The Collapse of Great Empires: Lessons for Today from the Destruction of Jerusalem and the Second Temple
The Collapse of Great Empires: Lessons for Today from the Destruction of Jerusalem and the Second Temple

Summary/Abstract: The Second Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans in the year 70 CE, with a large part of the Jewish population either being killed, sent into exile, or sold into slavery. The Sages of the Talmud and Midrash attempted to answer the question as to why Jerusalem and the Temple were demolished. This paper will examine reasons for this and see what lessons may be learned. One major takeaway is that baseless hatred and corruption can lead to internecine warfare and even the collapse of a superpower.

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