Who Controlled Jerusalem the Longest?

Summary

Jerusalem's long and contested history spans millennia, with the city changing hands numerous times between various empires, kingdoms, and religions. The video explores the control of the city, from ancient Judahites and Romans to Islamic caliphates and Christian Crusaders. The speaker highlights that no single religion or culture has a rightful claim to Jerusalem, which has been both a center of religious and cultural significance for Jews, Christians, and Muslims. The video concludes by advocating for a potential future of joint control, emphasizing the city's diverse and complex heritage.

Takeaways

• 😀 Jerusalem is one of the most fought-over cities in history, with 23 sieges, 52 attacks, and 44 captures or recaptures.
• 😀 The city has been controlled by various groups throughout history, leading to ongoing debates over its rightful ownership and governance.
• 😀 The first written record of Jerusalem dates back to around 2000 BCE during the Egyptian Middle Kingdom.
• 😀 Jerusalem was under the control of the Judahites for 414 years, from around 1000 BCE to 586 BCE, marking the beginning of its Jewish history.
• 😀 After being destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BCE, Jerusalem was later rebuilt during the Persian Empire, which allowed the Jews to return.
• 😀 Alexander the Great captured Jerusalem in 332 BCE, beginning the Hellenistic period, followed by shifting control between Greek dynasties.
• 😀 The Roman Empire controlled Jerusalem for approximately 676 years, initially allowing Jews to practice their religion before the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE.
• 😀 Christianity dominated Jerusalem for 288 years starting around 326 CE when the Roman Empire became Christian, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre was built.
• 😀 In 636 CE, the city became primarily Muslim following the conquest by Caliph Umar, marking a major turning point in Jerusalem's history.
• 😀 The city changed hands several times throughout the Crusades, with periods of Christian control between 1099 and 1187, and Muslim control afterward.
• 😀 Jerusalem's modern control is disputed, with Israel having de facto control of the city for the past 55 years, though this is contested by Palestine.
• 😀 Historically, no one culture or religion can claim exclusive control of Jerusalem, as it has been under the rule of various empires and religions for millennia.

Q & A

Who controlled Jerusalem for the longest period of time?

The Romans controlled Jerusalem for the longest period, holding it for a total of 676 years.

What event marked the beginning of Jerusalem's Hellenistic period?

The beginning of the Hellenistic period in Jerusalem was marked by Alexander the Great capturing the city in 332 BCE.

How long did Judaism dominate Jerusalem during its history?

Judaism dominated Jerusalem for approximately 1197 years, with the longest periods being under the ancient Kingdom of Judah and later Jewish rule.

What happened to Jerusalem during the reign of Emperor Hadrian in 130 CE?

Emperor Hadrian rebuilt Jerusalem, renamed it Aelia Capitolina, prohibited Jews from entering, and built pagan temples, including one to Jupiter, on the site of the Jewish temple.

What was the significance of the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem?

The Dome of the Rock was built in 691 CE and is located on the site where the Jewish temple once stood. It is a shrine covering the Foundation Stone, believed to be the site of the Holy of Holies in the Jewish temple.

Which Muslim caliphate first took control of Jerusalem, and when?

The Rashidun Caliphate first took control of Jerusalem in 636 CE, making it a primarily Muslim city for the first time.

How did the Crusaders affect Jerusalem's religious landscape?

In 1099, the Crusaders captured Jerusalem, massacring most of the Muslim and Jewish inhabitants and converting the Dome of the Rock into a Christian church, establishing the Kingdom of Jerusalem.

What was the period of the Mamluk Sultanate's control of Jerusalem?

The Mamluk Sultanate controlled Jerusalem from 1260 to 1516, lasting for 256 years, after they replaced the Ayyubid Sultanate in Egypt.

How did the Ottoman Empire influence Jerusalem's demographics?

The Ottoman Empire controlled Jerusalem from 1516 to 1917. During this period, the Jewish population in the city began to grow significantly, eventually leading to a near-equal division of the city's population between Jews and Muslims by the mid-19th century.

What was the political status of Jerusalem after World War I?

After World War I, Jerusalem fell under British control as part of the British Mandate, which lasted for 31 years, from 1917 to 1948.