The ancient city of Jerusalem with Solomon’s Temple, Charles O'Donnell, c. 1871, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division (digital file LC-DIG-pga 02305), no known copyright restrictions.

Looking Back at History: Jerusalem

Jerusalem is one of the world's oldest cities, revered by millions and central to the stories of three major monotheistic faiths: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Its history stretches back over 5,000 years, shaped by conquests, faith, and resilience.

Ancient Beginnings

• Earliest Settlements: Archaeological evidence points to settlement around 3500BCE, near the Gihon Spring.

• Canaanite & Egyptian Rule: The city appears as “Rusalimum” in Egyptian texts from the 19th century BCE, and by the Late Bronze Age, it had become a fortified city and vassal of Egypt.

• Jebusites: By about 1200BCE, Jerusalem was controlled by the Canaanite Jebusites.

The Israelite Era (c.1000–586BCE)

• King David & Solomon: King David captured Jerusalem around 1000BCE, making it the capital of the united Kingdom of Israel. Solomon, his son, built the First Temple, cementing Jerusalem’s role as a spiritual center.

• Kingdom Divisions & Foreign Invasions: After Solomon, the kingdom split. Jerusalem survived invasions—Egyptians, Philistines, Assyrians—before falling to Babylon in 586BCE. The First Temple was destroyed, and Jews were exiled.

Persian Rule & Second Temple

• Cyrus the Great: In 539BCE, the Persian emperor allowed exiled Jews to return. The Second Temple was rebuilt in 515BCE, marking a renewal in Jerusalem’s spiritual significance.

Greek, Roman, & Byzantine Eras

• Hellenistic Influence: Alexander the Great conquered Jerusalem in 332BCE. The city saw the rise of the Hasmoneans and later became a province under Roman control.

• Herodian Expansion: King Herod greatly expanded the Second Temple.

• Roman Destruction: In 70CE, Romans destroyed Jerusalem and the Second Temple. After the Bar Kochba revolt (135CE), the city became a Roman colony, Aelia Capitolina.

• Christian Center: By the early 4th century, Christianity flourished; sites like the Church of the Holy Sepulchre were built.

Islamic Period & the Crusades

• Muslim Control: Caliph Umar captured Jerusalem in 638CE. The Dome of the Rock (691CE) and Al-Aqsa Mosque (701CE) were built, establishing Jerusalem as the third holiest city in Islam.

• Crusader Kingdom: Crusaders seized Jerusalem in 1099CE, leading to nearly a century of Christian rule until Saladin’s reconquest in 1187CE, which returned the city to Muslim governance.

Ottoman and Modern Eras

• Ottoman Stability: The Ottomans ruled from 1517 to 1917CE. Landmarks such as the current city walls stem from this era.

• British Mandate & Israeli Statehood: After World WarI, the British took control. Following the founding of Israel in 1948, Jerusalem was divided. The Six-Day War in 1967 led to Israeli reunification of the city.

Why Jerusalem Matters

Jerusalem embodies centuries of religious devotion, political ambition, and cultural exchange. It remains a symbol of peace and conflict, resilience and hope, visited and prayed for by believers of countless generations.

This overview only scratches the surface. Each era—Canaanite, Israelite, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Islamic, Crusader, Ottoman, and Modern—has etched its mark onto the city’s landscape and spirit.

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Jerusalem’s enduring legacy continues to shape world history and inspire hearts and minds, inviting us to look back, reflect, and—perhaps—seek paths of peace.

Historical overview generated with the help of Perplexity AI.

Grateful thanks to PERPLEXITY and Wikimedia Commons for the image