Christianity From challenging the Roman empire To becoming the largest empire the world has ever known

Time and Place of Origin Christianity Time and Place of Origin Began in the Roman province of Judea, 2000 years ago, with the teachings of Jesus Region: Middle East Present Day: Israel

Christianity Beliefs -Core- There is only 1 God, the father Jesus is the actual son of God He came to earth and died for the sins of all people -Spiritual Equality- Everyone is equal in the eyes of God Everyone is granted eternal salvation because of Jesus' sacrifice

The Rise of Christianity Began as a sect of Judaism in the Roman province of Judea Challenged Roman Society Monotheism v. Roman Gods Equality v. Roman hierarchy Independence v. Empire Popular message for many living under the rule of the Romans

Spread of Christianity 1) The Unity of the Roman world and the Pax Romana (Paul and others could travel and communicate with the early churches) 2) it is a syncretic religion (combined ideas from other religions) 3) it was young and dynamic 4) it had a moral code; it claimed to explain the existence of sin and evil, and it was exclusive and absolute 5) it had mystical and sacred rites 6) it appealed to the poor and the dispossessed 7) it had a sacred text (Old Testament/Torah and New Testament) and a history 8) it had an efficient hierarchical organization

Rome – Constantine 306 to 337CE Christianity in the Roman Age of Crisis Third Century in Rome brought anxiety, political chaos, economic crisis, and disease.  Christianity offered Romans facing a hard life in this world the promise of salvation and the hope of an eternal afterlife. Emperor Constantine First Emperor to convert to Christianity 313ce official toleration of Christianity Moved Capital to more central point of Empire, Byzantium later renamed Constantinople

Christianity Divisions of Christianity Two major events created the three divisions of Christianity The Great Schism Christianity divides in two after power struggle between Rome and Byzantium Catholicism in the West centered in Rome Eastern Orthodox in the East centered in Constantinople Protestant Reformation Martin Luther challenges the power of the Catholic Church and starts a wide spread revolution against the authority of the Church Protestant sects break away from the Catholic Church all over Europe & the New World

Christianity Age of Exploration Europeans colonize and conquer land and people all around the world from 1500s-1900s Missionaries believing they were saving the souls of indigenous people as they replaced indigenous beliefs with their own

Christianity Age of Exploration Those regions that were colonized in the 15th to 18th centuries are still primarily Christian today Note the regions that are dominated by Christianity