Jerusalem is a major holy city for the three Western traditions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. It sits on spurs of bedrock between the Mediterranean Sea and the Dead Sea area. To the north and west, it tapers off to the Jezreel Valley and the hills of the Galilee, while to the south lies the Judean desert. The city is surrounded by three steep ravines (to the east, south, and west). On the other side of the eastern ravine, across the Kidron valley, is the Mount of Olives.
More about: JerusalemDefinition
Timeline
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c. 3000 BCEFirst Bronze Age settlement in Jerusalem.
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1000 BCEDavid captures Jerusalem.
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950 BCESolomon builds the first Temple of Jerusalem.
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701 BCEKing Sennacherib of Assyria sacks the city of Lachish in Judah but fails to take the capital Jerusalem.
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597 BCEBabylonian king Nebuchadnezar captures Jerusalem.
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586 BCEDestruction of the First Temple in Jerusalem and exile of upper class Judeans.
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c. 516 BCEThe temple in Jerusalem, destroyed in 586 BCE by the Babylonians, is rebuilt.
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37 BCEHerod the Great is installed as King of Judaea. Rebuilding of the Temple of Jerusalem.
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37 BCE - 4 BCEReign of Herod the Great over Judea.
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37 BCEHerod the Great retakes Jerusalem from the Parthians.
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c. 6 BCE - c. 30 CELife of Jesus Christ.
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70 CEThe city of Jerusalem is besieged and captured by Rome; the Second Temple destroyed.
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c. 81 CEThe Arch of Titus is built in Rome's Forum Romanum to commemorate the conquest of Jerusalem.
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638 CEArabs capture Jerusalem.
