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History

The Jews in the Roman World: From Pompey to Constantine

Course Times & Enrolment

This course is currently unavailable.

Course Summary

A survey of the well-documented but understudied history of the Jews of the Roman world. Using documentary evidence such as papyri, ostraka and inscriptions, students will gain an understanding of the social, cultural and political context to renowned figures such as Herod the Great, Pontius Pilate and Herod Agrippa, considering the history of Jews within Rome as well as in Alexandria and the cities of Western Asia Minor.

Course Details

Pre-requisites for enrolment

No prior knowledge required.

Content of Course

1. Introduction; brief survey of the main areas in the Roman world where Jews lived; early contacts between Rome and the Jews.

2. Herod the Great - his rise to power and reign (37-4 BCE).

3. Judea as a Roman province (4 BCE-66 CE); the later Herods - Antipas, Philip and Agrippa I.

4. Judea in revolt from Rome - the risings of 66-73/4 and 132-135 CE.

5. Judea after the Bar Kohba revolt (132-135 CE); the Patriarchate.

6. Diaspora overview; the Jews of Ptolemaic Egypt (i)

7. The Jews of Ptolemaic Egypt (ii); the Jews of Roman Egypt.

8. The Jewish community of Rome; Latin authors on the Jews and Judaism.

9. The Jews of early imperial Asia Minor; Western Asia Minor in Late Antiquity - the Jewish communities of Sardis and Aphrodisias.

10. The conversion of Constantine; the Jews under the Christian emperors.

Teaching method(s)

Lecture-based with class discussion.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

  • Understand the nature of the sources available, such as theological and historical, and assess their chief strengths and limitations;

  • Explain the unique achievement of the Jews in maintaining their cultural identity while simultaneously functioning effectively in a Gentile environment;

  • Appreciate how certain contemporary political problems have their roots in the Roman imperial period.

Sources

Core Readings

Essential:

  • Grant, M. 1973. The Jews in the Roman World. London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson.

  • Smallwood, E. M. 1976. The Jews under Roman Rule from Pompey to Diocletian. Leiden: E. J. Brill.

Recommended:

  • Avi-Yonah, M. 1976. The Jews of Palestine : A Political History from the Bar Kokhba War to the Arab Conquesy. Oxford: Basil Blackwell.

  • Barclay, J. M. G. 1996. Jews in the Mediterranean Diaspora from Alexander to Trajan (323 BCE-117 CE). Edinburgh: T&T Clark.

  • Goodman, M. 2008. Rome and Jerusalem: The Clash of Civilizations. London: Penguin Books.

  • Goodman, M. 1987. The Ruling Class of Judaea. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

  • Gruen, E. S. 2002. Diaspora: Jews amidst Greeks and Romans. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

  • Williams, M. H. 1998. The Jews among the Greeks and Romans : A Diasporan Sourcebook. London: Duckworth.

Class Handouts

Handouts will be provided.

Queries

If you have questions regarding the course or enrolment, please contact COL Reception at Paterson's Land by email or by phone 0131 650 4400.

Student support

If you have a disability, learning difficulty or health condition which may affect your studies, please let us know by ticking the 'specific support needs' box on your course application form. This will allow us to make appropriate adjustments in advance and in accordance with your rights under the Equality Act 2010. For more information please visit the Student Support section of our website.