"Originally published in Great Britain by Allen Lane"--T.p. verso.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 559-585) and index.

A magisterial history of the titanic struggle between the Roman and Jewish worlds that led to the destruction of Jerusalem. Martin Goodman--equally renowned in Jewish and in Roman studies--examines this conflict, its causes, and its consequences with unprecedented authority and thoroughness. He delineates the incompatibility between the cultural, political, and religious beliefs and practices of the two peoples and explains how Rome's interests were served by a policy of brutality against the Jews. At the same time, Christians began to distance themselves from their origins, becoming increasingly hostile toward Jews as Christian influence spread within the empire. This is the authoritative work of how these two great civilizations collided and how the reverberations are felt to this day.--From publisher description.

Introduction : the main witness -- Prologue : the destruction of Jerusalem, 66-70 CE -- A Mediterranean world. A tale of two cities ; One world under Rome ; Diversity and toleration -- Romans and Jews. Identities ; Communities ; Perspectives ; Lifestyles ; Government ; Politics ; Romans and Jews -- Conflict. The road to destruction, 37 BCE-70 CE ; Reactions, 70-312 CE ; The growth of the church ; A new Rome and a new Jerusalem -- Epilogue : the origins of antisemitism.