The Byzantine Empire and Emerging Europe – 50-800 A.D.

The First Christians Priests – Sadducees - favored cooperation with Rome Pharisees – close observance of religious law would protect them from Roman Influences Essenes – lived apart from society – sharing goods in common People were the center Inner peace Zealots – Violent overthrow of the Roman government Revolt began in 66 AD – crushed by Rome 4 years later Jewish Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed Teachings of Jesus led to a new movement in Judaism

Teachings of Jesus Complete the salvation that God had promised to Israel throughout its history “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.“ Jesus adhered to the entire Law and emphasized elements that transformed the inner persons "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." What sect did Jesus sound like he belonged to? Essenes

Teachings of Jesus "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. This is the first commandment. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself.“ Concepts – Humility, charity, love towards others Stirred controversy Some saw him as the leader of the revolt against Rome Pontius Pilate ordered Jesus’s crucifixion Jesus’s followers proclaimed that he rose from the dead and appeared to them Messiah (anointed one) – that would bring an age of peace, prosperity and monotheism to Israel

Christianity Spreads though the Empire Major Apostles Simon Peter – Fisherman who followed Jesus during his lifetime Paul – Later joined and took the movement to Gentiles (non-jews) Paul’s message – Jesus was the Savior (Son of God who came to Earth to save humanity) Jesus’s death made up for all sins of all humans By accepting Jesus as Christ (Greek term for Messiah) and Savior, people could be saved from sin and reconciled to God Oral teaching – some wrote letters knows as epistles 40-100 AD they were put together to form the Gospels

Roman Persecution Roman’s regarded Christians as another sect of Judaism Rome tolerated other religions as long as they didn’t threaten public order or morals Christians refused to worship the state gods and emperors – act of treason (punishable by death) Jews did not worship the emperors – but they were given an exemption to follow the “laws of their fathers” Nero (54-68 AD)started persecuting Christians Nero blamed Christians for the fire in 64 AD

Roman Empire Adopts Christianity Roman persecution strengthened Christianity – only the most committed would follow the faith More structure – bishops (clergy) had new and distinct role over the laity Why was Christianity attractive to people? Personal – salvation and eternal life Gave life a meaning and purpose Familiar – offering immortality as a result of the sacrificial death of a savior-god No painful or expensive initiation Baptism (purification by water to enter the community)

Roman Empire Adopts Christianity Roman persecution strengthened Christianity – only the most committed would follow the faith More structure – bishops (clergy) had new and distinct role over the laity Why was Christianity attractive to people? Fulfilled the human need to belong Social element of coming together and helping one another Help the poor and sick Anyone can join no matter if you are rich, poor, aristocrat, slave, man or woman

Roman Empire Adopts Christianity As the Christian church became more organized other emperors tried to wipe them out. They failed Diocletian was the last to try and he admitted that “Christianity and its followers were too strong to be blotted out by force” Constantine in 312 saw a vision of the Christian cross with the words, “in this sign you shall conquer” 313 AD – Edict of Milan – Tolerance of Christianity Theodosius the Great (378-395) – Adopted Christianity as the official religion of the Roman Empire