The Road to Jerusalem: A Journey of Empires, Faiths, and Peoples

Jerusalem is one of the oldest and most important cities in the world. It has been a center of religion, culture, and conflict for thousands of years. The city's history is long and tumultuous, and it has witnessed the rise and fall of many empires and the birth of three major world religions. This journey of faith, empires, and peoples has shaped the city into what it is today.

The Road to Jerusalem: Book One of the Crusades Trilogy

by Jan Guillou

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	847 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
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Print length	:	403 pages

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The Road to Jerusalem tells the story of this long and tumultuous history. It begins with the city's beginnings as a small Canaanite settlement and follows its development through the ages. The book explores the city's role in the Hebrew Bible, the New Testament, and the Quran. It also examines the city's history under Roman, Byzantine, Arab, and Ottoman rule.

The City of David

The earliest known settlement on the site of Jerusalem was established by the Jebusites, a Canaanite people, around 3000 BCE. The city was known as Jebus and was a small, fortified town. In 1000 BCE, King David captured Jebus and made it the capital of his kingdom. David's son, Solomon, built the First Temple on the Temple Mount, which became the center of Jewish worship.

After the death of Solomon, the Kingdom of Israel was divided into two kingdoms, Israel and Judah. Jerusalem remained the capital of Judah. In 586 BCE, the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem and the First Temple. The Jews were exiled to Babylon, but they returned to Jerusalem in 539 BCE and rebuilt the Temple.

The Roman Empire

In 63 BCE, the Romans conquered Jerusalem and made it a part of their empire. The Romans ruled Jerusalem for over 400 years, and during that time they built many new buildings, including the Western Wall, which is one of the most important Jewish holy sites.

In 70 CE, the Romans destroyed Jerusalem and the Second Temple. The Jews were again exiled from the city. However, they did not give up their hope of returning to Jerusalem. In 135 CE, the Romans banned Jews from Jerusalem. However, the Jews continued to make pilgrimages to the city.

The Byzantine Empire

In 324 CE, the Roman Empire was divided into two parts, the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine Empire) and the Western Roman Empire. Jerusalem became part of the Byzantine Empire. The Byzantines were Christians, and they built many churches in Jerusalem, including the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which is believed to be the site of Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection.

In 614 CE, the Persians conquered Jerusalem and destroyed many of the Christian churches. However, the Byzantines recaptured the city in 629 CE.

The Arab Conquest

In 638 CE, the Arabs conquered Jerusalem and made it a part of the Islamic empire. The Arabs built many new buildings in Jerusalem, including the Dome of the Rock, which is one of the most important Islamic holy sites.

The Arabs ruled Jerusalem for over 400 years. During that time, they allowed Jews and Christians to live in the city, but they did not allow them to build new synagogues or churches.

The Crusader Period

In 1099, the Crusaders captured Jerusalem from the Muslims. The Crusaders established a Christian kingdom in Jerusalem, which lasted for over 80 years. During that time, they built many new churches and fortifications. However, in 1187, the Muslims recaptured Jerusalem.

The Crusader period was a time of great violence and bloodshed. The Crusaders massacred many Muslims and Jews, and they destroyed many Islamic and Jewish holy sites.

The Ottoman Period

In 1517, the Ottomans conquered Jerusalem and made it a part of their empire. The Ottomans ruled Jerusalem for over 400 years. During that time, they allowed Jews and Christians to live in the city, but they did not allow them to build new synagogues or churches.

The Ottomans also built many new buildings in Jerusalem, including the walls that surround the Old City.

The British Mandate

After the First World War, the Ottoman Empire was defeated and the British took control of Jerusalem. The British ruled Jerusalem for over 30 years. During that time, they allowed Jews and Christians to build new synagogues and churches. They also established a university in Jerusalem.

In 1948, the British withdrew from Jerusalem and the city was divided between Israel and Jordan. Israel controlled the western part of the city, while Jordan controlled the eastern part.

The State of Israel

In 1967, Israel captured East Jerusalem from Jordan. Since then, Israel has controlled the entire city. Israel has built many new settlements in East Jerusalem, and it has also annexed the city. However, the Palestinians claim East Jerusalem as the capital of their future state.

The status of Jerusalem is one of the most contentious issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Both sides claim the city as their capital, and neither side is willing to give it up.

Jerusalem is a city with a long and tumultuous history. It has been a center of religion, culture, and conflict for thousands of years. The city's journey of faith, empires, and peoples has shaped it into what it is today. Jerusalem is a city of hope and despair, a city of peace and war. It is a city that is both sacred and contested. But above all, Jerusalem is a city that is full of life.