During Jesus time Jerusalem had many trees and the surrounding countryside had many forests. It was not until the Roman siege of Jerusalem in AD 70 that the landscape became bare. The Romans ordered all the trees within twelve miles of the city to be felled and made into banks, hurdles, frameworks and 160 siege machines. Also crosses were made from them on which as many as 500 Jews were crucified every day. This same scene was repeated in the other fortified cities of "Palestine" as well. After the fall of Jerusalem all the trees of "Palestine" were taxed. Not wishing to pay the tax or not being able to afford the tax the people cut down their trees. Thus the deforestation of the Holy Land became complete.