Palaestina Secunda (1 gen 390 anni – 1 gen 636 anni)

Descrizione:

Palaestina Secunda, a Byzantine province established around 390 CE, encompassed the Galilee, Yizrael Valley, Bet Shean Valley, and part of the Golan plateau, with Scythopolis (Bet Shean) as its capital. This province was integral to the Diocese of the East until its fall to Muslim armies between 634 and 636.

This region was a focal point for the rise of Christianity but remained a significant center for Judaism, especially after Jews were displaced from Judea in the 1st and 2nd centuries. Major cities in this province included Scythopolis, Capernaum, and Nazareth. During the 5th and 6th centuries, the province was pivotal in suppressing the Samaritan Revolts, with significant involvement from the Christian Ghassanid allies of the Byzantines.

In 614, Palaestina Secunda was overtaken by a coalition of Sasanian and Jewish forces, leading to considerable destruction, particularly of Christian sites. Though briefly reclaimed by Byzantium in 628, it permanently fell under Muslim control in 636, subsequently becoming part of the Jund al-Urdunn district in the Rashidun Caliphate.

Demographically, the province had a diverse population. Jews were prominent, especially in Galilee and Gaulanitis, while Greek and Aramaic-speaking Christians also populated the area. The Itureans, a pagan group, lived in northeastern parts, alongside the Christian Arab Ghassanids who had migrated from Yemen around the 4th and 5th centuries.

Religiously, the province was a stronghold for Judaism, where the Jerusalem Talmud was compiled. Tiberias was a major Jewish cultural center until the early 5th century. Meanwhile, Christianity flourished, particularly from the 4th century onward, with significant Byzantine church-building patronage, despite efforts to convert Jews to Christianity.

Economically, Palaestina Secunda was known for its high-quality olive oil production, a staple commodity that was heavily exported. This agricultural prosperity underscored the region's economic activity throughout the Byzantine period.

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