1. Christianity and the Roman Empire
Chapter 9 Section 2
Christianity and the Roman Empire

2. The Rise of Christianity
Romans were tolerant of peoples in other lands
Allowed to follow their own religion, BUT had to show loyalty to Roman gods and the emperor

3. Jewish Roots Romans conquer Judaea in 63 B.C.
Jewish people resented foreign rule
Romans place Herod in charge of Judea
Jesus was born – The Messiah arrives

4. Jesus Teachings and Fate
God is love
In 33 A.D, Jesus goes to Jerusalem to celebrate Jewish Passover, Romans fear he would take control.
Jesus was crucified

5. Letters of Paul Jewish man named Saul, well educated and spoke Greek
Rejected Christianity at first
Became Paul Evangelized throughout the Mediterranean
Turned Christianity into an organized religion
Wrote epistles that became part of Bible

6. Christianity moves to the Cities
Alexandria
Antioch
Corinth
Ephesus
Thessalonica
Rome
Paganus “country dweller” = Pagan (Not Christian)
100 A.D.

7. Rome Reacts
Christians refused to worship Roman Gods and NO respect for Emperor
Refused to serve in army, seen as enemies of Empire

8. Rome Burns Under Nero, anti- Christian Crusade begins in 64 A.D.
Nero blames Christians for fire, arrested and killed them.
Burned alive
Fight wild animals in the Colosseum
Crucified
Paul imprisoned for 2 years and killed

9. The Appeal of Christianity
Help to widows, orphans, poor
Love, forgiveness, better life after death
Biblical messages easy to grasp, written in ordinary language (vernacular)

10. Suffering christians Outlawed Christian services
Imprisoned Christian Priests
Created martyr’s
In A.D. ‘s 300s, one in 10 Romans accepted Christian faith.