Transcript Christianity and Fall of Rome PPT

Rise of Christianity
Division Among Jews
Rome Conquers Palestine
Jews excused from worshipping Roman Gods
Jewish Priests
Want strict obedience
Zealots
Want to revolt
Messiah will lead people to freedom
Jesus The Jew
Time of Struggle for Jews
Preaches love and spiritual salvation to Jews
General Feelings Towards Jesus
“Welcome”
“Trouble maker”
“Challenging Jewish priests authority”
“Might lead a rebellion”
Betrayed and Crucified
Spread of Christianity
Paul’s Vision
Spread teachings to gentiles: non-Jews
Roman Persecution
Suspected disloyalty
Survival of Message
Offered love and life after the grave
Roman attracted to Christianity: discipline
Diaspora
Early Christian Church
Communities
Christians arrange churches
Run by a supervisor (Bishop)
Roman Catholic Church
Bishop became Pope (Father)
Triumph Over Persecution: 313 AD
Constantine’s (Roman Emperor) vision
Edict of Milan: freedom of worship
Fall of Rome
Empire in Crisis
180 AD
Death of Marcus Aurelius
End of Pax Romana
Years of turmoil: generals fight for power
Efforts at Reform
Emperor Diocletian: divided empire
Emperor Constantine: new capital Constantinople
Mixed results
Revived economy for a time
Foreign Invasion
350 – 476 AD
Attila the Hun: “Scourge of God”
Punishment for the sins of mankind
Pushed Germans into Rome
German Odoacer: 476 AD
Kicks out Emperor of Rome
Ends Roman Empire
Rome’s Downfall
Major Causes
Military, government, economic, epidemics
Decline in Roman Values
Patriotism, duty, discipline disappear
Transformation
East becomes Byzantine Empire
Christian church preserves elements of Rome