The World Of Jesus: Peoples, Powers, and Politics

Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem in the province of Judea during the reign of Augustus Caesar, the first Roman ruler called emperor. About sixty years earlier, the Romans had invaded Palestine as they continued expanding their great empire throughout the lands surrounding the Mediterranean Sea and beyond. At the time of Augustus, the Roman Empire ruled over fifty million people from many different nationalities--from Palestine and Syria in the east to Spain in the west, including most of northern Africa and much of Europe. Because the Romans were well-organized and had a strong army, their empire was actually very stable. Travel and trade between areas was easier than it had ever been. Historians have observed that the international peace brought by Roman rule and the superior system of Roman roads helped disciples to spread a new religion based on Jesus' teachings.

• Palestine Before Roman Rule
• Tax Collecting During the Roman Rule
• Local Governments
• Class and Rank in the Roman Empire
• Zealots
• Pharisees
• Essenes
• Sadducees
• Scribes
• Samaritans