Deleted member 1487
What if the Romans do not destroy Israel and the kingdom survives until the splitting of the Empire? What effect would it have on Middle Eastern history?
The Kingdom? Wasn't that destroyed by the Babylonians?What if the Romans do not destroy Israel and the kingdom survives until the splitting of the Empire? What effect would it have on Middle Eastern history?
For the next six hundred years, the only people who would be coming to the Levant are the Persians, and in OTL they showed some inclination to create a free Judea (IIRC there were some attempts in OTL). So the kingdom potentially could remain independent.If its the latter, then well, it will be conquered by whatever next big empire rules the area. If its the former - there was a considerable Jeiwsh Diasproa already before the crackdown on the Judean Revolt. Already before most Jews live doutside Jduea.
Though, the surviving Temple is going to have some severe religious implications, both for Judaism and young Christianity- look how often Christ predicts the Temple's destruction in the Bible. (Now we get into the fun argument, if the Temple isn't destroyed, would Jesus still predict it? I suppose it depends on whether you believe Him to be God or not...)
I think this is impossible, the Jewish Diaspora existed from the start of Judaism*, Mesapotania was a importat Jewish cultural centre, and was in truth the birthplace of Messiahian Judaism.
So to avoid a Jewish diaspora, you need to avoid the Babylonian exile, but without that Judaism wouldn't be recognisable as the same religion.
*Messiahian (the belief that Messiah will come, not Messianic Judaism) Judaism, not the early tradition (Samaritans).
What you describe is immigration (a few Jews choosing to live outside the Homeland) and nomadism (Jews all living together, but in a different location). Diaspora is different -- it's when an ethnic group is so spread out that (1) the displaced outnumber the people remaining in the Homeland, and (2) no new location has become the locus of the ethnicity. When the Jews moved Egypt -->Isael-->Babylon-->Judea, there was always a clear locus containing the majority of those who would call themselves "Hebrew." Post-70 AD, the Hebrews were scattered -- a diaspora fundamentally different from the dislocations that came before it.
As said, that was already so long before Bar Kochbas revolt.(1) the displaced outnumber the people remaining in the Homeland,
But we dont talk about the Hebrews. Valdemars point is that Judaism only arose in Babylon, and that is essentially correct. And ever since then, the Jews were spread out. Though, yeah, probably at first, after the return of the Jewish elite (which really was the "Exile", not the entire people) the majority of the Jews was still in Judea.and (2) no new location has become the locus of the ethnicity. When the Jews moved Egypt -->Isael-->Babylon-->Judea, there was always a clear locus containing the majority of those who would call themselves "Hebrew." Post-70 AD, the Hebrews were scattered -- a diaspora fundamentally different from the dislocations that came before it.