Few famous cities have been as controversial throughout their history as Jerusalem. Rarely has the city been governed by rulers from its own ranks. The list of foreign powers that have ruled over it is long, dating back to biblical times. Egyptians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Ptolemies, Seleucids, and Romans have succeeded one another. Time and again, the pressing question arose of how to relate to the new rulers and their culture. Various forms of adaptation and resistance were practiced. However, the city's significance in world history is not due to the turbulent political conflicts or the expansion and contraction of its territory, but rather to the fact that it became the birthplace of the monotheism that became a fundamental element of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. These monotheistic religions enjoy a large following.