Judaea (Roman province)

Judaea was a Roman province from 6 to 135 AD. It included regions such as Judea, Idumea, Peraea, Samaria, and Galilee, along with parts of the coastal plain of the southern Levant. The area had once been ruled by the Hasmonean and Herodian dynasties before becoming a Roman province.

Rome first took control of Judaea in 63 BC, but it became a formal province in 6 AD after the Roman emperor Augustus decided to take over direct rule. The capital was moved from Jerusalem to the coastal city of Caesarea Maritima. During this time, there were many tensions between the Jewish people and Roman rulers.

Important events during this period included an uprising led by a Jewish rebel named Judas of Galilee and the crucifixion of Jesus, which led to the start of Christianity. In 66 AD, these tensions led to a big war between the Jews and the Romans, known as the First Jewish–Roman War. The Romans won this war, and in 70 AD they destroyed Jerusalem and the Second Temple.

Later, in 132 AD, the Jews began another revolt called the Bar Kokhba revolt against Roman plans to build a new city on the ruins of Jerusalem. This revolt was also crushed by the Romans, and after it ended in 135 AD, the region was renamed Syria Palaestina.

Background

Further information: Second Temple period

Judaea was once an independent state ruled by the Hasmonean dynasty. In 63 BCE, the Roman Republic took control during a civil war between two brothers, Hyrcanus II and Aristobulus II, who both wanted to be king. The Roman general Pompey helped end the fight by capturing Jerusalem and choosing Hyrcanus II to lead but not as a king.

Later, in 37 BCE, a man named Herod became the king of Judaea with support from the Romans. He ruled until his death in 4 BCE. After Herod died, his kingdom was split among his sons. One son, Archelaus, ruled Judea, Samaria, and Idumaea but was removed by the Roman emperor Augustus in 6 CE because people did not like his rule. After this, Judaea became a Roman province. Another son, Herod Antipas, ruled Galilee and Peraea until he was removed by the emperor Caligula in 39 CE.

Geography

When Judaea became a Roman province in 6 CE, its land was the same as the areas once ruled by Herod Archelaus under the Herodian tetrarchy. This included places like Judea, Samaria, and Idumaea, with big cities such as Jerusalem, Caesarea Maritima, Sebaste, and Joppa. Later, after 44 CE, when Rome took control again after Herod Agrippa I ruled, the province grew to also include Galilee and Peraea.

History

Revolt and removal of Herod Archelaus

After Herod the Great died, his kingdom was split among his family members. One of them, Herod Archelaus, ruled Judea, Samaria, and Idumea. However, Archelaus was not a good ruler, and in 4 BCE, people in Judea rebelled against him. The leader of Syria, Publius Quinctilius Varus, stopped the rebellion but was very harsh. Because Archelaus could not rule well, the Roman emperor Augustus removed him in 6 CE. From then on, Judea, Samaria, and Idumea were directly ruled by Rome.

This change had big effects on the history of the Jewish people and later on the development of Christianity.

Under a prefect (6–41 CE)

At first, the Roman province of Judea did not include Galilee, Gaulanitis (today's Golan), Peraea, or the Decapolis. It was not very rich, but it was important because it controlled land and sea routes to Egypt and helped protect the empire from the Parthian Empire. The capital was moved from Jerusalem to Caesarea Maritima.

Rome appointed Publius Sulpicius Quirinius to count the people in 6 CE, which caused a rebellion led by Judas of Galilee. The rebellion was quickly stopped. Judea was governed by a prefect, a lower-ranking Roman official. The first prefect was Coponius. The Jewish people in Judea still had some rights to use their own laws for judging people.

In 30–33 CE, the Roman prefect Pontius Pilate had Jesus of Nazareth killed because of disagreements. In 36 CE, another rebellion happened near Mount Gerizim, led by someone from Samaria. Pilate acted harshly, and the leader of Syria Lucius Vitellius the Elder removed Pilate from his job.

In 37 CE, the Roman emperor wanted to put his statue in the Temple in Jerusalem, which upset the Jewish people. After some delay, the plan was stopped because the emperor was convinced not to do it. Later, the emperor was killed before the statue could be placed.

Autonomy under Herod Agrippa (41–44)

From 41 to 44 AD, Judea had a short time of self-rule when Herod Agrippa was made king by the Roman emperor Claudius. During this time, some Roman officials helped keep peace in the area.

Under a procurator (44–66)

After Herod Agrippa died in 44, Judea went back to being ruled directly by Rome. Galilee and Peraea were added to the province. In 48, Agrippa’s son, Agrippa II, became king but only over some areas.

There was a shortage of food in Jerusalem from 44 to 48. A woman named Helena of Adiabene helped by sending food and supplies to the people there.

First Jewish–Roman War (66–70)

Main article: First Jewish–Roman War

In 66 CE, fights between Jewish and Greek people in Caesarea led to a big war. The Roman leader in the area took money from the Temple in Jerusalem and treated people harshly. This made the situation worse. The Roman army tried to take Jerusalem but were attacked on their way. Later, a Roman general named Vespasian started attacking places in Galilee.

By 68 CE, Vespasian had taken control of Galilee, but then the Roman emperor died, causing problems in Rome. In 70 CE, Vespasian's son Titus led the Roman army to Jerusalem. After a long siege, the Romans took the city and destroyed the Temple. Many people were killed or taken away.

Interwar period (70–132)

After the war, Jerusalem was destroyed, and many Jewish people were killed, captured, or moved away. Life slowly returned to normal, and Jewish people still made up a large part of the population.

Rome made changes to control the area better. A Roman soldier group was stationed in Jerusalem, and new roads were built. Some Roman veterans and citizens were settled in the area.

Bar Kokhba revolt (132–136)

Main article: Bar Kokhba revolt

In 132 CE, Jewish people in Judea rebelled again, led by Simon bar Kokhba. They had early wins and made their own coins. But the Roman emperor Hadrian sent armies to stop them. The revolt was crushed, and many Jewish people were killed or sold away. Jerusalem was left empty and could not be rebuilt. The area was renamed from Judaea to Syria Palaestina.

Aftermath

After the revolt, rules were made to stop Jewish traditions and nationalism. The area was renamed, but Jewish people still called it "Yehudah" or "The Land of Israel."

Economy

Agriculture was very important in Judaea. Farmers grew wheat, barley, olives, and grapes. They also grew herbs, vegetables, and legumes. During this time, farmers in Judaea began to grow rice, which was a special type with large kernels.

Coinage

Main article: Procuratorial coinage of Roman Judaea

Some Roman leaders in Judaea made special coins for people to use. Only six leaders made these coins, and they were all made in Jerusalem. These coins were small and made of bronze, called prutot.

The designs on the coins were chosen to respect Jewish traditions. Instead of pictures of Roman leaders, the coins showed symbols like palm trees and ears of grain, which were used in older Jewish designs. One leader, Pontius Pilate, made coins with Roman symbols on one side, but the other side still had Jewish designs.

These coins were mostly used in Judaea, especially in Jerusalem, but some were found in faraway places too. The making of these special coins stopped in 59 CE, and they were used until the end of a big war in 70 CE. After that, the coins no longer showed Jewish designs.

List of governors (6–135 AD)

Main article: Roman administration of Judaea (AD 6–135)