The Rise of Christianity & the Fall of Rome Salvador Dali, Christ of St. John of the Cross

Development of Christianity Jewish Roots – Romans conquer Judah (a.k.a. Judea), 63 B.C. – Jews treated badly by many conquerors – Belief in Messiah – Jesus was Jewish

Life of Jesus Source: Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke & John), written after Jesus’ death Birth & Early Life – Born Bethlehem, grew up in Nazareth – Parents Joseph & Mary – Christmas Followers & Teachings – Traveling teacher→miracles – 12 disciples – Preached justice, compassion, & coming of God’s kingdom – Parables = stories with clear morals

Jesus Makes Enemies Forgave those who broke Jewish religious laws (but Jews believed only God could forgive) Associated with sinners & outcasts Followers claimed Jesus was Messiah → threat to Jews and Romans Traveled to Jerusalem for Passover & was hailed as a king Jesus publicly criticized Jewish leaders for how the Temple was run Arrested and turned over to Romans for punishment

Death & Legacy of Jesus Executed by crucifixion Buried in tomb According to Gospels, resurrected on 3 rd day – Easter – Birth of faith that Jesus was the son of God & that he had died to bring new life into to world - Christianity – Sin and death defeated – Key is belief in Jesus’ divinity & purpose

Early Christians & the Church Early Church – First members were Jewish converts – Believed Jesus was the promised Messiah – Shared property and had common meals – All members equal (attracted women & slaves) – Charity & helping prisoners – Spread teachings of Jesus and converted others – Conversion of Gentiles Conflict arises – Disagreements about Gentile converts – observe the Torah or not? – Jewish leaders began to see Christianity as a different religion

Paul Spreads Christianity Paul’s advantageous background – Born Saul, a Jewish Pharisee – knew Jewish law – From Tarsus in Asia Minor – heavily influenced by Greek culture – Roman citizenship allowed him to travel – Pax Romana – safe to travel the Roman Empire Road to Damascus – Sudden conversion to Christianity – Mission to convert Gentiles – Used Roman name Paul when traveled

Paul’s Teachings & Legacy Letters (Epistles in New Testament) – Started new churches & kept in touch – Explained Christian beliefs – No need for Gentiles to convert to Judaism before converting to Christianity – Salvation available for all who believed in Jesus Death & Legacy – Arrested in Jerusalem, imprisoned 2 years – demanded to be tried by Caesar in Rome – Arrived in Rome in A.D. 60, imprisoned 2 more years – Still wrote letters until they stopped suddenly – Travels & letters spread Christianity throughout the empire

Rome’s Policy toward Christianity Tolerated different religions as long as they didn’t inspire rebellion Why Christianity a threat – Refused to worship Roman gods – Appealed to women and slaves – Rumors of Messiah implied end to Roman Empire – Conversion of Gentiles Persecutions begin – Scapegoating – Christians blamed for political and economic troubles – Nero accused Christians of starting fire in Rome in A.D. 64 – Imprisonments & executions → martyrs → more converts

Why Christianity Popular Embraced all people: men and women, slaves, the poor and powerless Gave hope to the powerless Spirituality attractive to those fed up with gross luxury and wastefulness of wealthy Romans Personal relationship with a loving god Promise of eternal life after death Supportive community – hospitals, schools, social services

Emperor Constantine Becomes emperor in A.D. 306 Battle with rivals in A.D. 312 – Amidst fighting, Constantine prays for help – Christian cross in the sky: “In this sign you will conquer.” – Soldiers put cross on shields and flags – Constantine wins battle – Ends persecution of Christians Legalization of Christianity – Edict of Milan – made Christianity legal – Builds churches – Christian symbols on coins – Sunday a day of rest and worship – Constantine formally converts at the end of his life

The Roman Catholic Church 380 A.D. – Emperor Theodosius made Christianity the official religion of Rome 390 A.D. – Theodosius closed all non-Christian temples Church hierarchy Pope (Archbishop of Rome) Bishops Parish priests, monks, friars Nuns

The End of the Roman Empire Causes – Economic problems No new conquests → no new sources of wealth Taxes Decline in agriculture Food shortages & internal unrest – Military Problems Constant wars with nomadic peoples Mercenaries – Political and Social Problems Size of the empire Corruption Decline in loyalty, sense of civic duty, & education

The Empire Splits A.D. – 37 emperors; 34 died in civil war or by assassination 284 A.D. – Diocletian takes power – Restores order – Permanent border patrols – Fed poor – Divides empire into east and west; takes east for himself – Appoints Maximilian to rule western portion 306 A.D. – Civil war – Constantine becomes emperor – Changes capitol to Byzantium in 330 A.D. → Constantinople – Power shifts to the eastern empire

The End Germanic “barbarians” conquer Rome in 476 A.D. – the end of the Western Roman Empire Western Europe falls into darkness – Roads and public structures decay or are destroyed – Trade and commerce decline – Illiteracy spreads – Only the Roman Catholic Church survives Eastern Empire becomes Byzantine Empire and lives on