Strabo, a Greek geographer of the first century AD described Jerusalem as a place that would not be envied, or a place where one would fight.8 Jerusalem is situated on a rugged terrain with the Judean mountains to the west, Judean desert and descends to the Dead Sea to the east. This strategic location had military benefits, and was easy to defend due to this terrain. However, Jerusalem was not an important natural commercial center. Its location and natural features were a commercial drawback, because
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