Augustus is considered Rome’s greatest ruler: –Like Pericles of Athens, Augustus erected splendid public buildings –Created a system of government that survived for centuries A monarch assisted by a collected group of politicians –Set up civil services Appointed citizens to public jobs –Tax collector, postal services, food monitors

The “food monitors” would keep track of people’s daily rations of grain. Augustus’s regulations brought in many new Romans. –The population of Rome increased and the city became heavily crowded. –Accidents and crime was a constant danger

To distract the massive population in Rome, the government would provide free entertainment: –Games, races, mock battles, and gladiator contests

On these days of celebration, 50,000 Romans would fill the Colosseum –Poor and rich alike would crowd in the colosseum to watch the spectacles

During this time of Pax Romana, another activity slowly emerged into the Roman empire: –Christianity

Christianity Christianity emphasized a more personal relationship between God and people –This attracted the Romans The Romans were polytheists, just like the Greeks –Comparison: –Zeus and Jupiter –Aphrodite and Venus

Rome took over the Jewish land of Judea, around 63 B.C. –The city of Judea lived as independently as Rome would let them About forty years later, Rome took Judea over and made it a province of the empire. –Established Roman law

Historical records of the time mention very little about Jesus, but it is believed that he arrived in Jerusalem 29 A.D. –Like Judea, the Romans had a huge influence over the governing of Jerusalem He was greeted by enthusiastic crowds and masses who wanted to see their Messiah –According to the bible, the Messiah was sent to save the Jews from the Romans

**Remember: Jesus emphasized God’s personal relationship with each human being. –More personable than worshipping many Gods –One on One He stressed the importance of people’s love for God, their neighbors, their enemies, and even themselves. He also taught that God would end the wickedness in the world and would establish a kingdom for those who repented their sins.

After creating a massive following through his many teachings The Roman Governor of Jerusalem, Pontus Pilate accused Jesus of defying authority of Rome. –He had Jesus arrested ordered him to be crucified

Jesus’ body was placed in a tomb after his death. According to the Gospels, three days after the burial, his body disappeared from the tomb and ascended into heaven His followers were more convinced than ever that Jesus was the Messiah

The belief that Jesus conquered death inspired many to take Jesus’s teachings further –His original followers were Jewish but created a new religion using Jesus’ ideals  Christianity

Christianity spread throughout Europe quite easily due to Pax Romona –Pax Romona made travel safe and easy –Past Roman conquerings allowed for a general understanding of common languages Latin and Greek became most popular languages Messages were easily translatable

Christianity Spreads Paul’s European travels aided the spread of the religion –Paul was one of the Apostles *Apostle: Jesus’ twelve disciples and pupils During his travels, Paul preached and discussed the new religion to large crowds Paul declared that Christianity was welcomed to all that desired to convert

Rome and Christianity In A.D. 66, there was a Jewish rebellion in Rome. In A.D. 70, a group of Roman military men entered Jerusalem and destroyed the Temple complex –The Jews battled the Romans in Jerusalem for about three more years  half a million Jews were killed

The Jews made another attempt to break free of the Romans in A.D. 73. –The attempt was a failure. –Another half a million Jews died in three years of fighting The Jewish religion survived under Roman reign.

The Romans began to persecute the Christians as well as the Jews –Christianity was a problem because the Christians did not worship the Roman Gods. –The Romans saw this as an insult to Roman rule.

Romans exiled, imprisoned, or executed Christians who refused to worship the Roman Gods –Thousands were crucified, burned, or killed by animals in the circus arenas – Some of the Christians were considered martyrs *Martyr: People who were willing to sacrifice their lives for the sake of a beliefs

By the late third century, there were millions of Christians in the Roman Empire –The widespread appeal of Christianity was due to a variety of reasons. Embraced all people Gave hope to the powerless Appealed to those shunned by Romans Offered a personal relationship with one God Promised eternal life after death

Christianity Accepted In 312 A.D., the Roman Emperor Constantine was at war. –Constantine prayed for divine help before battle and a saw a cross. –He ordered ironsmiths to put crosses on his soldier’s shields. –They won the battle

In the next year, A.D. 313, Constantine ended all persecution of Christians. –He allowed the worshipping of Christianity when he wrote the Edict of Milan. Because of its massive following, Emperor Theodosius made it Rome’s official religion in A.D. 380