HIST 4216 - Rome’s Jewish Wars and the Roman Near East

3 hours

The expansion of Rome’s sphere of influence to the east brought it into open competition with the Parthian Empire, which spanned from Arabia and the Caspian Sea to India. Judaea- an independent Jewish kingdom from 160 to 62 BC- soon came under Roman control, as a client kingdom, eventually becoming a Roman province (6 AD). Examination of the sources of Roman power in the East, as well as the military clashes that shaped Rome’s administrative expansion into the Near East, focusing primarily on Judaea and the two Jewish Revolts (66 AD and 132 AD). Examination of the consequences of Rome’s Jewish Wars for the Roman eastern front with the Parthians, and for Jews and Christians in Judaea/Palestina and throughout Empire.

Prerequisite(s): None.