The opening of I. THE DECAY OF JUDÆA AND THE JEWS IN DISPERSION
The Zendik Religion--King Kobad and Mazdak the Reformer--
Revolt of the Jews--Mar-Zutra--Revival of the Schools--
The Saburaïm--The Talmud committed to writing--Tolerance of
Chosru II--The Christianization of Judæa--The Jews under
Byzantine Rule--Justinian--Persecution of the Samaritans--
Benjamin of Tiberias--Attack on Tyre--The Emperor Heraclius.500-628 C. E.
Hardly had the Jews recovered from the long and horrible persecution to which they had been subjected by King Firuz, when they were overtaken by fresh storms, which subverted the work of three centuries. Firuz had been followed by his brother, who reigned a short time, and was succeeded by Kobad (Kovad, Cabades). The latter was a weak king, not without good qualities, but he allowed himself to become the tool of a fanatic, and was prevailed upon to institute religious persecutions. There arose under this monarch a man who desired to reform the religion of the Magi and make it the ruling faith. Mazdak--for that was the name of this reformer of Magianism--believed that he had discovered a means of promoting the promised victory of Light over Darkness, of Ahura-Mazda over Angromainyus.