopius. Byzantines defeat Justa. Zeno builds
Church of St. Mary on Mt. Gerizim. Forbids Samaritans to
worship there.
• 495 A.D. Samaritans led by a woman again revolt. Seized Church
of St. Mary. Massacred the garrison. Revolt suppressed, leaders
slain.
• 529 A.D. Bar Sabar Revolt – Bishop of Neapolis and local priests
“hacked to bits”. Emperor Justinian puts down revolt with
assistance from Ghassanid Arabs. Tens of thousands of
Samaritans died. (Procopia of Caesarea)
• 556 A.D. Christians in Caesarea killed including the Governor,
churches plundered. Again, tens of thousands of Samaritans and
Jews were butchered.
• 572 A.D. Revolt put down by Emperor Justin II. Samaritan
Religion outlawed. Reduced from ~1 million to near extinction.
• The revolt against Heraclius was a Jewish insurrection against the
Byzantine Empire, Jews aided the Sasanian Persia during the
Byzantine–Sasanian War of 602–628. in the end Persia
withdraws support of the Jews. Byzantines attack and kill
20,000.
• In 638, The Arab Islamic Empire under Caliph Umar conquered
Jerusalem and the lands of Mesopotamia, and Egypt.
Early Islam
• 570 A.D. Muhammad born in Mecca after
father died. Mother and Grandfather died
when he was a child
• 595 A.D. Hired by Khadija, as a merchant,
later married her
• 610 A.D. first hears voice (Gabriel) “You are
the messenger of God”. Continues to
receive messages for his whole life
• 612 A.D. begins public ministry
Resentment grows against him
• 622 A.D. Hijra (lat. Hejira) the journey to
Medina. By 630, Islam was firmly rooted as
a religion.
• By 632, when he died, he was in control of
Arabia
• 4 major Caliphs (Rashidun) after
Muhammad (Sunni), Shi’a recognize only
the last one. 1st Civil War.
• 661 A.D. – 750 A.D. Umayyad Caliphate
• 680 A.D. 2nd Civil War definitive break
between Sunni and Shi’a.
Differences Between Sunni and Shi’a
Sect
Believed Successor
to Muhammad
Basis for succession
Madhi
Sunni
Abu Bakr
democracy
Soon to come
Shi’a
Ali
Hereditary
Soon to return
Madhi – Rightfully Guided one – Global Caliph of all Islam
Palestine under Islamic Rule
• 691 A.D. Dome of the Rock completed
• Non-Muslim Monothesists classified as Dhimmis
(protected people)
• For Centuries Christians were allowed to visit the
Temple Mount unimpeded, until the reign of AlHakim bi-Amr Allah (996 - 1021 CA.D.)
Fall of the Umayyads
• 750 A.D. Umayyads limited to
Spain and Portugal only by
Abbasid Revolution, 3rd Major
Caliphate
• Abbasids had Shi’a support but
once in power disavowed all
support of Shi’a beliefs
• Internal administrative
instability and conflict with
Byzantines led to decline.
• Led to rise of Fatimids (Shi’as
claimed through one of
Muhammad’s daughters) and
Seljuqs (Sunnis that gradually
adopted Persian culture).
The Crusades
• 1095 A.D. Pope Urban II declares 1st Crusade (Deus
Vult) ended 1100 A.D. Crusaders were a mob, not
an army. Pillaged countries along the way. Four
massacres of Jews before leaving Germany.
Captures Jerusalem.
• 2nd Crusade 1147 A.D.-1149 A.D. Failed to reclaim
lands lost to Kingdom of Jerusalem, but did have
gains in Hispania. More slaughter of German Jews.
• 3rd Crusade 1187 A.D.-1192 A.D. Saladin - Sultan in
Shi’a Caliphate although a Sunni, seizes Jerusalem.
Pope Gregory VIII declares Crusade. Philip and
Richard the Lion-hearted leave for Holy Land Philip
dies on the way. Richard negotiates peace treaty
(supply problems).
• 4th Crusade never reached the Holy Land.
• 5th Crusade 1217 A.D.-1221 A.D. took city in Egypt
forced to return it.
• 6th Crusade 1228 A.D.-1229 A.D. Frederick II of the
Holy Roman Empire excommunicated for not
leading a crusade. Goes to Holy Land and
negotiates a treaty.
• 7th Crusade 1248 A.D. – 1254 A.D. Muslim took
Jerusalem. Louis IX was captured, ransomed - 10year truce.
• 8th and 9th Crusades 1270 A.D.-1272 A.D. Hottest
time of year. Louis IX dies. Prince Edward I of
England arrived with too little, too late. Returns to
England in 1274 as King.
Ottomans
• 1258 A.D.-1326 A.D. Osmon I threatens
Byzantine Empire
• 1453 A.D. Constantinople falls
• 1492 Moors expelled from Spain (Ferdinand and
Isabella).
• 16th Century Palestine was prosperous
• 17th Century economic ad political decline
• 18th Century Ottoman control was indirect. 1799
A.D. Napoleon defeated trying to take Acre.
• 1831 Muhammad Ali (Egyptian) took Palestine .
Allowed Western influnces, Christian schools.
• 1840 A.D. British, Austrians, and Russians aided
Ottomans to expel Egyptians
• 1882 A.D. 1st Russian Jewish settlement
• Zionist colonies funded by French rose from 19
in 1900 to 47 in 1918.
• During WWI Ottomans sided with Germany.
Afterward British took control of Palestine.
• 535,000 Muslims, 70,000 Christians, and 85,000
Jews
Next Time: Modern Israel and Palestine