As part of the ancient world conquered by Alexander the Great of Greece (332 BCE),
the Land remained a Jewish theocracy under Syrian-based Seleucid rulers.
When the Jews were prohibited from practicing Judaism and their Temple was desecrated
as part of an effort to impose Greek-oriented culture and customs on the entire population,
the Jews rose in revolt (166 BCE). First led by Mattathias of the priestly Hasmonean family and then by his son Judah the Maccabee,
the Jews subsequently entered Jerusalem and purified the Temple (164 BCE), events commemorated each year by the festival of Hanukkah.
Following further Hasmonean victories (147 BCE), the Seleucids restored autonomy to Judea,
as the Land of Israel was now called, and, with the collapse of the Seleucid kingdom (129 BCE),
Jewish independence was again achieved. Under the Hasmonean dynasty, which lasted about 80 years,
the kingdom regained boundaries not far short of Solomon’s realm, political consolidation under Jewish rule was attained and Jewish life flourished.