History of Jerusalem

Temple of Solomon

Jerusalem long, troubled, and violent history stretches back millennia, even before the Canaanites first inhabited the city around 2500 BC.  The city’s relative importance, however, grew with the arrival of King David in 1010 BC.  After defeating the Jebusites (a pre-Israelite tribe similar to the Hittites), David established Jerusalem as his administrative capital.  

To commemorate this achievement, David wanted to build a magnificent Temple that would hold the Ark and the Ten Commandments. As a warrior, however, David was forbidden from erecting such a Temple.  Thus, he left the task to his son, Solomon.  The Temple of Solomon was built on a grand scale.  Paved with gold and designed with unparalleled architectural ingenuity, the Temple became a holy shrine that united and inspired Jewish adherents throughout the region. 

Invasions

The Babylonians, led by King Nebuchadnezzar, attacked Jerusalem in 597 BC and exiled the Jews.  The Temple was destroyed a few years later in 586 BC.  In 560, the Persians invaded Palestine, and invited the Jews to return to Jerusalem.  They returned in 516 BC and began construction on the Second Temple.  Now began a time of prosperity for Jerusalem, as the Jews continued to develop the surrounding areas.   

In 322 BC, the Greeks captured Jerusalem and spent several decades violating the Temple with pagan sacrifices.  When the Maccabees recaptured Jerusalem and ceded the land to Jewish rule in 164, they also “purified” the Temple; an event that would forever be celebrated during Hanukkah. Jewish control of the city was short-lived however.  Backed by Rome, Herod’s army marched into the region and took the city in 63 BC.   

The Romans

It was under Herod that construction of the Second Temple was completed. The new Temple was even larger and grander than the first. Jewish revolts in 70 however, led to the destruction of the Second Temple by the Romans, and in 1135, the Jews were again exiled from Jerusalem.  The Romans now proceeded to develop Jerusalem as a Christian pilgrimage center. The Church of the Holy Sepulcher and other shrines were built during this time.  Apart from a period of Persian rule, the Holy City remained under the control of the Romans. This continued until 633, when the Arabs arrived. 

Arab Control

The Islamic conquest of Jerusalem began in 633 and continued over a period of 1,200 years - a tumultuous period that saw many revolts and struggles.  In 1095, Pope Urban II called for the Crusades to wrest the holy land from the “infidels.”  In the aftermath of the Crusade conquest, non-Christians were prohibited from entering Jerusalem. However, Christian control lasted for only 100 years. In 1187, the Moslem King, Saladin, recaptured Jerusalem and banished the Christian mercenaries.  Thereafter, Jerusalem passed into Ottoman rule, and for a time, the city was largely neglected.   

When the Ottomans lost WWI, the UK gained control of Palestine. By this time however, the calls for a Jewish homeland were growing stronger.  Shortly after WWII, the Zionists’ dream for a separate Jewish state finally materialized.  But almost from the beginning, Jerusalem was marked by violence and political unrest.  Partitions, wars, unification, and terrorism have dogged Jerusalem throughout much of its post-colonial history.  Only recently has the tide begun to turn.  Jerusalem has begun to shed its reputation as a city eternally in turmoil.  Drawing visitors from across the globe every year (including medical tourists, religious tourists, and summer vacationers), the city is quickly developing into an international capital that could potentially rival the likes of Bangkok, Rio, and other medical tourism centers.