A Wisely Build Roman Road in Golan

Mighty Romans are gone, but Roman roads remain all over the Mediterranean and in Israel. Originally, the roads ensured the smooth movements of troops and military equipment, but one can imagine the ancient highways came in handy in many situations.

The history behind the Roman roads in Israel goes back to Alexander the Great, who entered the region around 332 BCE, looking to conquer Persia. After his death, Judea lived under Ptolemaic rule. In the second century BCE, Judea was conquered by the Seleucid Empire. This was a period of Hellenization and power struggles over Jerusalem and the Temple, leading to the Maccabean Revolt in 167 BCE. During a short time of independence, the Hasmonean family established control over Judea, the Galilee, and parts of Jordan and Idumea. However, infighting and internal politics in 67 BCE led to Hyrcanus II and Aristobulus II asking Rome for help. The Romans got involved and helped out, but ultimately conquered Jerusalem in 63 BCE and continued to dominate Israel for centuries to come. Building roads was key to the mighty empire's management of things, and these ancient stones still tell their stories.