What Destroyed the Temple and Jerusalem?

The “great” Judean rebellion against Rome (66–70 CE) was fueled by intense messianic prophecies, but many Judeans strongly opposed it. This session examines what sparked the religious fervor, why others resisted the rebellion, and how the rebels gained control. It traces the events that ultimately led to the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple. The discussion also considers how historians reconstruct what happened through the writings of Josephus, the only major surviving source for the period and one that is often biased.