The destruction of Jerusalem and the Second Temple during theFirst Jewish–Roman War marked a major turning point in Jewish history. The loss of mother-city and temple necessitated a reshaping of Jewish culture to ensure its survival. Judaism's Temple-based sects, including thepriesthood and theSadducees, diminished in importance. A new form ofJudaism that became known asRabbinic Judaism developed out ofPharisaic school and, centuries later, eventually became the mainstream form of the religion. Many followers ofJesus of Nazareth also survived the city's destruction. They spread his teachings across the Roman Empire, giving rise to the new religion ofChristianity.
In the autumn of 79,Mount Vesuvius violently spewed forth a deadly cloud of super-heated tephra and gases to a height of 33 km (21 mi), ejectingmolten rock, pulverizedpumice andhot ash. The event destroyed several towns and minor settlements in the area, at the time part of theRoman Empire.Pompeii andHerculaneum, obliterated and buried underneath massivepyroclastic surges andashfall deposits, are the most famous examples. The total population of both cities was over 20,000. The remains of over 1,500 people have been found at Pompeii and Herculaneum so far, although the total death toll from the eruption remains unknown.
Panic strikesRome as adverse winds delaygrain shipments fromAfrica andEgypt, producing abread shortage. Ships laden withwheat fromNorth Africa sail 300 miles to Rome's port ofOstia in 3 days, and the 1,000 mile voyage fromAlexandria averages 13 days. The vessels often carry 1,000 tons each to provide the city with the 8,000 tons per week it normally consumes.
7th ofArtemisios[3] (7th ofIyar, aboutMay 6) – The Third Wall of Jerusalem collapses and the Jews withdraw fromBezetha to the Second Wall, where the defences are unorganized.
12th of Artemisios[4] (12th of Iyar, aboutMay 11) – Titus and hisRoman legions breach the Second Wall of Jerusalem. The Jewish defenders retreat to the First Wall. The Romans start building acircumvallation; all trees within 90stadia (ca. fifteen kilometres) of the city are cut down.
21st of Artemisios (about May 20 or 21) – A "certain prodigious and incredible phenomenon", "chariots and troops" seen running in the clouds around Jerusalem[5]
24th of Panemos[7] (aboutJuly 20) – Romans set fire to a cloister after the capture of theFortress of Antonia, north of theTemple Mount. The Romans are drawn into street fighting with theZealots.
10th ofLoios[8] (9th or 10th ofAv, aboutAugust 4) – Titus destroys the JewishTemple in Jerusalem. Roman troops are stationed in Jerusalem and abolish the Jewish high priesthood andSanhedrin. This becomes known as theFall of Jerusalem, a conclusive event in theFirst Jewish–Roman War (the Jewish Revolt), which began in 66 AD. Following this event, the Jewish religious leadership moves from Jerusalem toJamnia (present-dayYavne), and this date is mourned annually as theJewish fast ofTisha B'Av.
8th ofGorpiaios (8th ofElul, aboutSeptember 2) – Romans gain control of all of Jerusalem and proceed to burn it and kill its remaining residents, except for some who are taken captive to be killed later or enslaved.[10]
Titus is madepraetorian prefect of thePraetorian Guard and receives pro-consular command and alsotribunician power, all of which indicates that Vespasian will follow the hereditary tradition of succession.
EmperorVespasian begins conquest of territory east of the upperRhine and south of theMain. In addition, he reorganizes the defenses of the upper and lowerDanube.
Revolt against the Chinese inTarim: Cachera andTurpan are besieged.Luoyang orders the evacuation of Tarim.Ban Chao makes the rebels retreat towardsKhotan. At the same time, the Chinese army ofGanzhou reconquers Turpan in NorthernXiongnu. Ban Chao convinces the emperor of the need to controlCentral Asia in the fight against Xiongnu.
June 23 – Emperor Vespasian dies of fever fromdiarrhea; his last words on his deathbed are: "I think I'm turning into a god." Titus succeeds his father as Roman emperor. Titus'Jewish mistress,Berenice, comes to join him inRome, but he exiles her to please theSenate.
^War of the Jews Book V, sect. 99 (Ch. 3, paragraph 1 in Whiston's translation)
^War of the Jews Book V, sect. 302 (Ch. 7, par. 2)
^War of the Jews Book V, sect. 466 (Ch. 11, par. 4)
^abWar of the JewsBook VI, sect. 296 (Ch. 5, par. 3). In Greek, "φάσμα τι δαιμόνιον ὤφθη μεῖζον πίστεως", a phrase that is often translated onUFO sites as "On the 21st of May a demonic phantom of incredible size...".
^War of the Jews Book VI, sect. 94 (Ch. 2, par. 1)
^War of the Jews Book VI, sect. 166 (Ch. 2, par. 9)
^War of the Jews Book VI, sect. 220 (Ch. 4, par. 1)
^abcChilver, Guy Edward Farquhar (January 20, 2024)."Vespasian". Encyclopaedia Britannica. RetrievedFebruary 20, 2024.
^War of the Jews Book VI, sect. 407 (Ch. 8, par. 5; Ch. 9, par. 2)
^Tregear, T. R. (1965)A Geography of China, pp. 218–219.
^Westenholz, Aage (December 18, 2007)."The Graeco-Babyloniaca Once Again".Zeitschrift für Assyriologie und Vorderasiatische Archäologie.97 (2): 294.doi:10.1515/ZA.2007.014.S2CID161908528.The latest datable cuneiform tablet that we have today concerns astronomical events of 75 AD and comes from Babylon. It provides aterminus post quem, at least for Babylon.
