Main events in the history of Jerusalem - Timeline

3500 BCE Jerusalem first settled on the Ophel above the Gihon Spring 19th Century BCE Jerusalem listed in the Egyptian Execration Texts — first recorded mention of the city as Rusalimum  1750 BCE — 1500 BCEThe Hyksos Period 14th Century BCE The name Jerusalem appears in diplomatic correspondence as Urusalim in the Amarna Letters 1010-970 The reign of King David 1003 King David establishes Jerusalem as Capital of United Kingdom of Israel 970-931 The reign of King Solomon 950 King Solomon commences construction of the First Temple. 931 Division of Kingdom into Israel and Judah. 837-800 The reign of Hezekiah, King of Judah – tunnels conduit from Gihon spring to Siloam pool. 721 Assyrians conquer northern Kingdom of Israel and carry 10 of the 12 tribes into captivity and eventual dispersal. 701 Hezekiah successfully withstands Sennacherib's assault on Jerusalem. 598-587 Nebuchadnezzar's second invasion 597 Babylonians capture Jerusalem 588-586 Nebuchadnezzar's third invasion 586 Destruction of Jerusalem and of the Temple by Nebuchadnezzar, and the exile of the Jews to Babylon (Lam 1.4 / 2.2) 539 Fall of Babylon  537 BCE — 332 BCEThe Persian Period 538 Edict of Cyrus 537 Remnant of about 50,000 Jews return from Babylon by edict of King Cyrus 520 Work begins on rebuilding the Temple 515 Completion and rededication of the Second Temple under Zerubbabel (Ezra 6.15-18) 458 Ezra the Scribe comes from Babylon — Law revived 445 Nehemiah appointed governor of Judea by Artaxerxes, return from Babylon – rebuilds city walls 397 Ezra, the Scribe initiates religious reforms  332 BCE — 63 BCEThe Hellenistic Period 332 Alexander the Great defeats Daruis at Gaugamela and conquers Palestine from the Persians (Daniel 11.3) captures Jerusalem and Helenization begins 323 Death of Alexander in Babylon — Wars of Succession begin 320 Ptolemy I captures Jerusalem 320-198 Rule of the Egyptian Ptolemies 198-167 Rule of the Syrian Seleucids 169 Seleucid king, Antiochus IV Epiphanes (175-163) outlaws Judaism and on December 25th, profanes the Temple  167 BCE — 63 BCEThe Hasmonean Period 166 The priest Mattathias begins Maccabean revolt 167-141 Maccabean War of Liberation 164 Judah Maccabee recaptures Jerusalem and restores the Temple 166-160 Rule of Judah the Maccabee 160-143 Rule of Jonathan 150 Essene community founded 143-135 Rule of Simon Maccabeus 63 BCE — 324 CE/AD The Roman Period 63 General Pompey captures Jerusalem for Rome 63-37 Hasmonean rules continues but under the protection of Rome 40 Rome appoints Herod King of Judea 40-AD 4 Reign of Herod the Great 37 King Herod the Great captures Jerusalem 19 Preparation of stones for the rebuilding of the Temple 18 Herod starts actual rebuilding of the Temple 10 Although not complete until AD63, Temple is dedicated About 5/4 John the Baptist, Jesus of Nazareth born (year approximate) 04 Herod the Great dies   BCE to CE/AD 26-36 Pontius Pilate, Roman procurator of Judea for 10 years 31 April 25 / Nisan 14 Crucifixion of Jesus 41-44 Agrippa, king of Judea, builds new city wall (The "Third Wall"). 44 Death of Herod Agrippa 63 Temple completed 64 66-73 The Great Revolt - The War of the Jews against the Romans 70 Fall of Jerusalem and destruction of the Second Temple by Titus 73 Fall of Masada 132-135 Bar Kochba's war of freedom - Jerusalem again the Jewish Capital 135 Emperor Hadrian's total destruction of Jerusalem and building of new walls and new city renamed Aelia Capitolina — Jews not allowed in Jerusalem  324 — 638The Byzantine Period 326 Queen Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine the Great, visits Jerusalem, determines locations of events associated with the last days of Jesus, and causes churches to be build to commemorate them, most notably the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in AD 335. 438 Empress Eudocia permits Jews to live in Jerusalem 614 Persian conquest of Jerusalem — They destroy most churches and expel Jews 629 Recaptured by Byzantines. 638 — 1099The Early Muslim Period 638 Six years after Mohammed's death, the Caliph Omar enters Jerusalem and Jews are readmitted to Jerusalem 691 Dome of the Rock completed by Caliph Abd al-Malik 701 The construction of the al-Aqsa mosque completed by Caliph al-Walid 1010 Caliph al-Hakim orders destruction of synagogues and churches 1099 — 1244 The Crusader Kingdom 1099 Crusaders, led by Godfrey de Bouillon, capture of Jerusalem following Pope Urban's call in 1096. Baldwin I declared King of Jerusalem 1187 Kurdish general Saladin captures Jerusalem from Crusaders. He permits Jews and Muslims to return and settle in the city. 1192 Richard the Lion Heart attempts to re-capture Jerusalem but fails. Treaty with Saladin permitting Christians to worship at their Holy sites. 1219 City walls razed by Sultan Malik-al-Muattam 1244 Khawarizmian Turks capture Jerusalem. End of Crusader rule.  1260 — 1517 The Mameluk Period 1244 Mameluk Sultans defeat the Ayyubids and rule Jerusalem 1260 The Mameluks of Egypt capture Jerusalem 1267 Rabbi Moshe Ben Nahman (Nahmanides) arrives from Spain, revives the Jewish congregation and establishes synagogue and center of learning bearing his name. 1275 Marco Polo stops in Jerusalem on his way to China 1348 The Black Death Plague hits Jerusalem 1488 Rabbi Obadiah of Bertinoro settles in Jerusalem and leads the community. 1517 — 1917The Ottoman Turkish Period 1517 Ottomans effect peaceful takeover of Jerusalem 1537-1541 Unwalled since 1219, Sultan Suleiman ("The Magnificent"), rebuilds the city walls including the present day 7 gates and the "Tower of David." The Damascus gate in 1542. 1700 Rabbi Yehuda He'Hassid arrives, starts building "Hurva" Synagogue 1836 First visit of Sir Moses Montefiore 1838 First consulate (British) opened in Jerusalem 1860 First Jewish settlement outside walls of the city 1898 Visit by Dr. Theodor Herzl, founder of the World Zionist Organization. 1917 — 1948The British Mandate Period 1917 British conquest and General Allenby's entry into Jerusalem. 1918 Dr. Chaim Weizmann lays foundation stone of Hebrew University on Mount Scopus. 1920 Sir Herbert Samuel appointed first British High Commissioner and "Government House" established in Jerusalem. 1925 Hebrew University buildings inaugurated. 1947 United Nations Resolution recommending the partition of Israel. 1948 —The Israeli Period 14 May 1948 British Mandate ends and State of Israel Proclaimed. 14 May 1948-Jan 1949 Israel War of Liberation. 28 May 1948 New City of Jerusalem remains intact but Jewish Quarter in Old City falls. April 1949 Israel-TransJordan Armistice Agreement signed, whereby Jerusalem divided between the two countries. 13 Dec 1949 Jerusalem is Declared Capital of the State of Israel. 1965 Teddy Kollek elected Mayor of Jerusalem 5 June 1967 Jordan shells and mortars New City on opening day of the Six Day War. 7 June 1967 Israeli troops capture Old City and Jerusalem reunites. 23 June 1967 Moslems and Christians and Jews again given access to their Holy Places. 1980 Jerusalem Basic Law enacted declaring united Jerusalem to be capital of Israel. 1994 Mutual recognition of Israel and the PLO

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