Lesson Summary

In this lesson, you learned how Christianity began and how it spread across the Roman Empire.

Judea: The Birthplace of Christianity - Christianity began in Judea in the present-day Middle East. Jews there told prophecies about a Messiah who would remove the Romans and restore the kingdom of David.

The Birth of Jesus - What is known about Jesus’s life and his birth around 6 B.C.E. comes from the four Gospels. Not much is known about his childhood, but when Jesus was about 30, John the Baptist presented him as the Messiah.

The Life and Death of Jesus - Jesus preached with his disciples in present-day Israel, emphasizing love and mercy and often teaching in parables. His teachings angered some. In his early 30s, the Romans executed Jesus by crucifixion. According to the Christian Bible, three days later, he arose from the dead and appeared to his disciples, who began to spread his teachings.

The Missionary Work of Paul - According to the New Testament, Paul of Tarsus persecuted Christians. But after Paul reported a vision, he became an important Christian missionary, spreading the religion around the empire. His letters to early churches remain part of the Christian Bible.

Christianity Spreads - The new religion survived harsh persecution and spread across the Roman Empire. In 313 C.E., the emperor Constantine gave Christians freedom of religion in the Edict of Milan. It was the official Roman religion by 380.