If You're Curious About These Questions...
You should listen to this audiobook
- Have you ever wondered how a single city became the most sacred—and most fought-over—place on Earth for billions of people across three different faiths?
- Did you know that Jerusalem has been conquered and recaptured over 40 times, surviving total destruction to repeatedly shape the very course of human civilization?
- Are you curious about the ancient rivalries and family dynasties that have fueled the world's most enduring conflicts for over 3,000 years?
Listen to Jerusalem — Free Audiobook
Loading player...
Key Takeaways from Jerusalem
- Discover how archaeology and ancient Egyptian texts reveal Jerusalem's earliest history dating back to 5000 BC, filling the gaps left by contradictory biblical accounts.
- Learn how King David united the tribes of Israel to reclaim the Ark of the Covenant, setting the foundation for Solomon's first temple and cementing the city's sacred status.
- Understand why the destruction of Jerusalem's first temple and the ensuing Babylonian exile actually catalyzed the birth of modern Judaism and the writing of the Bible.
- Explore the tumultuous political climate of Roman-occupied Jerusalem that led to the public crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth and the heavily debated aftermath of his death.
- Find out how the apostle Paul transformed a small, Jerusalem-based sect of Jesus's followers—who initially continued to practice Judaism—into the widespread religion of Christianity.
Learning Tools
Reinforce what you learned from Jerusalem
Mind Map
Jerusalem
Ancient Origins & Temples
Early Settlement
Israelite Era
Babylonian Exile
Persian Return
Roman Rule & Christianity
Roman Conquest
Jesus of Nazareth
Great Revolt
Christian Empire
Islamic Conquest & Crusades
Rise of Islam
The Crusades
Mamluk Dynasty
Ottoman Era & Demographics
Ottoman Empire
Rise of Zionism
British Mandate
20th Century Conflict
Escalating Extremism
1948 War
Six-Day War (1967)
The Modern Standoff
Religious Tensions
Political Hurdles
Hope for Peace
Quiz — Test Your Understanding
Question 1 of 10
According to the text, what was a major consequence of the Babylonians destroying Jerusalem's first temple and exiling the Israelites?
Jerusalem — Full Chapter Overview
Chapter 1: Recommendation
Chapter 2: Jerusalem saw settlement as early as 5000 BC, with the Israelites arriving 4000 years afterward.
Chapter 3: Jerusalem’s first two temples provided a conduit to God and assumed a central place in shaping development of Judaism.
Chapter 4: Jesus was born during turbulent times, ultimately leading to his crucifixion and a contested resurrection.
Chapter 5: A Roman emperor commanded an assault on Jerusalem, thereby causing the fall of the Second Temple.
Chapter 6: The Romans embraced Christianity and started structuring their empire around the faith.
Chapter 7: Muhammad guided his followers on a sacred journey to Jerusalem.
Chapter 8: Efforts at Muslim unity collapsed when the First Crusade utterly devastated Jerusalem.
Chapter 9: Muslim resistance sparked later crusades and an ongoing struggle for Jerusalem thereafter.
Chapter 10: An army of slave-soldiers reclaimed Jerusalem, later prompting the city’s reconstruction.
Chapter 11: After the Mamluks, Jerusalem passed to the Ottomans, and the city steadily grew thereafter.
Chapter 12: Around the dawn of the twentieth century, hopes for Jewish and Arab independence blossomed.
Chapter 13: Following World War I, a series of international treaties heightened tensions in Jerusalem.
Chapter 14: The decades following WWI were marked by mounting violence and rising extremism.
Chapter 15: Intensifying violence precipitated the Battle of Jerusalem in 1948 itself.
Chapter 16: An enraged Egyptian president triggered a brief war that ultimately delivered a decisive victory for Israel.
Chapter 17: Jerusalem’s situation remains an intricate and complicated standoff.
Jerusalem Summary & Overview
Jerusalem (2011) tells the story of a city considered holy by three of the world’s major religions, and which is central to some of the greatest conflicts in human history. These blinks detail the history of Jerusalem, the near-constant battles it has inspired and the fundamental role it has played in shaping humankind over the course of millennia.
Who Should Listen to Jerusalem?
- Anyone interested in theology, history and war
- Jews, Christians and Muslims
- Anyone interested in the crucial precursors to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East
Books Similar to Jerusalem
Readers who enjoyed this also liked these titles.
Israel
★ 3.4 / 5 • 283 ratingsA Concise History of a Nation Reborn
Palestine
★ 3.8 / 5 • 434 ratingsA Four Thousand Year History
The Hundred Years' War on Palestine
★ 4.2 / 5 • 435 ratingsA History of Settler Colonialism and Resistance, 1917–2017
A History of God
★ 4.2 / 5 • 482 ratingsThe 4000-Year Quest of Judaism, Christianity and Islam