Jerusalem during the Second Temple Period

Jerusalem during the Second Temple Period refers to the city of Jerusalem (the principal city of Judea) during the period from 538 BCE to 70 CE. This phase of the city's history encompasses the Achaemenid (Persian) rule over the city until its destruction by the Roman Empire during the First Jewish–Roman War. In Jewish history this timespan is known as the Second Temple period or Second Commonwealth which saw both region and city change hands several times. It was the center of religious life for all Jews, even those who lived in the diaspora prayed towards Jerusalem on a daily basis and made pilgrimages during religious festivals. Jerusalem was fertile grounds for religious creativity; the Pharisees of Second Temple Judaism developed into the Tannaim and Judaism's post-Exilic religious identity as it continues today, and the Jewish Bible was likely canonized though exactly when this occurred remains disputed. It was also in Jerusalem during the later stages of this period that Christianity was born.