1. The Rise of Christianity

2. Judaism and the Empire
Christianity began as a sect (group) within Judaism
In 6 AD, Augustus turned the Kingdom of Judah into the Roman province of Judea
Allowed Jews to practice their religion but they were treated very cruelly

3. Many Jews began to believe that a messiah (messenger of God) would help them regain their freedom
This had been foretold in ancient Jewish prophecies

4. Believing that God would intervene, Jews rebelled in 66 AD and overpowered the small Roman army in Jerusalem
only 4 years later Romans retook Jerusalem destroying the Temple and killing thousands of Jews

5. After another rebellion in 132 AD, Jews were banned from living in Jerusalem and were forced to move into other parts of the Mediterranean and the Middle East

7. Jesus of Nazareth
Jesus, a Jew from Nazareth, traveled through Galilei and Judea from AD preaching a new message and winning disciples (followers)
Urged his followers to turn away from sins and stated God was loving and forgiving toward all who repented

8. Fear of his ability to arouse such feelings in the people led Pontius Pilate, Roman governor of Palestine, to arrest Jesus and ordered he be crucified

10. Spread of Christianity
After Jesus’ death, his disciples proclaimed he rose from the dead and said this was proof he was the mesiah
Began preaching he was THE SON OF GOD
Those who accepted the teachings of Jesus became known as Christians and formed churches

12. Paul aided Christianity’s spread by traveling and writing many letters on behalf of the religion—his writings became the New Testament of the Bible
Other apostles (Christian missionaries), spread Christianity throughout the Roman world
Peter is believed to have brought Christianity to Rome

14. Paul
Peter

16. Persecution and Competition
Christians refused to worship any other religions
Refused to recognize emperor as God and rejected military service
Many became martyrs—people who die rather than change their beliefs—killed in arenas by wild beasts in front of cheering crowds

18. Despite this, Christianity grew in 200-300s and became a religion of the cities
Their strength in the cities of the Roman Empire gave Christianity great influence

19. Romans Adopt Christianity
Constantine was named emperor of Rome in 312 AD and became the protector of Christianity
Issued the Edict of Milan which allowed ALL religions to worship freely in Rome
In 392 Theodosius made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire

21. The Early Church
Christians turned to Church Fathers, Christian religious thinkers who explained many of the Christian beliefs in books
Christians in the western part of the Empire used the writings of Augustine, a scholar born in North Africa

22. Church Structure
The church was organized into a hierarchy (levels of authority)
Local gatherings of Christians, called parishes, were run by priests
Several parishes together formed a diocese which was overseen by a bishop

23. Bishops interpreted Christian beliefs and administered regional church affairs
The bishops met at councils to discuss opinions and disputes about Christian beliefs
The decisions they made became known as doctrine (the official church teachings)

24. Council of Nicea and the Bible
Large disagreements among Christians as to Jesus’ nature (divine vs. leader)
Constantine does not want division in his empire
Convenes Council of Nicea in 325 to answer questions
Come to agreement that Jesus was divine (of “same substance” of God – Holy Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Ghost)
Agree on books of the Bible (New Testament) – although almost all Christian leaders had agreed on the main books since the early 200s