Books XI, XII: Cyrus. Flight from Babylon. Alexander the Great subdues Judea. The situation in the years of the Successors.

Josephus, a Jewish historian of the 1st century AD, was born in the first year of Caligula's reign, 37/38 AD, into a priestly family and received rabbinical upbringing. After studying in the theological schools of the Jews, he embraced the sect of the Pharisees.

In 66 AD, he was elected by the Sanhedrin of Jerusalem as general of Galilee in the war against the Romans. He was captured in 67 AD by Vespasian, who then made him a freedman and subsequently a Roman citizen. He lived in Rome until his death, enjoying the patronage of the Flavian emperors.

The date of his death is unknown, but from his writings, it can be inferred that he lived into the first decade of the 2nd century AD.

[Excerpt from a publisher's or edition's presentation text]