This fascinating account of Jewish history during the Second Temple period offers readers a comprehensive overview of the social, political, and cultural events that shaped this pivotal period in Jewish history. Author Archibald Alexander draws on a wide range of historical sources to provide readers with a vivid portrait of life in Jerusalem and the surrounding regions, including accounts of key historical figures such as Herod the Great and the prophet John the Baptist. This is an essential resource for anyone interested in the history of Judaism and the Middle East. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.