Ancient Rome

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Ancient Rome

• The Rise of Christianity

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• 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

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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

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Judaism

• Monotheistic religion
• Belief in one God
• all knowing, all powerful, and omnipresent God

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Sacred Texts

• The Christian Bible
• Old testament
• Hebrew Scriptures
• New Testament
• Teachings of Jesus (Gospels)
• Letters from early Christians explaining the
  teachings of Jesus

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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

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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

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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

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Closure

• Explain the difference between Polytheism and
  monotheism.
• Identify the role Paul played in the
  establishment of the early Christian church.