[from "The Very Words of Iosephus," c. 747 AUC*]
Sometimes, it seems like a dubious prospect that we continue to send legions to Palestine. It sounds like a depressing backwater, especially the local religious nuts. The Romans bring civilization to these papers, roads, clean water, administration, the majesty of Caesar, and are they happy? No. Still, we let them practice their strange religion ... one god? What is up with that? And, they aren't happy. Shoot ... they can even be citizens ... Jews! Consider some local resident, let's say some tanner named Saul, which apparently is a common name. This guy can be a Roman citizen, with the right to appeal to the Caesar Augustus himself if charged with a crime! Not bad, is it? And, what do they do? Complain that their taxes are too high, that they have to honor Caesar, and not support a bunch of rabble rousers. Darn religious zealots.
Yes, I know ... we need to protect our borders, especially given Egypt is a major source of food ... how can we have bread and circuses without bread, after all? We move out of Palestine and Syria (wonder how that guy Quirinius is doing), what happens? Some Parthians or whatever will try to seize Egypt. And, we cannot have that ... this is the time of Pax Romana, right? And, peace needs back-up. Now, I know, I'm not a big fan of the local leader there. A Herod, who seems like a typical power hungry local tyrant. But, hey, as long as he supports us. Our man in Palestine, right? Besides, the locals seem to respect him enough ... provides jobs and all with those building projects. And, those people only really respect power and force. Better him than someone who truly takes that strange religion seriously.
Anyway, talking about taxes, the census was a success. It was unpopular, of course, since no one keeps in mind that an empire needs taxes. If you don't keep close watch on people, how will the empire thrive? Darn anti-imperialistic naysayers. I must say that the whole thing underlines the remarkable bureaucracy that makes Rome great. Just think, all those people going back to the towns of their ancestors, and the efforts needed to keep everything running smoothly. Take for instance a place like Palestine. A story was passed to me that times were so tough that often people had to stay in barns because the inns of certain towns were overcrowded. Apparently, in one case, a baby was actually born there, and was placed in a manger! Icky. That's where slop is stored. But, it went smoothly -- wouldn't be surprised if future ages will read about such events and be impressed.
Update: A bit more on that story about the baby. A local soldier told of a story that a shepherd claimed to see some sort of heavenly being proclaiming said baby was destined to be their king, apparently prophesized in the locals' religious writings or something. A passing trio of astrologers got into the fun, dropping off some gifts, saying that a star somehow was involved. The details are hazy and who knows how much you can trust such rumor mongering. Lots of such tales going around these days. Sounds fantastical, like why not also say that Jupiter impregnated the woman, sending Mercury to assure her that her husband will not have her killed? [Seems a local custom is to stone adulterers. Not enough stones in Rome for that here. Lol]
But, there was a serious subplot here -- Herod, apparently an unhinged sort, took the talk seriously, feeling his reign was threatened. And, thus, had all local children under the age of two killed. One would think the Romans would not allow such things to go on -- think of the trouble it might cause -- but it's not like we care too much about what goes on in such backwaters. If the people really thought Herod was a tyrant, they would demand him be overthrown, right? He might be a tyrant, but he's our tyrant. Anyway, a rumor is going around that the baby survived, the couple fleeing the area. That sort of thing always seems to happen ... like they abandon the baby on a rock somewhere, and a local shepherd saves him. Bad planning, I say. Overkill that is in effect underkill ... a bit ironic.
At any rate, maybe, some of the gold that the astrologers gave them could be put to good use. After all, sounds like that baby has a future.
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* aka written around 747 years after the founding of the city (of Rome) [more of this "lost book" here]