Final answer:
Josephus was a first-century Jewish historian who authored "The Jewish War" and "Antiquities of the Jews", providing a critical narrative on Jewish history and the Jewish-Roman War, thus giving insights into the first-century Jewish and early Christian worlds.
Step-by-step explanation:
Josephus was a first-century Jewish historian who is highly regarded for his detailed works on Jewish history and his narrative of the First Jewish-Roman War. Two important works he wrote are "The Jewish War" (Bellum Judaicum) and "Antiquities of the Jews" (Antiquitates Judaicae). "The Jewish War" recounts the Jewish revolt against Roman occupation between 66-70 CE, while "Antiquities of the Jews" is a comprehensive history of the Jewish people from creation up to the outbreak of the Jewish War.
Josephus is important in our understanding of the first century world because his works provide a narrative of Jewish history and culture from a Jewish perspective during a period where most historical accounts are from Roman sources. His narratives offer insights into the political, social, and religious contexts of the time, including the early development of Christianity and the complex relationship between the Jews and the Roman Empire.