Transcript III. Rise of Christianity

III. Rise of Christianity
A. Teachings of Jesus
• 2.2 billon followers of Christianity
today
• Rome took control of the Jewish
empire in 6 A.D.
• Jesus – Born in Bethlehem around 6
to 4 BC
• Founder of Christianity
Jesus Christ
• Raised in Nazareth and took up
the trade of carpentry
• At 30 Jesus began his public
ministry
• Stressed the importance of loving
your neighbor as you love yourself
Jesus Curing a Blind Man
B. Death of Jesus
• Gospels – First four books of the New
Testament that is the main source of
information on Jesus
• Popularity of Jesus concerned both Roman
and Jewish leaders
• 29 A.D. – Jesus arrived in Jerusalem
where the masses greeted him as the
Messiah
• Once in Jerusalem the Jewish high priest
accused Jesus of blasphemy, or contempt
for God
• Pontius Pilate – Roman Governor who
accused Jesus of defying the authority of
Rome and sentenced him to be crucified
• According to the Gospels, Jesus rose from
the dead after three days
C. Spread of Christianity
• Paul – Very important apostle who
spread Jesus’ message
• Converted Jew who never met Jesus
but spent most of his life teaching
his message and spreading his word
• Pax Romana made travel easy and
safe and helped Christianity spread
Saint Paul
D. Jewish Rebellion
• 66 – Jewish state rebelled against Rome
• 70 – Romans attacked Jerusalem and
destroyed their temples
• 132 – Jews made another attempt to
break away from Rome
• Diaspora – Most Jews were driven from
their homeland and settled in places
around the world
Depiction of Romans
Stealing Jewish Artifacts
E. Persecution of Christians
• Christians posed a problem to Roman rule
because they refused to worship Roman
gods
• Seen as opposition to Roman rule
• Thousands of Christians were crucified,
burned, or killed by wild animals in circus
arenas
• Nero – Roman Emperor who persecuted
Christians and used many as human torches
F. Constantine Accepts
Christianity
• 312 – Emperor Constantine was
fighting against three tribes for
control of Rome
• Before the battle Constantine claims
to had a vision of a cross
• Had a cross put on his soldier’s shield
and won the battles
• Gives the Christian God credit for
his victory
• Edict of Milan (313) – Outlaws the
persecution of Christians
• 380 – Emperor Theodosius made
Christianity the official religion of
the Roman Empire