“Jews had no state support at that time”
I have often tried to learn why the Jews did not return and take Judea back after Rome fell and Byzantium whethered in the wind. Any thoughts as that piece of history ?
For 200+ years they could have done so but didn’t - why??
A recent FR posting suggested that a Constitutional amendment be advocated to purge America of Islam.
This article would be the first steps (organized resistence) in that direction and needs to happen ASAP.
Judea had been occupied for some time by the fall of the Temple, and a lot of its native structures had collapsed. Jews dispersed throughout the Roman Empire (including a large number who went to Northern Spain, where they were tapestry makers). And then, of course, the Roman Empire collapsed under the barbarian assaults, but this was preceded by the gradual weakening of Rome’s more distant colonies.
Hence, there really wasn’t much of anything for them to go back to, and in addition, they were dispersed and hadn’t left with a leadership that saw that as a possibility.
I'd be curious to know which 200 years you suppose they could have returned?
You may remember, when Muslims defeated the Eastern Roman Empire Byzantines, and took over Palestine, the reason was Byzantines became militarily exhausted by a long war with Persia.
Prior to that time, as far as I know, the Byzantines remained a powerful and vital force in the region.
I couldn't say how pro or anti-Jew Byzantines may have been. For certain, they would not allow an independent Jewish state in Palestine.