Josephus was a first-century Jewish historian and military leader born in Jerusalem around 37 CE. He is best known for his works, including "The Jewish War," which details the Jewish revolt against Roman rule from 66 to 73 CE, and "Antiquities of the Jews," which provides a history of the Jewish people from creation to the Jewish War. Josephus was initially a commander in the Jewish forces but later surrendered to the Romans. He became a Roman citizen and served as an advisor to the Roman general Vespasian. His writings are valuable historical sources for understanding Jewish history and the context of early Christianity.