Transcript Slide 1

IV.RISE OF CHRISTIANITY
(Pg 166)
*Constantine*--1st Roman emperor to convert
to Christianity
A. Early Empire Include Diverse
Religions
1. Rome Tolerates Diversity
a. Polytheism & Monotheism
coexisted
2. Divisions Arise in Judea
a. Roman rule of Judea
i. Jews excused from
worshiping Roman gods
b. Strict Judaism in Judea
i. Zealots—wanted revolt from
Rome
ii. Waiting for the Messiah*
3. A Jewish Rebellion is Defeated
a. Romans destroyed much of
Jerusalem
=many Jews left Judea(=the Diaspora)
The Siege and Destruction of Jerusalem,
by David Roberts (1850)
1. Jesus Begins Preaching—in Judea
a. A descendent of King David
b. Grew up Jewish
c. His 12 disciples, or apostles*
d. =message spread to Jerusalem
Sermon on the Mount,
illustration by Carl Heinrich
Bloch, 19th c.
The 12 Disciples at the Last Supper
B. Jesus Proclaims His Teachings
-teachings written in Gospels=first 4
books of New Testament bible
(Matthew, Mark, Luke, John)
2. Jesus Teaches New Beliefs
a. Messiah (son of God=savior of
man)=”Christ”
b. Salvation, eternal life to his
followers
3. Condemned to Death
a. Jewish priests felt threatened
by Jesus
b. =crucifixion
4. Unique Aspects of Jesus’
Teachings:
--the Trinity
--son of God
--Messiah
--Need for justice
--salvation
--Forgiveness of sins --love all --Communion
--New Testament
--Sunday Sabbath
--love God with whole heart
--all EQUAL in eyes of God
The Teaching of Christ—Video Clip
C. Message of Christianity Spreads
( by apostles)
1. Paul* Spreads Christianity
a. Helped to begin separate
religion of Christianity
through his
traveling
& preaching
2. Christians Are Oppressed
a. Punished & executed by Romans
= martyrs*
Examples: Peter & Paul
Peter=1st Christian Pope, crucified
upside down in Rome on the site that
would become the Vatican
“though art Peter & upon this rock I will
build my church”—Matthew 16: 13-20
3. The Message Appeals to Many
a. Appeal to the poor due to
message that “all are equal in
God’s eyes”
b. Salvation
c. Used Roman roads to travel
through empire spreading
Christianity
Roman Roads
4. Rome Accepts Christianity
a. Emperor Constantine* (313AD)
1. Edict of Milan*=freedom of
worship to all citizens of
Rome
Spread of Christianity
to AD 325
Spread of Christianity
to AD 600
Constantine
D. The Early Christian Church
Develops
1. Early Christian Communities
Shared:
a. Faith in Jesus’ teachings
b. Common way of worship
c. Worshipped in secrecy
d. Executed if found
Romans fed Christian to lions
at the Colosseum
Roman Catacombs
2. Joining the Church
a. Appealed to people (+s):
i. Equality
ii. Sacraments=
Baptism, Eucharist (communion),
Marriage, Last Rites
iii. Sunday Sabbath
3. Structuring the Clergy
a.
Pope/Patriarch*
Bishop
Bishop
Diocese
Diocese
=priest & community
Bishop
Diocese
4. Differences Arise Within the
Church
a. Battle of the Popes
b. Heresy*
The Sixth
Commandment:
Thou shalt not kill.
(Exodus 20:13)
5. Scholars Further Define
Christianity
a.Clement
b.Origen
c. Augustine—combined Christian
doctrine w/ learning of GrecoRoman learning (Plato)
Christianity Spreads in Roman Empire
V. THE LONG DECLINE
• A. The Roman Empire Divides
1. Threats:
a. Economic problems
b. Foreign invasion
c. Decline of traditional Roman
values
d. End of Pax Romana 180AD
1. w/death of emperor Marcus
Aurelius
Rome—at end of Pax Romana
= 56 million people!
2. Political Violence Becomes
Common
a. Emperors overthrown=instability
3. Social & Economic Problems
Arise
a. High taxes
(1 in 3 were slaves)
b. Oppressive govt
c. Over-farmed land=not
enough food, high prices
4. Emperor Diocletian* Shares Power
a. He divided empire based on
geography:
West
East
Maximian
Diocletian
Rome
Constantinople
declining
growing
Latin language
Greek language
=poorer
=wealthier
= both weakened
Rome split in half
b. Economic inflation* (prices
incomes
)
c. Travel restricted
d. In cities, sons had to carry on
father’s occupation=no choice
5. Emperor Constantine Makes
Further Reforms
a. Took throne in 312 AD
b. Reforms:
i. Granted toleration to Christians
--Edict of Milan in 313AD
ii. Created a new capital
=Constantinople (today is Istanbul)
=Eastern empire w/ more power
6. Improvements Prove Temporary
a. Revived economy
=short-term fix
b. Increased govt power
B. Invaders Threaten the Roman
Empire
1. Migrating Nomads Attack
a. The Huns*
i. Other German tribes
fled from Huns into
Roman territory:
--Visigoths, Ostrogoths,
Vandals, Lombards
All flee from the Huns
Attila the Huns: “the scourge of God”
2. Rome is Sacked 378 AD
a. Western empire (Rome, Italy)
overrun
b. Attila the Hun*
= the DARK AGES begin
C. Many Problems Cause Rome to Fall
1. Military Attacks
a. Invasions: Rome hired unloyal
mercenaries* (not enough
soldiers so had to hire
Barbarians)
2. Political Turmoil
a. More oppressive govt=no
support from people
b. Corrupt officials
c. Civil wars over imperial
succession
3. Economic Weakness
a. High taxes: to support army
(mercenaries) & govt
b. High # of slaves (1 of every 3
people in Rome= a slave=not
paying taxes so the rest of the
2/3 had to pay more taxes)
c. Farmers abandoned their land
i. Couldn’t pay taxes
ii. Not yielding enough food to
harvest (overfarmed land)
d. Middle class becomes poor
e. Population declines (due to war,
disease, starvation)=
i. Decreased tax base
ii. Decreased supply of soldiers
4. Social Decay
a. Decline in traditional Roman
values:
i. Patriotism
ii. Discipline
iii. Devotion to duty & emperor
5. Did Rome Really Fall?
a. Only in the West
b. East  Byzantine Empire
(Constantinople its capital)
=rest of Europe now in DARK AGES
for next 500 years!
The Roman Empire