1. World Religions: Christianity

2. Bellringer: 2/7 and 2/8
1. Pick up the papers by the door. SIT CLOSE TO YOUR NORMAL ASSIGNED SEAT.
2. Update your ToC:
94: Notes – World Religions: Christianity
95: Religions Comparison Chart
3. Write down your HW:
Read p in your ANCIENT WORLD book
Study for your Pax Romana, Imperial Rome, and Christianity Quiz NEXT CLASS!

3. AGENDA: 2/7 and 2/8 1. Bellringer 2. Reading Check???
3. Notes: World Religions: Christianity
4. World Religions Review
5. Periodization Essay (time-permitting)

4. The “home of the Jews” was what province of the Roman Empire
The “home of the Jews” was what province of the Roman Empire? And who was their king?
The other word for Jesus’ disciples is the:
How did the Pax Romana provide the necessary conditions for Christianity to spread?
Identify TWO reasons Christianity was able to gain widespread appeal.
Constantine issued what that ended the persecution of Christians in Rome?

5. Intro: state of Religion in Rome during Pax Romana

6. Rome: entering a time of peace
Julius Caesar dies = end of Roman Republic
Reign of Augustus (Octavian) = start of the Roman Empire
Rome enters the Pax Romana (27 BCE-180 CE)
Rome is too powerful to be challenged  no conflicts = peace
Spread of Roman Empire = spread of Roman ideas
Rome controls over 3 million sq. miles at this point in history!

7. Rise of a new religion: Judaism in Rome
How does Judaism arrive in Rome?
Based in province of Judea (eastern Med.)
Judea  taken by Rome in 63 BCE, becomes province
Judea = ruled by King Herod (Jewish governor appointed by Rome)
Peace during rule of Herod, but Herod dies = fighting breaks out
His sons want to control Judea now, but Rome doesn’t necessarily want them in power, so Roman military is sent there to maintain peace

8. The History of christianity

9. The origins of Christianity
Has its foundations in Judaism
What do Judaism/Christianity share? Share monotheism, people (Abraham, Jesus - but as a prophet), 10 Commandments, etc.
Enter Jesus of Nazareth:
Jesus’ birth = beginnings of Christianity (~6 BCE)
Jewish carpenter-turned-preacher
His faith = about love, peace, forgiveness  becomes
VERY appealing
Many Jews = start to believe Jesus is the Messiah (the Savior).
How he gets the name “Christ”

10. Christianity grows Jesus = increasingly popular and well-known
But NOT everyone likes him (like some Jewish ppl. and Romans)
Jews dislike him because they think he’s a heretic
Romans dislike him because they are afraid of his popularity and because his ideas of monotheism go against traditional Roman ones
What happens to him?
Sentenced to death by Pontius Pilate in 29 CE, is crucified
Christian religion really forms after his death
He dies  it is said he is the Son of God, a savior  he will be resurrected and return to Earth

11. Christianity in 2 minutes

12. Historical sources of Christianity
Holy text: The Bible
Divided into Old and New Testaments (Old Testament is also a part of Torah, Qur’an)
New Testament = the Gospels
Gospels = written by Jesus’ followers (called Apostles), talk about his teachings and his life
Problems with the Gospels?
Contradict each other
Not carefully researched or written

14. Historical sources of Christianity
Holy guidelines: 10 Commandments
Shared with Judaism
Contain rules for how to be a proper Christian (living by God’s teachings)
Guidelines on how to live within the teachings of Jesus

15. Hierarchy in the Church

16. Christianity in Rome

17. Christianity in Rome:
The treatment of Christianity by Rome goes through FOUR different stages:
1) Ignored
2) Persecuted
3) Allowed
4) Officially adopted

18. Stage #1: Ignored
Initially, Christians in Roman lands were ignored. Why is this?
Because the population was so small that Rome didn’t worry about them being a threat

19. Stage #2: Persecuted
Eventually, Christianity spreads  more people convert  NOW it’s a problem for Rome
Issues with Christianity for Rome:
Monotheism vs. polytheism = this is a problem
Don’t recognize Roman gods/goddesses

20. Stage #2: Persecuted Rome will eventually persecute Christians
Will make them scapegoats (blame them for anything bad)
Emperors like Nero will crucify/torture Christians (and Jews) as traitors to Rome
EXAMPLE: One of Jesus’ apostles, Peter, is crucified for being the “bishop” of the Christian church
Christians and Jews  will be seen as martyrs dying for their faith = actually works to increase Christianity’s popularity

23. Stage #3: Accepted
Rome will eventually permit people to practice Christianity without punishment in Rome
Happens when Constantine becomes emperor of Rome in 312 CE
His own conversion story = Constantine saw a vision at battle
Constantine issues Edict of Milan
Edict of Milan: Makes Christianity a legal religion in Rome
Establishes the Council of Nicaea (established the core beliefs of Christianity  leads to Nicene Creed)

24. Constantine bio

25. Stage #4: OFFICIALLY ADOPTED
In 380 CE, under the reign of Theodosius, Christianity is made the OFFICIAL religion of Rome
Bye, bye, polytheism, hello Roman Catholicism.
Happens towards the end of the Roman Empire (Theodosius is also the last emperor to rule over both halves of the empire)

29. The spread of Christianity
Paul, one of Jesus’ disciples, is responsible for spreading Christianity
Without Paul, Christianity would NOT have spread like it did
He visited a lot of provinces in Rome to spread Christianity (and Paul could do this because he was a Roman citizen and could travel where he wanted)
Christianity spreads easily b/c…
Use of common vernacular languages of the time
Networks of roads
Promise of salvation/eternal life to all upon death
Sense of equality in Christianity (appeals A LOT to lower classes in Rome)