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History of Jerusalem Timeline
(~3000 BCE - Present)This timeline traces the history of Jerusalem, one of the oldest cities in the world and a sacred site for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. It covers key periods including ancient Canaanite settlement, the reigns of Kings David and Solomon, Babylonian and Roman conquests, Islamic rule, the Crusades, Ottoman governance, the British Mandate, and the city's central role in the modern Israeli-Palestinian conflict. More Less
Ancient Era
City of Jerusalem established by Canaanites
3000 BC
Jerusalem was first established as a settlement by Canaanite peoples on a hill above the Kidron Valley. Its strategic location between major trade routes helped it grow into an important city-state in the ancient Near East.
Image source: History of Jerusalem
Egyptian rule over Jerusalem begins
1500 BC
During the New Kingdom period, Jerusalem came under Egyptian influence and control. The city is mentioned in the Amarna letters, diplomatic correspondence written to the pharaohs, attesting to its early importance.
Image source: New Kingdom of Egypt
King David captures Jerusalem and makes it his capital
1000 BC
According to the Hebrew Bible, King David captured the city from the Jebusites and established it as the capital of the united Kingdom of Israel, giving the city its enduring centrality in Jewish tradition.
Image source: Siege of Jebus
Solomon builds the First Temple in Jerusalem
950 BC
King Solomon constructed the First Temple on the Temple Mount, making Jerusalem the central site of worship for the Israelites and transforming it into the religious heart of the kingdom.
Image source: Solomon's Temple
Babylonians destroy Jerusalem and the First Temple
587 BC
Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon besieged and destroyed Jerusalem, burning the Temple and exiling much of the Jewish population to Babylon, an event known as the Babylonian captivity.
Image source: Siege of Jerusalem (587 BC)
Cyrus allows Jews to return and rebuild the Temple
538 BC
After conquering Babylon, Persian king Cyrus the Great permitted the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their temple, which was completed around 516 BC under Persian imperial rule.
Image source: Return to Zion
Classical Period
Alexander the Great conquers the region
332 BC
Alexander the Great's conquest of the Levant brought Jerusalem under Hellenistic rule, beginning centuries of Greek cultural influence over the city and its inhabitants.
Image source: Alexander the Great
Maccabean revolt establishes independent Judea
167 BC - 160 BC
Jewish rebels led by Judah Maccabee rose against the Seleucid Empire after Antiochus IV desecrated the Temple. The successful revolt restored Jewish independence and rededicated the Temple, commemorated at Hanukkah.
Image source: Maccabean Revolt
Rome annexes Judea
63 BC
The Roman general Pompey besieged Jerusalem and absorbed Judea into the Roman Republic, ending Hasmonean independence and beginning Roman dominance over the city.
Image source: Siege of Jerusalem (63 BC)
Herod the Great expands the Second Temple
20 BC
Herod, Rome's client king of Judea, undertook a massive expansion of the Second Temple, creating one of the most magnificent religious structures of antiquity; remnants include the Western Wall.
Image source: Second Temple
Key Facts
- Jerusalem has been destroyed and rebuilt numerous times, with major destruction occurring in 586 BCE by the Babylonians and in 70 CE by the Romans.
- The city is home to major religious sites including the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound (Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif).
- King David made Jerusalem the capital of the Kingdom of Israel around 1000 BCE, and his son Solomon built the First Temple there.
- From 1517 to 1917, Jerusalem was part of the Ottoman Empire for four centuries before coming under British Mandate control after World War I.
- In 1948, following the end of the British Mandate, Jerusalem was divided between Israeli and Jordanian control until Israel captured East Jerusalem in the Six-Day War of 1967.
Source
This History of Jerusalem timeline was generated with the help of AI, using information found on the internet.
We work hard to keep these timelines accurate, but mistakes do get through. If you spot one, email us at [email protected] and we'll fix it for future visitors.
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