Jews in antiquity: Conflicts

Some textbooks place significant emphasis on the history of the Jews in antiquity, focusing primarily on their fraught relationship with the Romans. They often highlight the two major Jewish revolts of the 1st and 2nd centuries AD. Following these conflicts, many Jews were forced to leave Palestine, dispersing across the Roman Empire.

Occasionally, textbooks note that before these uprisings, the Romans were relatively tolerant of Judaism. However, relations deteriorated over time due to increased Roman demands, including higher taxes and restrictions on Jewish self-governance. Tensions escalated further when the Romans required veneration of the emperor as a deity, a practice that was fundamentally incompatible with Jewish monotheism.

To illustrate these events, some textbooks reference the Arch of Titus in Rome. This monument depicts Roman soldiers carrying away the menorah from the Temple in Jerusalem, a sacred symbol of Judaism. On the arch, the image underscores Rome’s decisive triumph over the Jewish people.

Why do textbooks tend to emphasize the conflicts between Jews and other groups in antiquity while giving less attention to examples of peaceful coexistence?