At the time of jesus, Isreal was part of the Roman empire, under the domination of a foreign empire.
Rome ruled indirectly:
Galilee:
Rome ruled indirectly:
Galilee:
- In the north
- Ruled by Herod Antipas (son of Herod the Great)
- Herod owed his appointment to Rome
- In the South
- Ruled by a circle of the Jewish aristocratic elite
- These elite collaborated with the Roman government
- Peasant Society
- Purity Society
- Patriarchal Society