Insurgency in Ancient Times: The Jewish Revolts Against the Seleucid and Roman Empires, 166 BC-73 AD

摘要

This monograph examines two insurgencies conducted by the Jews in ancient times: the Maccabee Revolt against the Seleucid Empire from 166-164 BC, and the Revolt against the Roman Empire from 66-70 AD. The monograph proposes that all insurgencies have a nature, and the nature of an insurgency is as critical to understanding it today as it was 2,000 years ago. Ancient Jewish history provides excellent case studies of successful and failed insurgencies. The Jewish revolt against the Seleucid Empire (Maccabee Revolt) was a successful insurgency that gained the free practice of religion for the Jewish people and, ultimately, an independent Jewish State. This independence lasted for 100 years until 63 BC, when Palestine was annexed by the Roman Empire. Subsequently, the Jewish people again revolted in 66 AD against Roman rule, but the result of the insurgency was a failure that was catastrophic for the Jewish people and their prospects for an independent Jewish state. The monograph concludes that the differences in the nature of the two insurgencies defined why one succeeded and the other failed. Upon initial examination both insurgencies appear to have had similar characteristics (i.e., religious persecution, desire for an independent state, fear of lost cultural identity), but subtle differences in their nature distinguish them. The examination of the Jewish insurgencies in ancient times is relevant to the U.S. military today as it faces insurgencies in Iraq and Afghanistan that are fueled by strong religious ideologies. The concept of 'nature' is still a valuable tool for military planners in the counterinsurgency environment.