The Victor Davis Hanson Show

Jews vs. Rome: VDH Interviews Barry Strauss on New Book

41 snips
Aug 20, 2025
Barry Strauss, Corliss Dean Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution and author of 17 books on the classical world, discusses his latest work on the centuries of Jewish rebellion against Rome. He highlights key revolts like Masada and Bar Kokhba, linking historical resilience to today's geopolitical issues in Israel. Strauss examines the dynamics between early Christianity and Jewish revolts, and the enduring legacy of historical figures like Josephus. Their conversation reveals the intricate connections between ancient and modern struggles for identity and survival.
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INSIGHT

Modern Iran Differs From Ancient Persia

  • Barry Strauss began writing the book in 2020 partly due to contemporary Israel–Iran tensions and historical Iranian-Jewish alliances.
  • He highlights that modern Iranian hostility to Israel is atypical compared with ancient Persian and Parthian friendliness.
INSIGHT

Revolt Fueled By Roman Misrule And Internal Strife

  • Strauss argues Nero's policies and local misrule pushed Judea toward revolt, not inevitability alone.
  • Internal Jewish factionalism and destruction of grain supplies critically weakened Jerusalem's defense.
INSIGHT

Temple Loss Didn't End Jewish Identity

  • The temple's destruction produced despair but also messianic and adaptive responses like rabbinic prayer replacing temple rituals.
  • Rome underestimated Judaism's resilience and imposed humiliating empire-wide taxes on Jews.
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