History - Timeline of Jewish History - 70-500 CE

Date	Landmark Events
66-73	First Jewish Revolt against Rome.
69	Vespasian gives Yochanan ben Zakkai permission to establish a Jewish center for study at Yavneh that will become the hub for rabbinic Judaism.
70	Destruction of Jerusalem and the second Temple,
73	Last stand of Jews at Masada.
ca. 90-100	Gamaliel II excludes sectarians (including Christians) from the synagogues.
ca. 90-150	Writings (third and last division of Jewish Scriptures) discussed and accepted as sacred scripture.
114-117	Jewish Revolts against Rome in Cyprus, Egypt and Cyrene. The Great Synagogue and the Great Library in Alexandria are destroyed as well as the entire Jeiwsh community of Cyprus. Afterwards, Jews were forbidden on Cyprus.
120-135	Rabbi Akiva active in consolidating Rabbinic Judaism.
132-135	Bar Kokhba rebellion (Second Jewish Revolt). Roman forces kill an estimated half a million Jews and destroy 985 villages and 50 fortresses.
136	Hadrian renames Jerusalem Aelia Capatolina and builds a Pagan temple over the the site of the Second Temple. He also forbids Jews to dwell there. Judea (the southern portion of what is now called the West Bank) was renamed Palaestina in an attempt to minimize Jewish identification with the land of Israel.
138-161	Antoninus Pius, Hadrian's sucessor, repeals many of the previously instituted harsh policies towards Jews.
193-211	Roman emperor Lucious Septimus Severus treats Jews relatively well, allowing them to participate in public offices and be exempt from formalities contrary to Judaism. However, he did not allow the Jews to convert anyone
ca. 200	Mishnah (Jewish oral law) compiled/edited under Judah the Prince.
203	Because of his health, Judah HaNasi relocates the center of Jewish learning from Beth Shearim to Sepphoris.
212	Roman Emperor Caracalla allows free Jews within the empire to become full Roman citizens.
220	Babylonian Jewish Academy founded at Sura by Rab.
220-470	Amoraim, or Mishna scholars, flourish. The Amoraim's commentary, along with the Mishna, comprises the Talmud.
222-235	Emperor Alexander Severus allowed for a revival of Jewish rights, including permission to visit Jerusalem.
ca. 250	Babylonian Jews flourish (as does Manichaeism) under Persian King Shapur I.
306	One of the first Christian councils, the Council of Elvira, forbids intermarriage and social interaction with Jews.
315	Code of Constantine limits rights of non-Christians, is Constantine's first anti-Jewish act.
359	Hillel creates a new calendar based on the lunar year to replace the dispersed Sanhedrin, which previously announced the festivals.
368	Jerusalem Talmud compiled.
370-425	Hillel founds Beit Hillel, a school emphasizing tolerance and patience. Hillel, a descendant of King David, is one of the first scholars to devise rules to interpret the Torah.

Back to Jewish History Timeline