A History of the Jewish War
AD 66–74

This book revisits the context and causes of the first war between Jews and Romans (AD 66 to 74).

Steve Mason (Author)

9780521853293, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 24 February 2016

735 pages, 41 b/w illus. 3 maps
26.2 x 18.8 x 5 cm, 1.63 kg

'… Mason shuttles easily between inquiries into the [Jewish War] and Josephus' account of it. He is also a marvelous stylist, unafraid to deploy sarcasm, humor, and other tools not often used by scholars.' James Romm, The New York Review of Books

A conflict that erupted between Roman legions and some Judaeans in late AD 66 had an incalculable impact on Rome's physical appearance and imperial governance; on ancient Jews bereft of their mother-city and temple; and on early Christian fortunes. Historical scholarship and cinema alike tend to see the conflict as the culmination of long Jewish resistance to Roman oppression. In this volume, Steven Mason re-examines the war in all relevant contexts (such as the Parthian dimension, and Judaea's place in Roman Syria) and phases, from the Hasmoneans to the fall of Masada. Mason approaches each topic as a historical investigation, clarifying problems that need to be solved, understanding the available evidence, and considering scenarios that might explain the evidence. The simplest reconstructions make the conflict more humanly intelligible while casting doubt on received knowledge.

Part I. Contexts: 1. A famous and unknown war
2. Historical evidence: understanding Josephus' Judean War
3. Parthian saviours, sieges, and morale: ancient warfare in human perspective
Part II. Investigations: 4. Why did they do it? Circumstances, conditions, and 'causes'
5. Nero's war I: the 'blunder' of Cestius Gallus?
6. Nero's war II: Flavians in Galilee
7. Flavian war I: the education of Titus
8. Flavian war II: coins, councils, and the siege of Jerusalem
9. Machaerus and Masada: a tale of two fortresses.

Subject Areas: Judaism: life & practice [HRJP], Military history [HBW], Social & cultural history [HBTB], Classical history / classical civilisation [HBLA1], Ancient history: to c 500 CE [HBLA]