Changes

== Later History ==

== Later History ==

[[Nebuchadnezzar II]], of course, made the territory a [[Babylonia]]n province. The [[Persia]]n Empire, beginning with [[Cyrus the Great]] and continuing especially with [[Artaxerxes I Longimanus|Artaxerxes Longimanus]], restored the kingdom to an at least nominal independence.

[[Nebuchadnezzar II]], of course, made the territory a [[Babylonia]]n province. The [[Persia]]n Empire, beginning with [[Cyrus the Great]] and continuing especially with [[Artaxerxes I Longimanus|Artaxerxes Longimanus]], restored the kingdom to the effective status of a vasal state by granting it a significant degree of autonomy and nominal independence.

Then came [[Alexander the Great]], commanding the unified army of the [[Greco-Macedonian Empire]]. When he appeared, the high priests who ruled [[Jerusalem]] at the time surrendered immediately. Alexander, in return, granted to his new province, which he named ''Ioudaia'' in [[Greek language|Greek]], the right to rule itself according to its old laws.

In the time of [[Alexander the Great]], the same commanding the unified army of the [[Greco-Macedonian Empire]] sought an alliance with this vasal state as a base of operations which was politely refused. Alexander responded by determining their genocide and upon arraying himself against [[Jerusalem|the city]] he was met by the high priest (who effectively ruled [[Jerusalem]]) who surrendered the city to Alexander and showed him the prophecies of [[Book of Daniel|Daniel]] and the specific references to Alexander. Alexander in such amazement that he maintained their degree of independence granting them the right to rule themselves according to their old laws and a tax brake every seventh year.<ref>Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews</ref> Alexander named this province in [[Greek language|Greek]] '''''Ioudaia'''''.

After Alexander died, it was largely contested between the Ptolemaic empire of [[Egypt]] and the Seleucid empire of [[Syria]], until [[Judas the Maccabee]] led a successful revolt in 165 BC. Eventually, however, [[Pompey]] the Great, the Special High Commissioner in the Near East for the Senate of [[Rome]], made the kingdom a Roman province under the name ''Judea''. The region retained that name until AD 70, when the future Emperor [[Titus]] destroyed the city and the [[Temple of Jerusalem]].

After Alexander died, it was largely contested between the Ptolemaic empire of [[Egypt]] and the Seleucid empire of [[Syria]], until [[Judas the Maccabee]] led a successful revolt in 165 BC. Eventually, however, [[Pompey]] the Great, the Special High Commissioner in the Near East for the Senate of [[Rome]], made the kingdom a Roman province under the name ''Judea''. The region retained that name until AD 70, when the future Emperor [[Titus]] destroyed the city and the [[Temple of Jerusalem]].