Second Temple Judaism: ca. 538 BCE-135 CE

Edict of Cyrus (first return from Exile): 538

525 Cambyses conquers Egypt, Cyprus, Samos

522 Darius I

Temple rebuilt: 520-515

Judean prophets Haggai and Zechariah: 520

518 Darius regains Egypt

490 first Persian [Greek] war / Marathon

486-465 Xerxes [assasinated]

465-425 Artaxerxes I (Longimanus)

460 Inaros revolt in Egypt (Athenian support)

458 Ezra? [7th year Artaxerxes]

Torah (Pentateuch = first division of Jewish Scriptures) given status as Scripture: ca. 450

448 Peace of Callius [Persia/Athens]

445 Nehemiah

423-404 Darius II (Nothus)

407 Elephantine Jewish plea for help

404-359 Artaxerxes II (Mnemon)

404 Persia reclaims Greek Asia Minor

404-401 revolt of Cyrus the Younger

401 battle of Cunaxa

398 Amyrtaios frees Egypt

398 Ezra? [7th year Artaxerxes]

359-338 Artaxerxes III (Ochus)

343 Egypt reconquered

336-330 Darius III

Alexander the Great conquers Palestine: 333/331

Ptolemaic rule of Palestine 312-200

Coming of Rome to the east Mediterranean: ca. 230-146

Ptolemy IV Philopator, 221-203 [see 3 Maccabees]

Battle of Raphia 217 bce

Prophets (second division of Jewish Scriptures)

accepted as Scripture: ca. 200

Qumran community: ca. 200 BCE-135 CE

Seleucid rule of Palestine 200-166 BCE

Death of Simon the Just (earliest date for composition of Sirach): 198

Antiochus IV Epiphanes: 175-164

Maccabean rebellion: 168/167-165

Hasmonean era: 165-63

Simon (Hasmonean) acclaimed high priest and ethnarch: 140

John Hyrcanus I: 134-104

Rome (Pompey) annexes Palestine: 63

Herod, king of Judea: 40-4

Roman empire begins: 31

Approximate birth date of Jesus: 4 BCE

Jews expelled from Rome: 19 CE

Pilate, governor of Judea: 26-36

Approximate date of crucifixion of Jesus: 30

Attempt to place statue in Jewish temple: 41

Judean war against Rome: 66-74

Fall of Jerusalem: 70

Fall of Masada: 73/74

"Council of Jamnia": 90

Bar-Kokhba revolt: 132-135