Ancient Palestine was a ferment of social and ideological conflict. Full-scale insurrectionary revolt exploded in AD 66 and took on a revolutionary character as moderate upper-class leaders were pushed aside and replaced by popular radicals. The war that followed was bitterly fought, and culminated in the five-month siege of Jerusalem in the summer of AD 70. which ended with the fall and destruction of the city amid appalling atrocities. Mopping-up operations concluded with the spectacular siege of Masada in AD 73. First published in 2002. Dt Neil Faulkner's acclaimed Apocalypse is a gripping account of a series of events that rocked the Roman Empire. Despite their ultimate defeat, the Jewish rebels inspired future revolts and their actions had huge implications for the future course, and transformative character, of the threegreat Mediterranean religions, Christianity, Judaism and Islam. Dr Faulkner says, even failed revolutions change history.
