The Roman World
-------------------------------------
Rome Day 1 Geography Rome Day 2 Structure of the Republic Rome Day 3 Punic Wars
Rome Day 4 Republic to Empire Rome Day 5 Roman Society Rome Day 6 Christianity
Rome Day 7 Fall of Rome Rome Day 8 Review Unit Plan for Rome
------------------------------------------
Section 5: The Rise of Christianity
In this section you will learn about the conditions Jews faced in Judaea.
Explain how conditions contributed to the rise of Christianity.
Explain two difficulties early Christians experienced under Roman Rule.
Explain how changes in the late Roman Empire helped establish the Christian religion and stabilize the church.
-------------------------------------------
Vocabulary
rabbis: Jewish scholars who interpreted scripture and Jewish Law
Jesus: Jewish founder of Christianity, whose teachings greatly influenced the Western world
martyrs: Persons put to death for their beliefs
bishops: Heads of the early Christian Church in major cities
patriarchs: Bishops of the major centers of the early Christian Church
pope: Title assumed by the patriarch of Rome and head of the Catholic Church; from the Latin word meaning “father”
------------------------------------------------------------------
Section 5 Summary
The Romans allowed the provinces to practice their own religions. But they also had to honor the Roman gods and the “divine spirit” of the emperor. For most people, adding another god was not a problem. But Jews in the province of Judea believed in only one God. Some Jews favored rebellion. Others hoped that God would send a Messiah, or savior, to free the Jews. In A.D. 66 the Jews revolted. The Jewish Diaspora - 70 AD the dispersing of the Jewish people from the holy land.
The Romans destroyed Jerusalem and all but the western wall of the temple, which became a sacred Jewish site. With the temple gone, the priests’ role weakened. Rabbis—Jewish scholars who interpreted scripture and Jewish Law—began to lead Jewish congregations. In A.D. 135 the Roman s crushed the last Jewish revolt and banned all Jews from Jerusalem. Jews built communities outside Jerusalem, where they carried on their faith and culture.
In this setting Christianity arose. Around A.D. 27 Jesus of Nazareth began wandering the countryside with his disciples, or followers, teaching and performing miracles. His teachings, which greatly influenced the Western world, were grounded in Jewish traditions. He taught that there is one true God, who cares more for people than for laws or rituals. His teachings were for all people, including the poor. The Romans feared that Jesus would lead an uprising. He was arrested, put on trial, and crucified. According to the Gospels, Jesus arose from the dead and remained on Earth for 40 days. Then he ascended into heaven. His followers called him Christ, after the Greek word for Messiah, Christos. They believed that through his death and resurrection all people could be redeemed, or saved, from God’s final judgment. A new religion was born—Christianity.
Jesus’s disciples set out to spread the word that the day of judgment was coming. At first Christianity spread slowly. It expanded as life in the empire became more difficult. At first the Roman government ignored Christians as a Jewish offshoot. But Christians began converting others and speaking out against the worship of other god. The Romans viewed these actions as attacks on Roman religion. Nero & Persecution link
Read the attached link
Why did Christianity appeal to the poor?
They outlawed Christianity, seized Christian property, and executed Christians. Many Christians became martyrs, meaning they were put to death for their beliefs. But the religion spread. (Primary Source: Tacitus)
(Edict of Milan 313 AD - Allows Christianity to be practiced legally within the Roman Empire)
In the A.D. 300s the Roman emperor Constantine
began promoting Christianity. He was baptized on his deathbed. The emperor Theodosius made Christianity the official religion of the empire. The Christian church became well organized. Priests conducted local services. Bishops headed the church in each city. Rome and other major cities became church centers, and bishops of these cities were called patriarchs. Later the patriarch of Rome took the title of pope (from the Latin word for “father”).
The pope and bishops traced their authority to Jesus’s disciple Peter, whose authority came straight from Jesus. Church councils also helped strengthen the church. In A.D. 325 a council wrote down the main beliefs of the church.
In 392 CE, Christianity becomes the official religion of the Roman Empire.
Some basics on Christianity
(from www.regentprep.org)
Christianity is currently the most popular religion in the world based on the number of worshippers found throughout the world. While this monotheistic religion developed from Judaism, there are several key differences in its teachings.
The Basics
Founder-Jesus of Nazareth and his disciples who helped spread his teachings.
Graphic Organizer:
The rise of and effects of Christianity in the Roman Empire (Who? What?...)
Period 8 needs Edict of Milan, and 392 AD Official Religoin - Christianity
Geographic Origin-Developed in Judea (now Israel), located in the Middle East bordering the Mediterranean Sea sometime around the year 30 CE.Currently Practiced-Christianity is the dominant religion in North America, South America, Europe, and Russia.
Significant Writings-The Holy Bible, consisting of both the Old Testament and the New Testament.
Places of Worship-Christians practice their faith in temples usually referred to as churches.
Significant Religious People-Priests and ministers are Christian holy men and women who are charged with conducting religious services, ensuring that Jewish laws are observed, and serving as a spiritual guide for the community. In addition, deacons, nuns, and monks are people who have dedicated their lives to Christian service.
Teachings and Beliefs
Because Christianity evolved from Judaism, there are certain concepts that these two religions share. For example, both Jews and Christians subscribe to the Ten Commandments found in the Book of Exodus.
In addition, prophecies of Jewish prophets contained in several books of the Old Testament stated that God would send a savior, or messiah, to the people of Israel.
While Judaism clearly states that this event has not yet occurred, Christians believe that Jesus of Nazareth was the Son of God, sent to redeem the world of sin. This has led the Christian faith to proclaim that there is a Holy Trinity, formed by the Creator (Father), Redeemer (Son), and Sustainer (Holy Spirit). Christians believe that these three entities are all part of a single higher power.
Christians are expected to attend church services regularly, usually on Sundays and holy days such as Christmas and Easter. On these occasions Christians take part in sacraments, which are religious practices such as baptism, and receiving the Eucharist.
1. What factors and events in Judaea contributed to the rise of Christianity?
Many factors and events in Judaea contributed to the rise of Christianity. Jews in Judaea believed in only one God, but the Romans wanted people to honor the gods of Rome. The Jews revolted to establish an independent state. The Romans destroyed Jerusalem and banned the Jews from their holy city. The Jews built communities outside Jerusalem to carry on their faith and culture, and Christianity arose there. Jesus’s teachings were grounded in Jewish tradition, and some Jews saw Jesus as a Messiah who would lead the Jews to freedom.
2. What difficulties did Christians experience under Roman rule?
The Romans outlawed Christianity, seized Christian property, and put Christians to death for their beliefs.
3. What changes and events occurred during the late Roman Empire that helped establish Christianity and stabilize the church?
The first great change that helped establish Christianity during the late Roman Empire was the support of the Roman emperor Constantine. Then the emperor Theodosius made Christianity the empire’s official religion. The church became more stabilized when it became better organized into priests, bishops, patriarchs, and pope. Church councils also helped collect and spread Christianity’s main beliefs.