A conversation with the bestselling author, classicist and the military and naval historian Barry Strauss about his latest book Jews vs. Rome: Two Centuries of Rebellion Against the World’s Mightiest Empire.

We explore:

Why Julius Caesar became a key patron of the Jews and how his support shaped Jewish life in the Roman Empire
The pivotal moment when Antipater (Herod's father) saved Caesar in Egypt, and how it changed Jewish-Roman relations
Caesar's assassination: the personal ambitions and fears that drove the conspirators beyond Republican ideology
Herod the Great's extraordinary political survival skills: switching allegiances from Antony to Octavian and always landing on his feet
The ruthless pragmatism of Herod's reign, including the execution of his own talented sons
The historical plausibility of the "slaughter of the innocents" story and what it reveals about Herod's character

For Barry's previous appearance, check out episode 81.

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Episode 76: State of Cheese: Missouri