1. The Roman Empire & Religion
A model of Ancient Jerusalem
Judaism and Christianity
The Roman Empire & Religion

2. Objective: Examine the causes and effects of the Rise of Christianity in ancient Rome
What do you know about how Christians were treated under the Roman Empire?

3. Christianity – Review Originated mid-first century in the Middle East
Jewish sect
Based on life & teachings of Jesus
Spread throughout Roman Empire
By 300 A.D. 10% of empire’s subjects were Christians
Image retrieved from
The Good Shepherd, painted CE in the Catacomb of Priscilla

4. Roman Persecution of Christians
Left image retrieved from
Right image retrieved from
Above: Painting of early Christian Love Feast from the Catacomb of Saints Pietro e Marcellino
Left: Libellus from 250 CE

5. Central Historical Question
Why did the Roman Empire persecute Christians?

6. According to the textbook…
Read Document A – Answer the questions below: 1. What was the relationship between the Roman Empire and Christianity? 2. Why did the Roman Empire persecute Christians?

7. Document AnAlysis Textbook Rewrite Assignment
Focus Assignment > Answer the three questions
Objective: Examine the causes and effects of the Rise of Christianity in ancient Rome

8. WHAT IMPACT DID JESUS’ DEATH HAVE ON HIS FOLLOWERS
WHAT IMPACT DID JESUS’ DEATH HAVE ON HIS FOLLOWERS? WHY DID HIS DEATH NOT END THE BELIEF THAT HE WAS THE MESSIAH?

9. What Happened to early followers of Jesus within the Roman Empire
What Happened to early followers of Jesus within the Roman Empire? Objective: Examine the causes and effects of the Rise of Christianity in ancient Rome

10. What Happened to The Jewish community within the Roman empire during the first century? (side note: it would not have been called the “first century” at that time! The system we are currently using Ie. BCE/CE or BC/AD was created in ad 525 and now widely used until the Ninth century ad)
In CE 66 the First Jewish Revolt began, leading into the First Jewish-Roman War
(There were a series of revolts and fighting until the collapse of the Roman Empire)
The Results:
The Romans Won!
Jerusalem, and the Temple, was destroyed
Mass murder of Jews and the Diaspora of the survivors – including some being sold into slavery

11. A holy site in jerusalem

12. Why did Christianity Spread?
Romans “tolerated” diverse religious beliefs, but often persecute
Missionaries (Peter & Paul) spread Christianity across the Roman Empire
Pax-Romana (Roman Peace)
Good Roads
Universal language
In the fourth century, the Edict of Milan, gave legal status to all Christians and Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire

13. What effect does the fall of the empire have on Christianity?

14. Changes to the Empire… Changes to Christianity
Eventually the Western Empire weakened, declined and entered the “Dark Ages” BUT the Eastern Empire thrived and became known as the _________ Empire.
The _____ remains the head of the church in the west, but the ___________ refused to recognize him!
Eventually (AD 1054) the Christian Church splits into two parts:
The _________ Church in the West (centered in Rome)
The _________ Church in the East (centered in Constantinople)
Christian officials were known as ______
The ____ of _____ became the head of the Christian Church and took the title of ________
Christian officials were known as bishops. The bishop of Rome became the head of the Christian Church and took the title of pope.
Eastern Empire becomes known as the Byzantine Empire; Pope head in the west by Byzantine Emperor refused to recognize him!
Roman Catholic Church in the West and Eastern Orthodox Church in the East

15. The MENA After the roman Empire