Final answer:
Rome tried two experiments in governing Palestine: granting autonomy to a Jewish puppet king and implementing direct Roman rule through prefects or procurators.
Step-by-step explanation:
Once Palestine became part of the Roman Empire, Rome attempted two experiments in governing the region. The first experiment involved granting a certain level of autonomy to the local Jewish puppet king, Herod. This approach aimed to maintain stability by allowing the local Jewish population to govern themselves to some extent. However, this experiment did not succeed, as Herod refused to take on the responsibility of handling the trial of Jesus and handed him back to the Roman governor Pilate, who ultimately ordered Jesus' execution. The second experiment was the Roman direct rule, in which the region was governed by Roman prefects or procurators. This centralized approach aimed to establish direct Roman control over Palestine and maintain order. These experiments in governing Palestine highlight the challenges Rome faced in pacifying and administrating the region.