User:Cultofjunior/sandbox

The beginning of the Hellenistic Period is marked by Alexander the Great's conquest of much the Near East. After his death in 323 BCE, with no capable heirs to take his place, his empire was divided up into pieces by his generals. Ptolemy I came to Egypt and asserted himself as pharaoh in 322 BCE. He was able to control the area of Palestine in 320 BCE. During Ptolemaic rule, the people of Palestine, except Judea, experienced heavy taxes and harsh punishment for its protest. One of those responsible for this harsh treatment was Joseph the Tobiad. He was what one might call a 'tax collector' and this made Jerusalem a very rich city. His and the other Tobiad's ways of living were very much pro-Hellenistic.

After the Ptolemaic Dynasty came the Seleucid Rule. Most of the Tobiads were in favor of Seleucid Rule. However, the kings of this new power extended heavy taxes on Judea.