The Hasmonean dynasty was a ruling dynasty of Judea and surrounding regions during the second and first centuries BCE. It emerged from the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire, which sought to impose Hellenistic culture and religion on the Jewish people. The Hasmoneans established an independent Jewish state and expanded its territory significantly. Under the leadership of figures like Judas Maccabeus and John Hyrcanus, the Hasmoneans not only fought for religious freedom but also engaged in political and military campaigns that shaped the region's history. Their reign marked a significant period of Jewish autonomy before the eventual Roman conquest.