NextPrevious

Building the Bible

The First and Second Centuries C.E.

What happened that changed the course of Jewish history?

The fall of Jerusalem to the Romans in 70 C.E. forever changed the course of Jewish history. The temple, which had been the focus of Jewish worship and the Jewish priesthood for centuries, was in ruins. In addition, Romans continued to persecute the Jewish population. As a result, the Jewish priesthood was nearly wiped out.