A new history of two centuries of Jewish revolts against the Roman Empire, drawing on recent archeological discoveries and new scholarship by leading historian Barry Strauss.

Jews vs. Rome is a gripping account of one of the most momentous eras in human history: the two hundred years of ancient Israel’s battles against Rome that reshaped Judaism and gave rise to Christianity. Barry Strauss vividly captures the drama of this era, highlighting the courageous yet tragic uprisings, the geopolitical clash between the empires of Rome and Persia, and the internal conflicts among Jews.

Between 63 BCE and 136 CE, the Jewish people launched several revolts driven by deep-seated religious beliefs and resentment towards Roman rule. Judea, a province on Rome’s eastern fringe, became a focal point of tension and rebellion. Jews vs. Rome recounts the three major uprisings: the Great Revolt of 66–70 CE, which led to the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, culminating in the Siege of Masada, where defenders chose mass suicide over surrender; the Diaspora Revolt, ignited by heavy taxes across the Empire; and the Bar Kokhba Revolt. We meet pivotal figures such as Simon Bar Kokhba but also some of those lesser-known women of the era like Berenice, a Jewish princess who played a major role in the politics of the Great Revolt and was improbably the love of Titus—Rome’s future emperor and the man who destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple.

Today, echoes of those battles resonate as the Jewish nation faces new challenges and conflicts. Jews vs. Rome offers a captivating narrative that connects the past with the present, appealing to anyone interested in Rome, Jewish history, or the compelling true tales of resilience and resistance.

"Strauss is one of America’s leading classicists and military historians, and his latest book synthesizes a lifetime of learning. . . . A riveting, propulsive history of the people of Judea under Roman rule and in the early years of the diaspora." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"Mr. Strauss is excellent at using modern archaeology to extract information from ancient battlefields. . . . Jews vs. Rome is packed with tales of assassins, mobs, agents provocateurs, zealots and traitors. . . . Without the Jews and their indomitable determination to resist Rome, this book argues powerfully, modern Judaism would look very different—and less heroically noble—than it does today." - The Wall Street Journal

"Bar­ry Strauss, a lead­ing author­i­ty on ancient mil­i­tary his­to­ry, uses his con­sid­er­able exper­tise to exam­ine three major Jew­ish revolts against the Roman Empire. . . . [An] engag­ing and acces­si­ble nar­ra­tive his­to­ry." - The Jewish Book Council

"Historian Strauss hits another home run with this thorough account of the tumultuous relations between Rome and its most contentious subjects, the Jews, in ancient times. . . . There is no better history of this important but little-known subject." - Library Journal (starred review)