Transcript Christianity

THE WORLD’S HISTORY
Fourth Edition
Chapter
10
Judaism and
Christianity
1700 b.c.e. – 1200 b.c.e
The World’s History, Fourth Edition
Howard Spodek
Copyright ©2010, ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Judaism and Christianity
• Introduction
– Hebrews introduce monotheism into a world
of polytheism in the form of a god above
nature and free from compulsion and fate
– Hebrews took name “Judaism” in honor of
Judah, a prophet, and their homeland, Judaea
– Christianity emerged from Judaism
The World’s History, Fourth Edition
Howard Spodek
Copyright ©2010, ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.
The World’s History, Fourth Edition
Howard Spodek
Copyright ©2010, ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.
The World’s History, Fourth Edition
Howard Spodek
Copyright ©2010, ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.
The World’s History, Fourth Edition
Howard Spodek
Copyright ©2010, ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.
The World’s History, Fourth Edition
Howard Spodek
Copyright ©2010, ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Judaism
• The Sacred Scriptures
– Early scriptures known collectively as TaNaKh
 Torah = Five Books of Moses
 Nevi’im = Books of the Prophets
 Ketuvim = historical, poetic, and philosophic
writings
 Christians accept all of the TaNaKh as the “Old
Testament”
 Jews and Christians long regarded these books as
the literal “word of God”
The World’s History, Fourth Edition
Howard Spodek
Copyright ©2010, ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Judaism
• The Sacred Scriptures [cont.]
– “Biblical Criticism” in last 200 years has
placed these works into historical context
– Close reading suggests stylistic differences
tied to different authors
– Josiah’s centralization of Hebrew belief
resulted in the writing of Deuteronomy
– Other stories were woven together at a later
date to create the rest of the Torah
The World’s History, Fourth Edition
Howard Spodek
Copyright ©2010, ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Judaism
• The Sacred Scriptures [cont.]
– Oldest existing copy of complete Torah dates
to 9th-11th centuries C.E.
– Greek language Torah dates to 2nd-3rd
century B.C.E.
– Torah is one of best examples of “mythhistory” because it captures ideals, concepts,
and beliefs of Jewish people even if not
literally true
The World’s History, Fourth Edition
Howard Spodek
Copyright ©2010, ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.
The World’s History, Fourth Edition
Howard Spodek
Copyright ©2010, ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Judaism
• Essential Beliefs of Judaism in Early
Scripture
– A single, caring God
– A God of history
– A community rooted in divinely chosen family
– A specific “promised” geographical homeland
– A legal system
– A sacred calendar
The World’s History, Fourth Edition
Howard Spodek
Copyright ©2010, ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Judaism
• The Later Books of Jewish Scripture
– Nevi’im and Ketuvim carry Jewish story from
1200 B.C.E. to 500 C.E.
– Books begin with Joshua, the return of the
Jews from Egypt to Israel
– History suggests that return was spread out
over time and that era involved extensive
borrowing from other cultures
The World’s History, Fourth Edition
Howard Spodek
Copyright ©2010, ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Judaism
• The Later Books of Jewish Scripture
[cont.]
– Rule by Judges and Kings
 Jews adopted loose confederacy advised by
judges upon return to Canaan (Israel)
 Created kings (1020 B.C.E.) to deal with internal
strife
 Kingdom split in two in reaction to extravagant
reign of Solomon (950 B.C.E.)
The World’s History, Fourth Edition
Howard Spodek
Copyright ©2010, ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Judaism
• The Later Books of Jewish Scripture
[cont.]
– Teachings of the Prophets: Morality and Hope
 Prophets demanded return of morality and
compassion in face of corrupt leadership
 Placed memory of past injustice and slavery
against current events and demanded return to
religious roots
 Presented image of an inspiring future
The World’s History, Fourth Edition
Howard Spodek
Copyright ©2010, ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Judaism
• The Evolution of the Image of God
– God’s early concerns about humanity resulted
in a flood and in the division of people by
language
– Responded to evil with punishment
– YHWH accessible via prayer and dialogue
– Challenged self-willed polytheistic gods but
provided no answer for the existence of evil in
the world
The World’s History, Fourth Edition
Howard Spodek
Copyright ©2010, ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.
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Judaism
• Patriarchy and Gender Relations
– Torah granted women fewer rights than men
– Regulation of sexuality extensive in scripture
– Women had few heroic roles
The World’s History, Fourth Edition
Howard Spodek
Copyright ©2010, ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.
The World’s History, Fourth Edition
Howard Spodek
Copyright ©2010, ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.
The World’s History, Fourth Edition
Howard Spodek
Copyright ©2010, ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Judaism
• Defeat, Exile, and Redefinition
– Jews exiled of northern kingdom by Assyrians
(721 B.C.E.); returned sixty years later
– Outsiders including Alexander controlled
Israel
– Roman Empire destroyed temple in
Jerusalem in 70 C.E. and dispersed people,
135 C.E.
The World’s History, Fourth Edition
Howard Spodek
Copyright ©2010, ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.
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Judaism
• Defeat, Exile, and Redefinition
– This Diaspora reshaped Jewish beliefs
– No significant numbers of Jews in Judaea
until 20th century
The World’s History, Fourth Edition
Howard Spodek
Copyright ©2010, ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.
The World’s History, Fourth Edition
Howard Spodek
Copyright ©2010, ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.
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Judaism
• Minority/Majority Relations in the Diaspora
– Jews remained distinct people in new
settlements
– Flourished in many instances but faced
discrimination in others
– Story of Esther shows Esther in preservation
of Jewish community but also shows
pressures on minorities in empires
The World’s History, Fourth Edition
Howard Spodek
Copyright ©2010, ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.
The World’s History, Fourth Edition
Howard Spodek
Copyright ©2010, ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.
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Christianity
• Christianity Emerges from Judaism
– Developed at height of Roman power
– Jews were divided into four groups:
Pharisees, Sadducees, Zealots, and Essenes
– Jesus’ teachings challenged Pharisees who
accepted Roman rule
– Called for rapid religious reform and predicted
early day of judgement for the world
– Promised a life in Heaven
The World’s History, Fourth Edition
Howard Spodek
Copyright ©2010, ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.
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Christianity
• Christianity Emerges from Judaism [cont.]
– Jesus’ preaching angered Jewish and Roman
leaders
– Followers saw him as messiah and miracle
worker
– Roman crucifixion did not stop growth of
followers
– Message of compassion, salvation, and
eternal life attracted many Romans
The World’s History, Fourth Edition
Howard Spodek
Copyright ©2010, ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.
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Christianity
• Jesus’ Life, Teaching, and Disciples
– Adapting Rituals to New Purposes
 Jesus’ prayer and preaching was writing Jewish
tradition
 Baptism was modification of unimportant Jewish
ritual
 “Last supper” an extension of Passover meal
The World’s History, Fourth Edition
Howard Spodek
Copyright ©2010, ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.
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Christianity
• Jesus’ Life, Teachings, and Disciples
[cont.]
– Overturning the Old Order
 Assertion that “the end of the world” was at hand
was recognition that world would soon change
 Argued that wealth was a hindrance to salvation
 Raised commandment to “love your neighbor”
above a broad range of Jewish commands
 Predicted violent end of world
The World’s History, Fourth Edition
Howard Spodek
Copyright ©2010, ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Christianity
• Jesus’ Life, Teachings, and Disciples
[cont.]
– Jesus and the Jewish Establishment
 Was condescending and confrontational toward
Jewish religious leaders
 Scoffed at dietary and Sabbath restrictions
 Restricted divorce
 Teachings reflect desire to return to earlier beliefs
in faith and spirituality, and that the future lay in
Heaven, not earth
The World’s History, Fourth Edition
Howard Spodek
Copyright ©2010, ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Christianity
• Jesus’ Life, Teachings, and Disciples
[cont.]
– Miracles and Resurrection
 Miracles rather than teachings brought followers
 Crucifixion and resurrection completed the
miracles of Jesus
 Apostles, especially Paul of Tarsus (d. 67 C.E.),
transformed Christian sect into broad religion with
preaching, organizational network, and
instructional letters
The World’s History, Fourth Edition
Howard Spodek
Copyright ©2010, ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.
The World’s History, Fourth Edition
Howard Spodek
Copyright ©2010, ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.
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Christianity
• The Growth of the Early Church
– Peter, designated as leader of early
organization, stressed Christian ethics over
Jewish practices such as circumcision
– Broadened appeal to Gentiles
– Made little mention of the apocalyptic side of
Christianity
The World’s History, Fourth Edition
Howard Spodek
Copyright ©2010, ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Christianity
• The Growth of the Early Church [cont.]
– Paul Organizes the Early Church
 Saul converted from a critic to an apostle of
Christianity
 Was Jewish by ethnicity, Roman by citizenship,
and Greek by culture
 Linked Christian communities of eastern
Mediterranean with letters (Epistles)
 Formulated concept of original sin and redemption
from it
The World’s History, Fourth Edition
Howard Spodek
Copyright ©2010, ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Christianity
• The Growth of the Early Church [cont.]
– The Christian Calendar
 Created sacred calendar with special days
• Christmas = Jesus’ Birth
• Easter = Jesus’ Resurrection
• Pentecost = Jesus’ Ascension [had been date of Jewish
commemoration of the receipt of the Ten
Commandments]
The World’s History, Fourth Edition
Howard Spodek
Copyright ©2010, ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.
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Christianity
• The Growth of the Early Church [cont.]
– The Christian Calendar
 Numbered years from the presumed date of Jesus’
birth
 Sabbath was changed from Saturday to Sunday,
from the seventh to the first day of the week
The World’s History, Fourth Edition
Howard Spodek
Copyright ©2010, ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.
The World’s History, Fourth Edition
Howard Spodek
Copyright ©2010, ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.
The World’s History, Fourth Edition
Howard Spodek
Copyright ©2010, ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Christianity
• The Growth of the Early Church [cont.]
– Gender Relations
 Women were central to earliest church but became
less so over time despite “spiritual equality”
 Paul recommended celibacy for all but
monogamous marriage for those who could not
remain celibate
 Made wife subordinate to husband at home
 Commanded women to keep silent in church
 Accepted slavery
The World’s History, Fourth Edition
Howard Spodek
Copyright ©2010, ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Christianity
• From Persecution to Triumph
– Adopted imperial capital (Rome) as center of
the new religion
– Christianity started as one of a number of
“mystery religions” in Rome
– Refusal to worship emperor seen as threat
– Persecution extensive within empire
– Decided on content of New Testament by 200
C.E.
The World’s History, Fourth Edition
Howard Spodek
Copyright ©2010, ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Christianity
• From Persecution to Triumph [cont.]
– The Conversion of Constantine
 Constantine vision in 313 C.E. regarded as
Christian sanction of his military career
 Immediately made Christianity legal
 Sponsored council at Nicaea that produced Nicene
Creed
 Emperor Theodosius made Christianity the official
religion of the empire in 392 C.E.
The World’s History, Fourth Edition
Howard Spodek
Copyright ©2010, ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Christianity
• From Persecution to Triumph [cont.]
– How Had Christianity Succeeded?
 Edward Gibbon (1737-1794) scorned Christianity
but revealed strengths and secrets of the spread in
his critique
•
•
•
•
•
•
Zeal
Promise of future life
Miracles
Austere morals
Created state within a state
Created personal community within universal religion
The World’s History, Fourth Edition
Howard Spodek
Copyright ©2010, ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.
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Christianity
• Doctrine: Definition and Dispute
– Augustine (354-430 C.E.) emphasized the
spiritual rather than the political possibilities
– Connected Christian theology to Greek
philosophy of Plato
– Emphasized meditation
– Believed sexuality to be perilous
– Believers should subordinate their will to the
teachings of the church
The World’s History, Fourth Edition
Howard Spodek
Copyright ©2010, ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.
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Christianity
• Doctrine: Definition and Dispute [cont.]
– Battle over Dogma
 Divisive dispute over the divinity of Jesus
 Arius (250-336 C.E.) thought humanity of Jesus
made God more sacred than Jesus
 Arian dispute led to open warfare and military
defeat of the Arians
 Growth of Christianity sometimes led missionaries
to try to convert Jews by coercion
The World’s History, Fourth Edition
Howard Spodek
Copyright ©2010, ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.
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Christianity in Wake of Empire
• The Conversion of the Barbarians
– Christian bishops came from ranks of
senatorial governing class--continuity with the
empire
– Extensive conversions culminated in
conversion of Clovis in 496 C.E., the first
barbarian to accept the religion
– Action got Clovis support and connections
from Roman leadership
The World’s History, Fourth Edition
Howard Spodek
Copyright ©2010, ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.
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Christianity in Wake of Empire
• Decentralized Power and Monastic Life
– Early church dominated by missionaries who
were unmarried men and women
– Pope Gregory I (590-604 C.E.) encouraged
monastic movement; useful in conversion and
discipline
The World’s History, Fourth Edition
Howard Spodek
Copyright ©2010, ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.
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Christianity in Wake of Empire
• Decentralized Power and Monastic Life
– Church power fragmented in West until 1000
C.E.
– Monasteries developed missions, schools,
and other institutions of church
– Decisive papal leadership would come later
The World’s History, Fourth Edition
Howard Spodek
Copyright ©2010, ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.
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Christianity in Wake of Empire
• The Church Divides into East and West
– Church superceded empire in West but
Byzantium never ceded power to the church
– Eastern church urban and organized; Western
church rural and disconnected into local units
– Rome seen as an outlier of Orthodox church
after Council of Chalcedon
The World’s History, Fourth Edition
Howard Spodek
Copyright ©2010, ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.
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Christianity in Wake of Empire
• Church Divides into East and West [cont.]
– Split between Rome and Constantinople
 Central issue was authority of Roman pope from
the perspective of Rome and Constantinople
 Leo IX (elected pope in 1048 C.E.) promoted papal
power in the West--and over Constantinople
 Result was Great Schism of 1054 C.E. onward
 Most direct confrontation was in 1204 C.E., when
western Crusaders attacked Constantinople rather
than pursue state purpose of attacking Muslims
The World’s History, Fourth Edition
Howard Spodek
Copyright ©2010, ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Christianity in Wake of Empire
• Church Divides into East and West [cont.]
– New Areas Adopt Orthodox Christianity
 Orthodox monks became active later than monks
in the West
 Caught between Roman West and Islamic East,
these missionaries moved north to Russia, which
began to call itself the “Third Rome” after the fall of
Constantinople
 East and West competed for converts in areas
adjacent to the two religions
The World’s History, Fourth Edition
Howard Spodek
Copyright ©2010, ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.
The World’s History, Fourth Edition
Howard Spodek
Copyright ©2010, ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.
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Christianity in Wake of Empire
• Christianity in Western Europe
– Europe halted Muslim growth at Tours, 732
C.E.
– Muslim conquests cut Christianity off from the
lands of its birth
– Christianity became primarily a religion of
Europeans, often recently-converted
“barbarian” warrior nobles
The World’s History, Fourth Edition
Howard Spodek
Copyright ©2010, ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.
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Christianity in Wake of Empire
• Christianity in Western Europe [cont.]
– The Pope Allies with the Franks
 Pope felt surrounded by Muslims and Byzantines
as well as by powerful Goths to the north
 Turned to powerful Franks such as Charles Martel,
who defeated Muslim invasion of France at Tours
in 732 C.E.
 Pope gave official approval of Martel’s son, Pepin
III, and the Carolingians as royal ruling house of
the Franks
The World’s History, Fourth Edition
Howard Spodek
Copyright ©2010, ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Christianity in Wake of Empire
• Christianity in Western Europe [cont.]
– Charlemagne Revives Idea of Empire
 Although crowned Holy Roman Emperor in 800
C.E., Charlemagne’s goal was to expand his own
empire
 Victories made his empire coterminous with
Christianity except for Great Britain
 Promoted education as part of Carolingian
“renaissance”
 Charlemagne’s empire paralleled that of the East
The World’s History, Fourth Edition
Howard Spodek
Copyright ©2010, ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Christianity in Wake of Empire
• Christianity in Western Europe [cont.]
– The Attempt at Empire Fails
 Carolingians maintain power until end of 9th
century
 Invaders (Magyars, Norsemen, Arabs) are too
powerful to keep out; local administrators act on
their own
 Church institutions and leaders give Europe its
fundamental character and order (600-1100 C.E.)
The World’s History, Fourth Edition
Howard Spodek
Copyright ©2010, ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.
The World’s History, Fourth Edition
Howard Spodek
Copyright ©2010, ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.
The World’s History, Fourth Edition
Howard Spodek
Copyright ©2010, ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Early Christianity: What
Difference Does It Make?
• First millennium of Christianity ended in
“high” Middle Ages
• By 1000 C.E., church was most important
cultural and organizational force in
Western Europe
• Church took on developmental and
administrative roles in addition to its
spiritual mission
The World’s History, Fourth Edition
Howard Spodek
Copyright ©2010, ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.