But, as historians explain in the CNN original series “Jerusalem: City of Faith and Fury,” the story of the capital’s religious and political tensions goes back far beyond the 20th century. It is centuries old.
“The history of Jerusalem is a very complex story,” Hunter College history teacher Laura Shore says on the CNN series. “And if you don’t know it in its complexity, it’s very hard to understand what’s going on today.”
Then there’s the fact that Jerusalem is also “the center of the national aspirations of two communities: the Israeli community and the Palestinian community,” Smith College religion professor Solomon Murad explained in the “Jerusalem” series. “It adds another layer of complexity.”
Shore adds that the challenge of resolving centuries of conflict may be difficult, but “it is impossible to imagine mending the present and building a better future for Jerusalem without understanding the many stories of Jerusalem’s past.”
“Jerusalem: City of Faith and Fury” offers a place to start by focusing on half a dozen critical moments in the city’s evolution. Below is a history of these six major controversies and rivalries, along with expert commentary on the series.
Circa 1,000 BC: David vs. Goliath
Here’s why this well-known story is so fundamental to the history of Jerusalem: It’s not just a good story in the Hebrew Bible. This is a turning point in the establishment of the empire.
39 BC: Rise and fall of Herod the Great
In the centuries since his death, the power structure has changed, but Jerusalem remains a desirable fortress. And by 39 BC, another ruler had ruthlessly taken control: Herod the Great.
Aided by a powerful Roman army, Herod ascended the throne violently and devoted himself to becoming “the most successful king, not only . . .