Study Ancient Jerusalem Online with Me This Fall Through Jerusalem University College

Contexts of the Holy City focuses on key historical snapshots of ancient Jerusalem from the earliest archaeological evidence through city's fall to the Romans in 70 CE

You are invited to study ancient Jerusalem with me this fall through Jerusalem University College’s online program. This course is for anyone interested in expanding their understanding of ancient Jerusalem, whether you have visited the city previously or are simply looking for an introductory study. The best part is that you do not need to be enrolled in a JUC program to take the course. It is open to the public for audit or credit (with different rates for each).

In the class, you will learn the geography of Jerusalem and understand how its physical setting has impacted the city’s urban development over time. Each week we will explore key historical periods in Jerusalem’s history from the earliest-known material evidence (before the time of King David) through its destruction by the Roman army in 70 CE. We will survey what we can known about each period in Jerusalem’s history from texts, archaeology, and geography. We will also discuss how scholar’s have understood this evidence and how it can help us better understand the city’s history.

As we are able, we will also interact with early modern maps, models, travel accounts, and photographs to understand and evaluate traditions about the city and how they have impacted our interpretation of Jerusalem’s history. There are indeed many contexts through which we can understand the Holy City. This class is an introduction to some of them.

The interior of Jaffa Gate captured by the photographer Félix Bonfils in the late 1860s. Photos like this give an important window into Jerusalem’s recent past before the massive building activity outside the Old City walls at the end of the 19th century. We will look at many such photos in the class.

The class will cover the following historical periods:

• Earliest Jerusalem

• Jerusalem at the time of David and Solomon

• The city of King Hezekiah and Isaiah the Prophet

• The Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BCE

• The rebuilding of Ezra and Nehemiah’s Jerusalem during the Persian Period

• Snapshots of Jerusalem in the Psalms

• The city of the Hasmonean kings

• Early Roman Period Jerusalem as constructed by Herod the Great and his successors (two weeks)

• Jesus’ activity in Jerusalem

• The Apostles in Jerusalem

• The Roman destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE and aftermath

Contexts of the Holy City is offered from 8pm-10:30pm Eastern Time on Monday nights in an effort to include as many working students and auditors as possible. Sign up to take the class for credit or audit here before the application deadline on Monday August 22 (click the “Online Semester Learning” link to begin your application). The first class session is on Monday August 29.

I would be grateful if you would pass this course information along to anyone who may be interested.

Hope to see you in the virtual classroom!

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