1. Key Ideas Many Jews opposed Roman rule in Judea.
Origins of Christianity
Key Ideas
Many Jews opposed Roman rule in Judea.
Jesus was an influential Jewish teacher whose followers believed he was the Messiah.
Jesus’ followers founded Christianity and spread it to many people, despite Roman
persecution.

2. Key Terms resurrection—coming back to life
Origins of Christianity
Key Terms
resurrection—coming back to life
baptism—ritual cleansing by plunging into
water
crucifixion—slow and painful Roman method
of execution in which the victim was nailed or
tied to a large cross and left to hang until dead
Students should use the Word Wise feature for Section 3 of their Student Journals to explore Key Terms.

3. Key Terms conversion—a heartfelt change in one’s opinions or beliefs
Origins of Christianity
Key Terms
conversion—a heartfelt change in one’s
opinions or beliefs
martyrs—people who die for their beliefs
Students should use the Word Wise feature for Section 3 of their Student Journals to explore Key Terms.

4. Jewish Groups Under Roman Rule
Origins of Christianity
Jewish Groups Under Roman Rule
Zealots Saw Romans as foreign occupiers; hoped God would send a Messiah to save the Jews from oppression
Pharisees Were educated and followed Jewish law; believed in resurrection
Sadducees Came from upper class; supported Roman rule and Jewish traditions
Other Groups Some isolated themselves; some practiced baptism.
Review the characteristics of different Jewish groups. Ask students to describe the views of the Zealots, and to list ways that the Zealots put their views into action.

5. Jesus’ Life and Teachings
Origins of Christianity
Jesus’ Life and Teachings
In what religion was Jesus raised?
Judaism
Why did followers first begin to think Jesus was the Messiah?
He spoke out for the poor and outcast and they believed he could heal the sick.
According to Christianity, what happened that caused Jesus’ followers to believe that he definitely was the Messiah?
Jesus’ resurrection
Use the questions above to review students’ understanding of the section Jesus’ Life and Teachings.

6. How did Christianity become a new religion?
Origins of Christianity
How did Christianity become a new religion?
The apostles spread the new religion after Jesus’ death.
More and more non-Jews became Christians.
Paul traveled widely and preached about Christianity.
Paul welcomed non-Jews, and argued that they did not have to follow all Jewish laws and traditions.
Discuss each factor, asking students how it helped Christianity develop into a separate religion from Judaism.

7. The Roman Response Romans had mostly tolerated Jewish worship.
Origins of Christianity
The Roman Response
Romans had mostly tolerated Jewish worship.
Romans opposed Christianity as a new religion, fearing it would anger Roman gods and that Christians were disloyal.
Emperor Nero falsely blamed Christians for a big fire, and began to persecute them.
Discuss ways that the Roman empire responded to the growth of Christianity. Ask students how that response helped or hindered growth of the new religion.

8. Beliefs of Christianity
Key Ideas
Early Christians wrote books about the life of Jesus and other topics that form part of Christianity’s scripture.
Most Christians share a core set of beliefs, including faith in Jesus as the son of God and in the Trinity.
Christians believe that it is important to follow Jesus’ ethical teachings.

9. Key Terms New Testament—collection of holy writings,
Beliefs of Christianity
Key Terms
New Testament—collection of holy writings,
or scripture, created by early Christians
Gospels—first four books of the New
Testament that describe the life of Jesus
parable—story with a moral
Students should use the Word Wise feature for Section 4 in their Student Journals to explore Key Terms.

10. Beliefs of Christianity
Key Terms
epistle—formal letter, several of which appear in the New Testament
Trinity—according to Christian beliefs,
three forms of God: God the father, Jesus
the Son, and the Holy Spirit
Students should use the Word Wise feature for Section 4 of their Student Journals to explore Key Terms.

11. Key Terms ethics—issues of right and wrong and how to treat people
Beliefs of Christianity
Key Terms
ethics—issues of right and wrong and
how to treat people
denomination—religious group within
a larger religion
Students should use the Word Wise feature for Section 4 of their Student Journals to explore Key Terms.

12. The Christian Bible What holy text did the first Christians use?
Beliefs of Christianity
The Christian Bible
What holy text did the first Christians use?
Hebrew Bible
How did early Christians add to their holy text?
They created the New Testament
What are the Gospels, epistles, and the Book of Revelation?
Gospels: Describe the life and teaching of Jesus from four points of view
Epistles: letters from Church leaders to new churches offering guidance and explanation of Christian teachings.
Book of Revelation: predicts future events
Use the questions above to further review students’ understanding of the section subheading The Christian Bible.

13. What do most Christians believe?
Beliefs of Christianity
What do most Christians believe?
God exists in three forms, or Trinity. Jesus was God in human form. His resurrection proves that he was divine.
Belief in Jesus offers the believer the chance of eternal life in the presence of God. People’s actions and beliefs in life determine what happens to their souls after death.
God has the power to forgive people’s sins. Jesus’ crucifixion was a sacrifice for human sin.
Review the core shared beliefs of Christianity, stressing that while Christian groups disagree about some aspects of their faith, most share these essential beliefs.

14. Christianity Today Beliefs of Christianity
Refer students to these graphs in the Closer Look Christianity Today in Section 4 of the Student Edition. Ask them where most Christians live. Then discuss ways that Christian denominations differ from one another. If you wish, refer students to the 21st Century Online Tutor more practice reading charts and graphs.

15. Decline of the Roman Empire
Key Ideas
Problems, including civil wars and foreign invasions, led to the decline of the Roman empire.
The Roman empire was divided into eastern and western halves, each with its own emperor.
The western half of the Roman empire collapsed while the eastern half survived.

16. Key Terms inflation—a general rise in the cost of goods
Decline of the Roman Empire
Key Terms
inflation—a general rise in the cost of goods
barbarians—the word Greeks and Romans
used for people who did not share their
cultures
Students should use the Word Wise feature for Section 5 of the Roman Empire and Christianity chapter in their Student Journal to explore Key Terms.

17. Key Terms mercenary—soldier who fights for pay
Decline of the Roman Empire
Key Terms
mercenary—soldier who fights for pay
rather than for his or her country
orthodoxy—traditional or established
religious beliefs
Students should use the Word Wise feature for Section 5 of Roman Empire and Christianity chapter of their Student Journal to explore Key Terms.

18. What ended the Pax Romana?
Decline of the Roman Empire
What ended the Pax Romana?
Military commanders began challenging emperors. 
A series of civil wars broke out.
Septimus Severus tried unsuccessfully to restore peace.
More civil wars occurred.
Walk students through the sequence of events posted. Explain that Marcus Aurelius’ death occurs during this series of events. Then ask students why the succession of leadership was so important to the empire.

19. Two Important Emperors
Decline of the Roman Empire
Two Important Emperors
Diocletian
• split the empire into two halves
reorganized the imperial government into two
co-emperors with junior emperors for support
• restored peace on the frontier
• persecuted Christians
Constantine
• made Christianity a legal religion in the empire
• started to build a new capital for the eastern
empire, in the city now called Constantinople
Discuss the importance of each emperor.