Judaea (Roman province)

Judaea ( ; ) was a Roman province from 6 to 132 AD, which incorporated the Levantine regions of Idumea, Philistia, Judea, Samaria, and Galilee, extending over parts of the former regions of the Hasmonean and Herodian kingdoms of Judea. The name ''Judaea'' (like the similar ''Judea'') was derived from the Iron Age Kingdom of Judah, that was centered predominantly in Judea.

Since the Roman Republic's conquest of Judea in 63 BC, the latter had maintained a system of semi-autonomous vassalage. The incorporation of the Roman province was enacted by the first Roman emperor, Augustus, after an appeal by the populace against the ill rule of Herod Archelaus (4 BC – 6 AD).

With the onset of direct rule, the official census instituted by Publius Sulpicius Quirinius, the governor of Roman Syria, caused tensions and led to an uprising by Jewish rebel Judas of Galilee (6 AD). Other notable events in the region include the crucifixion of Jesus (which led to the emergence of Christianity) and in 37 AD, Emperor Caligula ordered the erection of a statue of himself in the Jewish temple.

Growing discontent at Roman rule led to the First Jewish–Roman War in 66–73 AD and ultimately the Siege of Jerusalem and destruction of the temple in 70 AD, bringing an end to the Second Temple period. In 44 AD, Galilee and Perea were added to the province. In 132 AD, sources say the merging of Galilee and Judea resulted in an enlarged province named Syria Palaestina. Provided by Wikipedia