114 - Julius Caesar and the Jews, w/ Barry Strauss

A conversation with the bestselling author, classicist and the military and naval historian Barry Strauss about his latest book Jews vs. Rome: Two Centuries of Rebellion Against the World’s Mightiest Empire.

We explore:

• Why Julius Caesar became a key patron of the Jews and how his support shaped Jewish life in the Roman Empire
• The pivotal moment when Antipater (Herod's father) saved Caesar in Egypt, and how it changed Jewish-Roman relations
• Caesar's assassination: the personal ambitions and fears that drove the conspirators beyond Republican ideology
• Herod the Great's extraordinary political survival skills: switching allegiances from Antony to Octavian and always landing on his feet
• The ruthless pragmatism of Herod's reign, including the execution of his own talented sons
• The historical plausibility of the "slaughter of the innocents" story and what it reveals about Herod's character

For Barry's previous appearance, check out episode 81.

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