Lecture 19: 21st Century Jerusalem

For the last lecture we discussed of the 21st Century Jerusalem. I will briefly introduce the impact of Jerusalem to the U.S. On September 11 2001 there was an attack on the U.S. that resulted in the invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq. Israel said that if they were to get bombed then they will respond back; they thought that if the U.S. can fight back then why couldn’t they. U.S. maintained control over both Iraq and Afghanistan. He introduced the idea of terrorism and how we can distinguish whether someone is a terrorist or just trying to free peoples rights. This is decided by the view of the people which is highly influenced by the media whether they are pro or against the country who is attacking. Media introduces a negative or positive feel of those who attack which leads to someone deciding whether they should label the person who attacks as a terrorist or not.

So after this discussion, Professor Cargill went on talking about how things now run in Jerusalem. Because of the conflict with the U.S., Jerusalem highly encourages racial profiling. If they were to see someone of their “kind” such as someone who is not Muslim trying to enter the Dome of the Rock, Muslims would approach them and prohibit them from entering. Even if you were to be Muslim, but looked white, then you were not allowed in. This also introduced another one of his experience of when he was delivering something and when exiting the town he was strip searched because he did not look part of the community. Sad world, but like Professor Cargill said, peace is coming; I just don’t think we are too close to peace as he thinks we are because there is no one willing to give in, someone always wants to over power.

Well good bye class, it was good learning with yall.

Checking out!

Lecture 18: 2Oth Century Jerusalem

So for today’s lecture, we spoke of Zionism. The British were wanting to come back to Jerusalem in search of their faith. In In 1896, Theodore Herzl introduces the new rule that Jews can now have their own state, a place for their people. What became confusing is how Hezrl was referred as the Messiah, the son of David. The reason why he was given the name as a Messiah was because he was the anointed person that led and brought people to Israel. In addition, the reason why he was also known as the son of David was because, according to 2Samuel, the Messiah is tied to the son of David.

The idea of Jewish people returning to Jerusalem brought out the movement of Zionism also came about the rising of anti-semitism in Europe. Anti-Semitism pogroms in Russia led the Jews to go to Palestine; which brought the concept of Aliyah as they immigrated.

The idea of Jews having their own national state led arguments with the Arabs and Israelis as they wanted to conquer Palestine. The Peel Plan came about in 1947 where the United Nations General Resolution resulted with a plan that each state would comprise of three sections. At the end of the war, Jerusalem was divided into Eastern and Western sections. Israelis controlled the west part, and the Jordanians controlled the East; in which King Hussein declared Jerusalem as the second capital of the State of Jordan in 1953. Zionism was accomplished after the war and Jerusalem became the spiritual symbolic center for the Jewish faith.

Lecture 17: Mamluk and Ottoman Jerusalem

Mamluk (meaning=a soldier of a slaved origin) came in order from 1244-1517. Mamluk became a religious center and used as a place of political exile. Built in this empire, Al-Madrasa al-Ashrafiyya is a Qur’anic School built in 1482 by Sultan al -Ashraf Qaitbey that consisted of geometric and caligraphic images. The also existed Nachmandies, one of the histories first Zionist. It is a command to take possession of Israel and live there; in addition it was rooted in the Bumbers 33 teachings.

Ottomans Jerusalem came in existence from 1516-1918 with Selim I defeating the Mamluks. Suleiman, ruling from 1520-1566, took pride in Jerusalem. He repaired and enlarged the aqueducts and Sultans pool in 1532. He also rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem to re-give the sense of protection. Suleiman also replaced the mosaics on the exterior of the Dome of the Rock with Syrian tiles. Suleiman had a goal, and that goal was to make sure the Jerusalem maintains its name as the great city of Islam.  Suleiman allowed the modern western wall as a place of prayer. He cleared the site and Shekinah settled there after the destruction of the Temple. The Western Wall was laid out as a symbol of destruction of the temples (ninth of Av), and it was said that the gates of Heaven is situated directly above the Western Wall.

 

Lecture 16: Crusader Jerusalem – Saladin and Ayyubid Jerusalem

To first start, I will be talking about Saladins Jerusalem. After the massive destruction and control of the Crusders, Saldin takes oner on September 36, 1186. Saladin knew he won the city and let the people of Jerusalem decide if they wanted to leave or continue living there but if they chose to continue living there they would have to abide by Saladins rule; whereas when the Crusaders came in power, no choice was given and everyone was slaughtered. He reintroduced the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and let people continue working and worshiping in the church; in addition the settlement of Jews in Jerusalem was introduced in 1190 CE. When Saladin died, his successors struggled for power in 1194 CE.

Briefly introducing the Ayyubids, the Ayyubids and Crusaders struggled over Jerusalem. After the fifth crusade the walls of Jerusalem became dismantled in which population decreased because they are no longer in refuge. However in the 6th Crusade, Crusaders regained control of Jerusalem for 10 years in a treaty but this was now known to be the last of the Crusaders; this is the reason why the walls were dismantled because then this was the Crusaders then would not com and take it.

Lecture 15: Islamic Jerusalem- Different Rulers and the Dome of the Rock

From today’s lecture I will be covering a variety of topics, starting with the Abbasid Dynasty. The Abbasid Dynasty wanted to wipe out all of the memory of the Umayyid Dynasty and to do so they destroyed their palaces. In addition to taking control, the Caliph put his name on the Dome of the Rock however there was only one problem, the memory of the Umayyid still remained because the original date of the Dome was still graved.

The Fatimids comes in from 969-1099 CE. This was a period of upheaval but the population of Jerusalem had grown immensely. Near the end of the rule of the Fatimids, they appointed Christian and Jewish governors of Jerusalem which led the welfare of the Christians and Jews changing depending on their ruler. In 1009 CE, Caliph al-Hakim ordered the destruction of the Jewish and Christian houses of prayers (including the HOLY SEPULCHER!!!) which created an intolerant situation of all three faiths.

Lastly, in 1033 CE an earthquake occurred that caused rigorous damages on Jerusalem’s walls and buildings including the Dome of the Rock. However, the Dome was restored in 1035 CE and and walls were rebuilt within the time frame 1034-1064.

Lecture 14: Byzantine Jerusalem

Byzantine comes to rule after Aelia Capitolina in 312-637 CE.  The rise of Christianity and the Metaphysical Jerusalem cam about with the rule of the Byzantine period. Christians took control after the Temple was destroyed in 70 CE by Titus. Christianity came about one orthodoxy under the doctrine of trinity, under the Council of Nicaea.

Helena, Constantine’s mother went to Jerusalem and took the dedication of the Church of Nativity and rededicated the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. The Holy Sepulcher, built by Helena, carried the new concept of the axis mundi and the myths were modified to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher so that it can now be carried as a sacred space and have value. For instance, the biblical scripture of the Binding of Isaac was located in Mount Zion, but now to satisfy the idea of the axis mundi they changed the Binding of Isaac location to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.

Lecture 13: Jerusalem in Revolt

In today’s lecture we began to speak about Jerusalems revolt against Herod. After Herod the Great died, his three sons took over: Archelaus (the ethnarch of Judah, very ineffective), Antipas (the tetrarch of Pereas and Galilee, ruled from 4 BCE until 39 CE), and Herod Philip (tetrarch of Iturea and Trachonitis, ruled from 4 BCE until his death in 34 CE).

So to first start off, in 66 CE the Roman governor was defeated by Jerusalem, 67 Rome appoints Vespasian to conquer Galilee and the Tranjordan, 68-70, Nero (the Emperor) dies in which Romans hated him so much that they try to erase every memory of Nero. In addition, Vespasian became the Emperor in 70 CE where his son then took charge in Spring 70 CE. On the 9th of Ab, Northern City falls and the Temple is destroyed (586 was the destruction of the first temple and 70 CE is the destruction of the second, Herod’s Temple). Lastly in 73 CE, Masada holdouts commit suicide. Masada was one of the forts Herod built and would go to when troubles occurred. So the holdouts go to Masada to escape for survival. However when they saw the Romans coming, they suicided because they would rather die as heroes than slaves.

So the destruction of the first Temple was done by Titus in 70 CE. The Temple remained in ruins until Roman Emperor Hadrian built a Temple to Jupiter (Zeus) in 135 CE. The concept of Cognitive Dissonance arrived because now the Temple was gone again so where is God now? And the question was brought that if one cannot go to a Temple to worship then how can they show that they are Jewish? So now, having the name of the LORD in a temple is a place of worship (no longer is the idea that LORD actually lives there valid) so now the promise to David has been reevaluated and reinterpreted.

Now we are brought to the second revolt, “Bar Kokhba” from 132-135 CE. So Jerusalem organized this revolt with a leader: Simon ben Kosiba. Now, Jews were forbidden to visit Jerusalem except on the day of Ab. The revolt never worked and the Romans remained in control.

Bar-Kokhba had coins, but there was one thing wrong with their coins that showed that they did not know Hebrew: words were misspelled. They also had Revolt letter, and had them written in different languages: Aramaic, Greek, and in Hebrew. Back to the coins, coins were used as propaganda for example, “For the Freedom of Jerusalem”. Another important fact to know is that their coins were struck over other (Roman) coins; a way of putting their power and striking out the Romans.

Aelia Capitolina (135-330 CE) built by Roman Emperor Hadrian, replacing Jerusalem. Primarily Aelia Capitolina was suppose to be built for the Jews, but instead he built it for his soldiers. Aelica Capitolina became the stereotypical Roman city.

The Rise of the Synagogue (a place of worship) was brought in conflict because in Israel a place of worship was the temple. But Synagogues were small alternative places to worship (evidence that they existed prior to the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem) because they could not go back to Jerusalem and build another Jerusalem. Synagogues were places to worship and be Jewish outside the Temple. The rise of the Synagogue is thought to be the rise from the Destruction of the second temple, maybe even the first temple.