ABSTRACT
From the beginning of Roman involvement in the general area of SyriaPalestine under Pompey the Great in 64 bc to the outbreak of the Jewish War, 130 years later, the history of the region was marked by unrest, protest and rebellion. As far as unrest is concerned, during this period tensions within Jewish society alone provided more than sufficient provocation. In addition, from time to time general events symptomatic of the collapse of the neighbouring Hellenistic monarchies strained the fragile peace. Roman intervention made the situation worse. Even the alteration in status of Palestine (down to ad 6, ruled by Roman client-princes) to that of a regular imperial province (provincia Iudaea) in no way contributed to the stability of the land.1 Insensitive governors injured the religious feelings of pious Jews;2
double taxation burdened the Judaean peasants once they had to contribute not only to the Temple but also to Roman officials.3 Power struggles within the Jewish ruling class were accompanied by conflict within the social elite and their dependants in the general population.4 At times, clashes between Hellenised and non-Hellenised communities threatened peaceful co-existence, especially in the cities.5 Groups of religious fanatics awaited, in apocalyptic anticipation, the end of this world and the beginning of a better one to come6 – the very conditions that brought forth Christianity as just one of these messianic movements.
