The country was part of the Roman Empire and under the control of Rome. The only power the Pharisee's had over the Jewish people was their religion. They imposed more and more rules, and took over the lives of the people through them.
It was one of the reasons why Jesus was sent, to turn the people back to God rather than have what was developing. The Pharisees hated Jesus. They stalked him, putting their spies on him all through his 2 year ministry, trying to catch him breaking the rules, especially those of the Sabbath. They picked on every single thing he did and said, trying to outsmart him, trying to find enough fault in him, but he thwarted their efforts every time.
Jesus had defenses for his followers. He told them not to try to be angry, but to turn the other cheek, no matter what was said and done to them.
In his last days he taught the disciples: 'I chose you out of the world. You were of the world but I took you out of the world, and because I took you out of the world, the world will hate you, but remember when the world hates you, it hated me first.'
He told them that people will pick holes in everything they said, that they will be harassed, stalked, picked on, but for the sake of the Gospel they should not shrink from spreading the good news.
I wasn't there. I have the translators to thank for teaching me. If my words are not as the Bible actually says, I am sorry. I hope I have not lost the meaning by using my own words, but bearing in mind the reception I always get, I hope that is not forlorn.