Chapter 5, Section 4 The Development of Christianity

How did Christianity change the Roman Empire? Rome had been a polytheistic society with a variety of gods. As they conquered new peoples they sometimes added those gods to the ones they worshipped. Beginning with Augustus, emperors were often officially made gods by the Senate. Romans believed their success and their empire were due to favor from the gods In 313 Constantine issued the Edict of Milan which proclaimed official tolerance of Christianity. Constantine was baptized at the end of his life becoming the first Christian emperor. During the reign of Theodosius the Great the Romans adopted Christianity as the official religion of the Roman Empire.

Belief System - Judaism Geographic Origin – Israel Founder – Abraham (Moses) Texts – Torah, Talmud Place of Worship – Synagogue Major Beliefs: Monotheistic – God 10 Commandments

Most Jews opposed Roman rule, but they were not united which made victory difficult when the Jewish revolt began. Priestly Sadducees favored cooperation with Rome. Scholarly Pharisees believed that close observance of religious law would protect them from Roman influence. The Essenes lived apart from society, they shared goods in common and waited for God to save Israel from oppression. The Zealots called for the violent overthrow of Roman rule In AD 66 a Jewish revolt was begun, but it was crushed by the Romans four years later and the Jewish temple in Jerusalem was destroyed.

Why was Christianity able to attract and maintain so many followers? The Roman state religion was impersonal and existed for the good of Rome while Christianity was personal, offered salvation and eternal life. Christianity offered salvation without a painful or expensive initiation like some other religions of the time. Jesus had been a human figure who was easy to relate to. Christianity offered communities of people who expressed love by helping one another and, offering assistance to the poor and the sick. Christianity did not call for revolution, but stressed a sense of spiritual equality for all people which was a revolutionary idea at that time.

Belief System - Christianity Geographic Origin – Israel Founder – Jesus Christ Texts – The Bible: Old and New Testament Place of Worship – Church Major Beliefs: Monotheistic – God (Holy Trinity) Jesus – the Messiah 10 Commandments 7 Sacraments including: Baptism, Confirmation, Matrimony

Chapter 5, Section 5 - Decline and Fall Events that led to the decline and fall of the Roman Empire DeclineFall Marcus Aurelius the last of the five good emperors dies Germanic groups move in Military rule: from 235 – 284 there were 22 emperors – most died violently Visigoths defeat Rome in 378 AD, sack Rome in 410 Invasions: In the East, Sassanid Persians invaded - In the West, Germanic tribes invaded the Balkans, Gaul & Spain Vandals from southern Spain and Africa poured into Italy and sacked Rome in 455 AD Near economic collapse: plague – created a labor shortage, decline in trade and small industry, crops destroyed by invaders or defending Roman armies In 476, the western emperor, Romulus Augustulus was deposed by the Germanic head of the army. The western empire fell, but the eastern empire continued as the Byzantine Empire

Diocletian 284 – 305 AD Constantine 306 – 337 AD Divided the empire into four parts Expanded policies of Diocletian Strengthened bureaucraciesBecame sole ruler New economic and social policies Built new capital at Byzantium Later named Constantinople Today known as Istanbul, Turkey Enlarged army