If we take a glimpse of the past of all the cities then we can probably think of Jerusalem having the darkest history. Lets have a look at the major events that caused the destruction of this city and how this city emerged again and what it is now.
The city originally belonged to Jews. King Solomon, son of David and king of Israel known for his wisdom built the first temple, somewhere around 832 BC.
Then the Babylonians invaded the city and razed the temple in 598 BC and Jews were exiled. (Siege of Jerusalem (587 BC) )
Then king Cyrus the great allowed Jews to return and rebuild the temple (about 539 BC).
Then, Alexander the great came to the city. He spared the temple. Then Jerusalem came under Seleucid Empire, which was divided from the Macedonian empire. Maccabean Revolt, which involved many battles in itself, took place against the empire and continued for long 7 years. (167 BC to 160 BC)
Then it was seized by Romans. The Jews retaliated but were unsuccessful. They were again exiled form Jerusalem. The second temple was destroyed (66 AD).
It was then followed by Bar Kokhba revolt (132-136 AD)to establish back a Jewish state but failed.
Romans then converted to Christianity in about 325 AD. Jews were banned from the kingdom.
Then Islam came into existence and took over the city (632 AD) by Rashidun Caliphate. (Siege of Jerusalem (637)). Non Muslims are now treated inhumane.
Then Crusades by Christianity took place and the city was captured in the First Crusade (Siege of Jerusalem (1099)). Jerusalem became the capital of theKingdom of Jerusalem, a Christian city after 450 years under caliphate rule. 2000 Jews were burnt alive.
The city was then raided by Kurdish Ayyubid in the Battle of Hattin. 1st crusade kingdom was over (1187).
Then came the mongols, powerful and fierce and raided it. They returned back and the city was reclaimed by Mamluks.
Then it was the time for Ottoman to defeat the Mamluks. Ottoman–Mamluk War (1516–17) resulted in the victory of Ottoman Turks. Jews were treated as second class citizens.
After the 1st world war, Ottoman empire collapsed and the Britishers captured it. They promised that land to the Jews under Balfour Declaration.
Muslims attacked the Jews in the cities of Jerusalem and Hebron (read 1929 Palestine riots and 1929 Hebron massacre)
(Jerusalem in 1929)
(Hebron in 1929)
State of Israel was born in 1948 and the city was kept as a separate entity. It was a partition between Jordan and Israel. Many massacres took place in the city during that period. After the Six-Day War Israel conquered the ancient city and restored it to freedom.
The city then survived the Intifadas (the process of ethnically cleansing of Jews by Arabs)
Now the city is suffering from terror attacks, 24/7. When I am saying daily attacks I mean it. Even the Palestinian children are brainwashed against Israel and made to carry out attacks.
Taking him for Israeli, Palestinian girls stab Arab in Jerusalem (stabbings by 16 and 14 year old girls)
Currently a wave of terrorism is going through the city, sometimes also referred as the 3rd intifada. Read Israeli–Palestinian conflict (2015).
But the city is now a heritage site and Israel has renovated the city to its old glory. We cannot claim the city to be peaceful in anyway but probably it it the time it is far less in conflicts and violence, after long 4000 years.
Also read: Timeline of Jerusalem.
The city originally belonged to Jews. King Solomon, son of David and king of Israel known for his wisdom built the first temple, somewhere around 832 BC.
Then the Babylonians invaded the city and razed the temple in 598 BC and Jews were exiled. (Siege of Jerusalem (587 BC) )
Then king Cyrus the great allowed Jews to return and rebuild the temple (about 539 BC).
Then, Alexander the great came to the city. He spared the temple. Then Jerusalem came under Seleucid Empire, which was divided from the Macedonian empire. Maccabean Revolt, which involved many battles in itself, took place against the empire and continued for long 7 years. (167 BC to 160 BC)
Then it was seized by Romans. The Jews retaliated but were unsuccessful. They were again exiled form Jerusalem. The second temple was destroyed (66 AD).
It was then followed by Bar Kokhba revolt (132-136 AD)to establish back a Jewish state but failed.
Romans then converted to Christianity in about 325 AD. Jews were banned from the kingdom.
Then Islam came into existence and took over the city (632 AD) by Rashidun Caliphate. (Siege of Jerusalem (637)). Non Muslims are now treated inhumane.
Then Crusades by Christianity took place and the city was captured in the First Crusade (Siege of Jerusalem (1099)). Jerusalem became the capital of theKingdom of Jerusalem, a Christian city after 450 years under caliphate rule. 2000 Jews were burnt alive.
The city was then raided by Kurdish Ayyubid in the Battle of Hattin. 1st crusade kingdom was over (1187).
Then came the mongols, powerful and fierce and raided it. They returned back and the city was reclaimed by Mamluks.
Then it was the time for Ottoman to defeat the Mamluks. Ottoman–Mamluk War (1516–17) resulted in the victory of Ottoman Turks. Jews were treated as second class citizens.
After the 1st world war, Ottoman empire collapsed and the Britishers captured it. They promised that land to the Jews under Balfour Declaration.
Muslims attacked the Jews in the cities of Jerusalem and Hebron (read 1929 Palestine riots and 1929 Hebron massacre)
State of Israel was born in 1948 and the city was kept as a separate entity. It was a partition between Jordan and Israel. Many massacres took place in the city during that period. After the Six-Day War Israel conquered the ancient city and restored it to freedom.
The city then survived the Intifadas (the process of ethnically cleansing of Jews by Arabs)
Now the city is suffering from terror attacks, 24/7. When I am saying daily attacks I mean it. Even the Palestinian children are brainwashed against Israel and made to carry out attacks.
Taking him for Israeli, Palestinian girls stab Arab in Jerusalem (stabbings by 16 and 14 year old girls)
Currently a wave of terrorism is going through the city, sometimes also referred as the 3rd intifada. Read Israeli–Palestinian conflict (2015).
But the city is now a heritage site and Israel has renovated the city to its old glory. We cannot claim the city to be peaceful in anyway but probably it it the time it is far less in conflicts and violence, after long 4000 years.
Also read: Timeline of Jerusalem.
