Editing Jerusalem (section)

==History==
{{Main|History of Jerusalem}}
{{For timeline}}
{{See also|Cartography of Jerusalem|l1=Historical maps of Jerusalem}}
Jerusalem is one of the world's oldest cities, with a history spanning over 5,000 years. Its origins trace back to around 3000 BCE, with the first settlement near the [[Gihon Spring]]. The city is first mentioned in Egyptian [[Execration texts]] around 2000 BCE as "Rusalimum." By the 17th century BCE, Jerusalem had developed into a fortified city under [[Canaan]]ite rule, with massive walls protecting its water system. During the [[Late Bronze Age]], Jerusalem became a vassal of [[Ancient Egypt]], as documented in the [[Amarna letters]].

The city's importance grew during the ''Israelite period'', which began around 1000 BCE when [[King David]] captured Jerusalem and made it the capital of the [[United Kingdom of Israel]]. David's son, [[Solomon]], built the [[First Temple]], establishing the city as a major religious center. Following the kingdom's split, Jerusalem became the capital of the [[Kingdom of Judah]] until it was captured by the [[Neo-Babylonian Empire]] in 586 BCE. The [[Babylonians]] destroyed the First Temple, leading to the [[Babylonian exile]] of the Jewish population. After the [[Fall of Babylon|Persian conquest of Babylon]] in 539 BCE, [[Cyrus the Great]] allowed the Jews to return and rebuild the city and its temple, marking the start of the ''Second Temple period''. Jerusalem fell under [[Hellenistic]] rule after the conquests of [[Alexander the Great]] in 332 BCE, leading to increasing cultural and political influence from [[Greece]]. The [[Hasmonean]] revolt in 164 BCE briefly restored Jewish sovereignty, with Jerusalem as the capital of an independent state.

In 63 BCE, Jerusalem was [[Siege of Jerusalem (63 BC)|captured]] by [[Pompey]] and brought under [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] rule. The city was embellished by [[Herod the Great]] who expanded the Second Temple, making it one of the largest sanctuaries in the ancient world. Tensions between the Jews and Roman authorities eventually escalated into the [[First Jewish–Roman War|First Jewish Revolt]], resulting in the [[Siege of Jerusalem (70 CE)|siege and destruction of Jerusalem]] and the [[Second Temple]] in 70 CE. A few decades later, the city was rebuilt as the Roman colony ''[[Aelia Capitolina]]'', dedicated to [[Jupiter (god)|Jupiter]], provoking the [[Bar Kokhba revolt|Bar Kokhba Revolt]] (132–136 CE). After the revolt's suppression, Jews were banned from the city. During the [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine]] period, Jerusalem gained prominence as a center of [[Christianity|Christian]] pilgrimage, especially after [[Constantine the Great]] supported the construction of the [[Church of the Holy Sepulchre]]. In 638 CE, Jerusalem was conquered by the [[Rashidun Caliphate]], and under early [[Islamic]] rule, the [[Dome of the Rock]] and [[Al-Aqsa Mosque]] were built, solidifying its religious importance in Islam.

During the [[Crusades]], Jerusalem changed hands multiple times, being captured by the Crusaders in 1099 and recaptured by [[Saladin]] in 1187. It remained under [[Islamic]] control through the [[Ayyubid]] and [[Mamluk]] periods, until it became part of the [[Ottoman Empire]] in 1517. In the modern period, Jerusalem was divided between Israel and Jordan after the [[1948 Arab–Israeli War]]. Israel captured [[East Jerusalem]] during the [[Six-Day War]] in 1967, uniting the city under Israeli control. The [[status of Jerusalem]] remains a highly contentious issue, with both Israelis and Palestinians claiming it as their capital. Historiographically, the city's history is often interpreted through the lens of competing national narratives. [[Israelis|Israeli]] scholars emphasize the ancient Jewish connection to the city, while [[Palestinian]] narratives highlight the city's broader historical and multicultural significance. Both perspectives influence contemporary discussions of Jerusalem's status and future.