Conquering Jerusalem: The AD 66-70 Roman Campaign to Crush the Jewish Revolt

by Stephen Dando-Collins

In the first book ever devoted to the First Jewish Revolt, award-winning author and historian Stephen Dando-Collins provides unparalleled insight into the fight for Jerusalem. Known as the Great Revolt by Jewish communities and as the Judean War by the Romans, Dando-Collins details the conflict from both sides of the 4-year campaign. His examination of the revolt draws upon numerous archeological and forensic discoveries made since 2002 to illuminate the people and events as never before.

Neither side emerges from the conflict unscathed. Both were at times equally heroic and barbaric. In the end, the Jewish freedom fighters lost the war and their holy city–the focus of the revolt that the Roman military campaign fought to end. Yet, today, Jerusalem is once more the heart of the Jewish faith, while, thanks to Christianity–an offshoot of Judaism–the Roman Empire and its gods have long gone. Conquering Jerusalem illustrates that faith can have its rewards...and the tables can be turned if you wait long enough.

Genres: History, Ancient History

250 pages, Hardcover

First published July 13, 2021

About the author

Stephen Dando-Collins is the multi-award-winning author of 48 books. British reviewer, noted playwright Robin Hawdon, says that Dando-Collins is "the modern age's foremost dramatizer of Greek and Roman history," while American reviewer bestselling military author Lt. Colonel Dave Grossman has described Dando-Collins as "a literary giant." Considered an authority on the legions of ancient Rome, Dando-Collins has written ancient and modern history, children's novels, scientific nonfiction, and biographies. The bulk of his works deal with military history, ranging from Greek, Persian and Roman times to American, British and Australian 19th century history and World I and Word War II.
Many of his books have been translated into foreign languages including Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Polish, Dutch, Russian, Albanian and Korean.
His most acclaimed book on the ancient military, 'LEGIONS OF ROME,' was the culmination of decades of research into Rome's imperial legions.
Dando-Collins aims to travel roads that others have not, unearthing new facts and opening new perspectives on often forgotten or overlooked people and aspects of history.
He has two new books in 2024: 'CAESAR VERSUS POMPEY: Determining Rome's Greatest General, Statesman & Nation-Builder,' (Turner, US), and 'THE BUNA SHOTS: The Amazing Story Behind Two Photographs that Changed the Course of World War Two,' (Australian Scholarly Publishing).

Reviews

[Ashlyn Stephens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Took me a bit to finish thanks to law school but it’s very good! I’ve been wanting to learn more about ancient history around Jesus’ time and this was shortly after of course.

Very interesting to learn about Jerusalem and its battle with the extremely determined Roman Empire at the time. Dando-Collins did a great job with the storytelling aspect, I felt on the edge of my seat wanting to know how it unfolds. I don’t know too much about Roman history so that helped too.

The amount of people the Roman’s killed in the process of this is insane and awful. It makes me wonder what Jerusalem would look like now if they never conquered it.

Rip the second Jerusalem temple though, I bet it was beautiful. Also this book made me remember how much I want to visit Israel, one day!!

[Mark Farber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hadn’t read a book about ancient history in a long time. As one author described it the book balanced nicely with detail and masterful storytelling.

[Louis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book in print.

The Roman Empire always has fascinated me. I think that it is because I never knew of its scope until I was in college. I was amazed that such a large empire could form back in what I considered, at the moment, "ancient times."

So this book fit right up my alley. I had heard of the Jewish revolt, Masada, and the destruction of the 2nd Temple before.

Dando-Collins gives a military account of how the Jews first were able to overcome the Romans in certain places in greater Judea. The skill and cunning reminded me of current-day rebellions.

I also realized, that, while the area was "Roman," there were large gaps in distance for non-mechanized transportation to cover. So the Jews' initial occupations of a few cities required preparation by the Romans to overcome.

The might and power of the Roman units is made apparent when reading of the preparations, stratagems, weapons, logistics, sieges and battle techniques. Yet, Jerusalem held out for quite a long time. The use of battering rams and tunneling fascinated me.

I also enjoyed reading in detail about the Year of the Four Emperors.

I would recommend this book for those interested in the military, warfare, Jewish and Roman history, and the Roman Empire, generally.

[Bill Harper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stephen Dando-Collins does a fantastic job in explaining the reasons behind the Jewish Revolt. He tells us about the politics, the characters, and why the Jews lost when they had many early advantages. He tells us where in the Bible many of these events are talked about, he tells the names of the towns then and their modern names, and tells of the divisions of the Jewish people. Stephen Dando-Collins has written a number of books on ancient times. I have read a number of his books on the Roman Legions, he knows his stuff. You can't go wrong reading Dando-Collins.

[Plus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me leí la versión en español de la Editorial Erasmus, a nivel editorial tiene algunos errores de traducción y cohesión.

A nivel narrativo, la temática es muy profunda, se mencionan a bastantes personajes.

Sin embargo, me ha gustado, se explica en detalle de inicio a fin la campaña romana citando qué legión participaba en cada operativa militar.