Around the year 36 BC, the King of Judea, Herod the Great, built a fortress in the Judean desert overlooking the dead sea.

Almost a hundred years later, that fortress became the scene for what was one of the most dramatic moments in the history of the Jewish people.

It was the final act in a rebellion against the Roman Empire, the ramifications of which are still

being felt in the world today.

Learn more about the Siege of Masada and the end of the first Jewish-Roman war on this

episode of Everything Everywhere Daily. Book your ticket to happiness with Sun Express Airlines. The conquest of the Levant by the Roman Empire began in the year 63 BC

when the Romans conquered Syria. Rather than conquer the land to the south

known as Judea, the Romans installed a puppet on the Judean throne by the name of Herod, who ran the kingdom

of Judea as a Roman vassal state.

The people who lived in this region were very different from all the other subjects who lived

under Roman rule.

These people, known as Jews, practiced a very odd religion compared to the other religions

of the period.

They didn't have a pantheon of gods like the Romans, Greeks, Egyptians, or Gauls.

They had just one god, and the practice of their religion was centered around the city of Jerusalem.

There they had a singular temple and practice rights and dietary practices, which again were very unlike the other people who were ruled by Rome.

Roman rule of Judea was always very tenuous as the Jews in the region didn't particularly like the Romans.

There were constant protests, minor rebellions, and uprising, but nothing got too out of hand.

The Romans did give the people of Judea a surprising amount of latitude to practice their religion

and culture so long as they kept giving money to Rome.

Herod created a whole new monarchy and ruling class from scratch and was responsible for many

large building projects including

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