1. Development of Christianity
5.4

2. Background: Roman Religion
Augustus
Revived Roman state religion
Many gods and goddesses
Emperors
Rituals
Peace and prosperity
Tolerance

3. The Jewish Background and the Rise of Christianity
Judaea
Unrest
Jewish Revolt
crushed by Romans
destroyed temple in Jerusalem

4. Jesus Jewish Preached about virtues Turned over to Romans
Crucified under Pontius Pilate
Followers believed he overcame death - Messiah
Simon Peter
Paul of Tarsus
Converts
New Testament
Letters written by disciples
Gospels

5. Christian verses Roman
threat to public order
threat to salvation
Persecution
Nero

6. Triumph of Christianity
Organization
Growth
personal, familiar, belonging
Based on love, equality
Persecution revived
Constantine
Edict of Milan
Theodosius the Great
adopted Christianity as official Roman religion

7. Decline and Fall
5.5

8. The Decline Unrest after death of last good emperor Invasions
Severans
Military rule
Invasions
Persia, Germanic Peoples
Civil Wars
Plague

9. Late Roman Empire Revival New government structure
Rigid economic and social system
New religion – Christianity
Expanded bureaucracy
Enlarged army
Drained treasury

10. Diocletian Constantine Divided into 4 sections
Became sole ruler of Rome
New capitol
Constantinople
“New Rome”
Policies based on coercion and control

11. The Fall Empire continued for 100+ years Two Capitols Invasions
Rome in the West
Constantinople in the East
Invasions
Huns, Visigoths, Vandals
Western roman Empire fell in 476
Many theories

12. The End