Transcript A new religion called Christianity developed within the Roman

Ancient Rome
The Rise of Christianity
• 11/30 Focus:
– A new religion called Christianity developed
within the Roman Empire and gradually
spread throughout the Roman world
• Do Now:
– Identify one characteristic of the Pax
Romana
Hebrews
• Nomadic tribe that
lived in the Fertile
Crescent
• Spent a period time
enslaved in Egypt
– Exodus: Moses leads
the Jewish people out
of slavery into the land
of Canaan
• Establish the kingdom
of Israel with
Jerusalem as the
capital
• Belief systems evolve
into Judaism
Judaism
• Monotheistic
religion
– Belief in one God
– all knowing, all
powerful, and
omnipresent God
Sacred Texts of Judaism
• Torah
– Contain the beliefs
and laws of Judaism
– Found in the Old
Testament of the
Bible
• 10 Commandments
– Laws which tell people
how they should
behave towards each
other and God
Monotheistic
The Old
Testament
of The
Bible
God choose
Hebrews as
his people
Judaism
Prophets
teach about
moral
standards
Torah and
Talmud
contain
Jewish Laws
and beliefs
10
commandments
given to the
Hebrews by
God through
Moses
Christianity
• Based on the teachings
of Jesus of Nazareth
• Born in the kingdom of
Judea
– Part of Israel
– Controlled by Rome
• Studied Judaism as a
youth
– Jewish prophets had been
predicting the coming of
the Messiah
• A savior sent by God
The Teachings of Jesus
• Jesus began to travel
through Judea:
– teaches new beliefs
• mercy and sympathy for the
poor and helpless
• Brotherhood and equality for all
people
• People should seek forgiveness
from God for their sins
• Following his teachings would
bring salvation and eternal life
– says he was the son of God
– Followers believed he was
the Messiah
• Messiah means savior sent by
God
Death of Jesus
• Authorities believed the teachings of
Jesus and his growing popularity would
cause political uprisings
• Jesus is arrested by the Romans and
executed by crucifixion
– Christians believe that Jesus rose from
the dead and ascended into heaven
Sacred Texts
• The Christian
Bible
– Old testament
• Hebrew Scriptures
– New Testament
• Teachings of Jesus
(Gospels)
• Letters from early
Christians
explaining the
teachings of Jesus
God gave Moses
the 10
Commandments
Mercy and
sympathy for
the poor,
helpless;
equality of
people before
God;
forgiveness
Salvation and
eternal life to
those who
follow the
teachings of
Jesus
Monotheistic
Christianity
Jesus son of
God and
Messiah
Bible
(Old and
New
Testament)
Spread of Christianity
• Followers of Jesus worked to spread his
teachings after his death
• Paul of Tarsus
– Converted to Christianity after opposing it
as a young man
– Worked to spread Christian teachings
through the Roman Empire
• message of love and better life after death
attracted the poor and oppressed
•
Persecution
• Romans saw the spread of Christianity
as a threat to Rome
• Began passing anti-Christian laws and
persecution of Christians
– Martyrs
• People who die for their faith and inspire
others to believe
• Christian church continued to spread
despite persecutions
Roman Approval
• Emperor Constantine
converts to Christianity
– The Edict of Milan 313
AD
• Allowed freedom of
worship in the Roman
Empire
• Religious Toleration
• Emperor Theodosius
makes Christianity the
official of the Roman
Empire
Closure
• Explain the difference between
Polytheism and monotheism.
• Identify the role Paul played in the
establishment of the early Christian
church.