Judaea (Roman province) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Province of Judaea Provincia Iudaea (Latin) Ἐπαρχία Ιουδαίας  (Koinē Greek)
Province of the Roman Empire
6–132 AD
The Roman Empire under the reign of Hadrian (125 AD) with Judaea highlighted in red
Capital	Caesarea Maritima
Area
• Coordinates	32°30′N 34°54′E / 32.500°N 34.900°E / 32.500; 34.900
Government
Prefects before 41, Procurators after 44
• 6–9 AD	Coponius
• 26–36 AD	Pontius Pilate
• 64–66 AD	Gessius Florus
• 117 AD	Lusius Quietus
• 130–132 AD	Tineius Rufus
King of the Jews
• 41–44	Agrippa I
• 48–93/100	Agrippa II
Legislature	Synedrion/Sanhedrin
Historical era	Roman Principate
• Census of Quirinius	6
• Crucifixion of Jesus	c. 30/33 AD
• Crisis under Caligula	37–41 AD
• Incorporation of Galilee and Peraea	44 AD
• Destruction of the Second Temple	70 AD
• Governor of praetorian rank and given the 10th Legion	c. 74 AD
• Merging into Syria Palestina	132 AD 132 AD
Preceded by Succeeded by Herodian Tetrarchy Syria Palaestina
Today part of	Israel Palestine
Before 4 August 70 is referred to as Second Temple Judaism, from which the Tannaim and Early Christianity emerged.

Judaea (in Latin: Iudaea; in Greek: Ioudaía) was a Roman province that existed from 6 AD to 132 AD. It included areas like Idumea, Philistia, Judea, Samaria, and Galilee. These regions were once part of the Hasmonean and Herodian kingdoms. The name Judaea comes from the ancient Iron Age Kingdom of Judah.

The Roman Republic first took control of Judea in 63 BC. For a while, Judea was a semi-independent kingdom that had to obey Rome. The Roman Emperor Augustus officially made it a Roman province in 6 AD. This happened after the people asked for help because their ruler, Herod Archelaus, was governing very badly.

When Rome took direct control, they ordered a census (a count of people and their property for taxes). This caused tension and led to a rebellion by Judas of Galilee in 6 AD. Other important events in Judaea included the crucifixion of Jesus around 30–33 AD, which led to the start of Christianity. Also, in 37 AD, Emperor Caligula tried to put a statue of himself in the Jewish temple, which caused a big problem.

People became more and more unhappy with Roman rule. This led to the First Jewish–Roman War from 66–73 AD. During this war, Jerusalem was attacked, and the Jewish temple was destroyed in 70 AD. This marked the end of the Second Temple period. In 44 AD, the regions of Galilee and Peraea were added to the province. In 132 AD, Judaea was combined with Galilee to form a larger province called Syria Palaestina.

How Judaea Became a Roman Province

Rome first got involved in this region in 63 BC. This was after a Roman general named Pompey won a war and took over Jerusalem. He then created the province of Syria. This marked the end of Greek influence in Judea and the start of Roman power.

Pompey made a local prince, Hyrcanus II, the leader and high priest, but not a king. Later, Julius Caesar appointed Antipater the Idumaean as the first Roman governor (called a Procurator). Antipater's son, Herod, was named "King of the Jews" by the Roman Senate in 40 BC. He built the large port city of Caesarea Maritima.

Herod died in 4 BC. His kingdom was then split among three of his sons. Two of them, Philip and Herod Antipas, became tetrarchs (meaning they ruled a quarter of a kingdom). The third son, Archelaus, ruled half of his father's kingdom, including the area called Judaea, along with Samaria and Idumea.

Archelaus ruled Judaea so poorly that Emperor Augustus removed him in 6 AD. This happened after the people themselves asked for his removal. Judaea, Samaria, and Idumea then came under direct Roman control. Herod Antipas, who ruled Galilee and Perea, was also removed by Emperor Caligula in 39 AD.

Judaea as a Roman Province

The Roman Empire in the time of Hadrian (ruled 117–138 CE), showing the Roman province of Judaea in western Asia.

Early Roman Rule and Rebellions (6–41 AD)

When Judaea first became a Roman province, it did not include areas like Galilee or the Golan Heights. It wasn't a very rich province for Rome, but it was important because it controlled trade routes to Egypt, which was a major source of grain. The capital city was moved from Jerusalem to Caesarea Maritima.

Emperor Augustus sent Publius Sulpicius Quirinius to Syria. He conducted a tax census in Syria and Judaea in 6 AD. This census angered many people and led to a revolt by Judas of Galilee, which was quickly put down.

Judaea was governed by a Roman official called a prefect. The first prefect of Judaea was Coponius. Even under Roman rule, Jewish people in the province kept some independence. They could judge people using their own laws, even for serious crimes, until about 28 AD.

Between 30 and 33 AD, the Roman prefect Pontius Pilate ordered the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth. This event was very important and led to the beginning of Christianity. In 36 AD, another rebellion happened near Mount Gerizim, led by a Samaritan. Pilate quickly stopped this revolt. The Samaritans complained about Pilate's harshness, and he was removed from his position.

An old Roman era gate in Jerusalem's Old City, now part of the Damascus Gate.

In 37 AD, Emperor Caligula ordered that a statue of himself be placed in the Jewish Temple of Jerusalem. This was a huge problem for the Jewish people because their religion only allowed them to worship one God. The Roman governor of Syria, Publius Petronius, was worried about a civil war if he followed the order. He delayed it for almost a year. Eventually, King Herod Agrippa I convinced Caligula to change his mind. Caligula later issued a second order, but he was killed before the statue reached Jerusalem. His successor, Claudius, cancelled the order. This event showed the first major conflict between Rome and the Jews.

Brief Autonomy and Direct Rule (41–66 AD)

From 41 to 44 AD, Judaea became somewhat independent again. Emperor Claudius made Herod Agrippa the "King of the Jews," bringing back the Herodian family to power for a short time.

After Agrippa died in 44 AD, Judaea returned to direct Roman control. The regions of Galilee and Peraea were also added to the province. Roman officials called procurators then governed Judaea. Agrippa's son, Agrippa II, was named "King of the Jews" in 48 AD, but he was the last of the Herodian rulers.

Jerusalem suffered from a famine between 44 and 48 AD. A queen named Helena of Adiabene helped the people by sending servants to buy food and distribute it. Her son, Izates II, also sent money to help.

The First Jewish–Roman War broke out in 66 AD.

Later Roman Rule and Major Wars (70–132 AD)

Map of Judaea Roman Province in the first century.

From 70 AD until 132 AD, Judaea was governed by a Roman official called a legate. This was a higher-ranking position, showing that Rome needed strong military control due to ongoing rebellions. Agrippa II remained loyal to Rome, and his kingdom lasted until his death around 93 or 100 AD. After that, Rome had complete control over the area.

Judaea was the site of two major wars between the Jews and the Romans:

• 66–70 AD: The First Jewish–Roman War. This war ended with the siege of Jerusalem and the destruction of Herod's Temple in 70 AD. Before this war, Judaea was a less important Roman province. After the war, it became an independent Roman province called Judaea, governed by a higher-ranking official.
• 132–136 AD: The Bar Kokhba revolt. This war was caused partly by Rome building a new colony called Aelia Capitolina on the ruins of Jerusalem. After the Jews were defeated in this war, Judaea was combined with Galilee to form a larger province called Syria Palaestina. Even though the name of the province changed, Jewish people continued to call the land "Yehudah" or "The Land of Israel."

Economy in Roman Judaea

Farming and Crops

Agriculture (farming) was very important to the economy of Judaea. Farmers mainly grew wheat, barley, olives, and grapes. We know from ancient writings that they also grew herbs, vegetables, and legumes. Some records from the first and early second centuries suggest that Jewish farmers even started growing rice in Judaea during this time.

Coins and Money

During Roman rule, some governors of Judaea had their own coins made for local use. Only six governors are known to have done this, and all the coins were minted (made) in Jerusalem. These were small bronze coins, similar to a Roman quadrans.

The designs on these coins were made to respect Jewish beliefs. Unlike typical Roman coins that showed the emperor's face, these coins often featured symbols like palm trees or ears of grain. These designs were similar to older Jewish coins. However, the coins made by Pontius Pilate (26-36 AD) were an exception. They included Roman religious symbols on one side, though the other side still had Jewish imagery.

It can be tricky to figure out which governor made which coin because they didn't have the governor's name. Instead, they showed the emperor's name and the year of his rule in Greek. Historians use old records to match the coins to the correct governor.

These coins were mostly used within Judaea, especially in Jerusalem. But some have been found in other places, showing they traveled a bit. The making of these local coins stopped in 59 AD. They were still used until the end of the First Jewish–Roman War in 70 AD. After Jerusalem and its temple were destroyed, the Jewish people lost some of their rights. Later Roman coins in Judaea no longer showed Jewish influence.

Governors of Judaea (6–135 AD)

This table lists the Roman officials who governed Judaea during its time as a Roman province. They held different titles like Prefect, King, Procurator, or Legate.

See also

In Spanish: Judea (provincia romana) para niños

• Fiscus Judaicus
• The Life of Brian – a British comedy film which riffs on the idiosyncrasies of life in 33 AD Roman Judea
• Roman roads in Judaea/Palaestina – overview of the road network in the province