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gadicohen93's review against another edition
4.0
I bought this book after reading the preview a few years ago, and consumed the thing before/during/after a trip to the Eternal City itself. It goes into lurid detail of the rebellion, and even more lurid details when comparing and contrasting the two societies, their belief systems, their political ideals and structures, their habits. I am not sure to what extent Goodman really proves that this "clash of civilizations" was inevitable. Judea seemed to have fallen into an accidental paroxysm of civil strife, and Rome — Vespasian and Titus most of all — stumbled into stifling the rebellion with a mistossed burning stick that burned down the Temple and forced the new emperor to post-facto channel the destruction into his imperial legitimacy. Not really a case of incongruous civilizations as much of careless warmongering in the service of domestic political machinations. A really interesting and well-told book, and always ready to take the reader to the sources themselves, the kind of history that feels grounded and yet captivating.
librarianonparade's review against another edition
4.0
This book is about the run-up to and the aftermath of the Great Jewish Revolt of 66-73 AD and the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. It explores the tensions and hostilities that led to the war between the Jewish state and the Roman Empire and examines the similarities and differences between the two sides. It also tries to explain why the Roman reaction to the Jewish Revolt was so much harsher than other similar rebellions against the Roman Empire and how it led to the rise in antisemitism through the Roman Empire and subsequently the Roman Catholic Chuch and mediaeval Europe. It's a very good book, very thorough and insightful, and very well-written. I'd highly recommend it.
librarianonparade's review
4.0
This book is about the run-up to and the aftermath of the Great Jewish Revolt of 66-73 AD and the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. It explores the tensions and hostilities that led to the war between the Jewish state and the Roman Empire and examines the similarities and differences between the two sides. It also tries to explain why the Roman reaction to the Jewish Revolt was so much harsher than other similar rebellions against the Roman Empire and how it led to the rise in antisemitism through the Roman Empire and subsequently the Roman Catholic Chuch and mediaeval Europe. It's a very good book, very thorough and insightful, and very well-written. I'd highly recommend it.
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