Biblical Archaeology Forum – Dead Cities of Syria: Christian & Jewish Relations

Dead Cities of Syria: Christian & Jewish Relations. Sandra Scham of The Catholic University of America will present a fascinating look at the relationship between Christian communities and Jewish merchants in Northwestern Syria from the 1st to 6th centuries CE. Hundreds of settlements flourished, relying on Jewish merchants in nearby Aleppo to trade olives, olive oil, wine, wheat, and grapes throughout the Eastern Roman Provinces. Despite restrictions on Jews, both communities prospered, revealing important religious and cultural trends that shaped Syria.