Chapter 7 Section 4. Timeline Group Activity In your groups you will do the following: In a envelop you will find 13 major events about the development,

CHRISTIANITY AND THE ROMAN

EMPIRE

Chapter 7 Section 4

Timeline Group Activity

In your groups you will do the following: In a envelop you will find 13 major

events about the development, growth and spread of Christianity.

As a group try to place the 13 events in the correct order.

When you are finished let me know so I can check your order.

Remember

This is not a religion class Our study of any religion in this class is

based on historical evidence and putting ideas of those religions into the historical context

Please be respectful and keep your personal beliefs and opinions to yourself.

Why Study Christianity? Christianity is

important to this class because all the people we study from here on will have type of interaction with Christian people and the Christian religion.

Ohio Academic Content Standard History: The civilizations that developed

in Greece and Rome had an enduring impact on later civilizations. This legacy includes governance and law, engineering and technology, art and architecture, as well as literature and history. The Roman Empire also played an instrumental role in the spread of Christianity.

The Beginnings of Christianity Grows from a group of people called the

Israelites (Hebrews) The Israelites practiced monotheism and

established a capital in the city of Jerusalem

The religion practiced by the Israelites was very different from other religions practiced in the ancient world.

Judaism

The Ten Commandments are the core beliefs of Judaism

Judaism has a major influence on both Christianity and Islam

Judaism and Christianity

SimilaritiesMonotheism – Belief in one GodGod is all good, all powerful and all

knowingGod is the creator of nature, not a part of

nature○ Different from Greek/Roman beliefs

Belief in a Messiah (savior)

Christianity and the Romans

Christianity was one of many religions in the Roman EmpireRomans conquered many lands with

different languages, customs, and religions Romans were tolerant toward the people

in these lands But the conquered people also had to

show loyalty to Roman Gods and the Emperor

Unrest in Judaea

The Romans conquered the Jewish homeland of Judaea in 63 BC

At first the Romans respected the Jewish rights to worship their God but many Jews resented foreign rule.

As opposition to Roman rule grew, the Romans stuck back with harsh punishments.

Unrest in Judaea

In 37 B.C., the Roman Senate appointed a new ruler of Judaea named Herod.

According to the Bible, It was during Herod’s reign that Jesus was born in the Judaean town of Bethlehem.

Herod also rules during the reign of AugustusAugustus Became the first Roman Emperor

in 27 B.C.

The Birth of Jesus Jesus as a historical figure

There was historical figure named Jesus

Between the years of 1 A.D. and 7 A.D. Jesus is Born

We have a date range because according to Christianity, Jesus was born during the time of HerodHerod died in 4 A.D.

The Life of Jesus

According to the New Testament, Jesus grew up in Nazareth and learned to be a carpenter.

He began teaching when he was about 30 years old, during the rule of Tiberius. Tiberius became Emperor in 14 A.D.

Christianity says that for three years, Jesus traveled from place to place preaching to Jews who lived in the countryside.

The Life of Jesus

Jesus was a Jew Much of what he taught was part of the

Jewish tradition he learned as he was growing up.

Like all Jewish teachers, Jesus preached that there was only one true God.Remember this goes against Roman Gods

and the Roman Emperor

Followers of Christianity In the beginning, the

followers of Christianity were often poor and slaves.

His followers believed that Jesus was their “messiah”

Followers of Jesus were called Disciples

The Sermon on the Mount“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is

in the kingdom of heaven….

Blessed are the lowly, for they shall inherit the Earth….

Blessed are those who are persecuted in the cause of right, for theirs is in the

kingdom of heaven.”

The 12 Disciples Twelve of Jesus‘

closest followers were know as the 12 Disciples

Peter, Andrew, James, John, Phillip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James, Thaddaeus, Simon and Judas

Fear of Christianity

Jesus’ teachings alarmed many people Some complained to the Romans that

Jesus was teaching that God was greater than the Emperor

Fearing that Jesus may lead an armed revolt against the government, the Roman governor condemned Jesus to death

The Death of Jesus Jesus was to be

crucified, or put to death by being nailed to a large wooden cross.

Between the years of 30 A.D. to 37 A.D., Jesus is Crucified and Dies.

According to Christianity, Jesus rose from the dead and spoke to his disciples, telling them to spread his teaching

Christianity Spreads

The Greek equivalent of the word Messiah was Christos.

Many educated people in the Roman Empire spoke Greek (especially in the Eastern part of the Empire)

As these people accepted Jesus’ teachings, they began calling him Christ

After his death, his followers, called Christians, spread the new religion.

Saul of Tarsus One of the most devoted

followers of Jesus’ teachings was a Jew whose original name was Saul.

Saul was well educated and spoke Greek

According to the New Testament, Saul at first rejected the Christian message.

Paul

Saul believed he had a vision in which Jesus spoke to him

Around 35 A.D., Saul changed his name to Paul and converted to ChristianityPaul was one of first Christian leaders to

spread message to non-Jews. Paul’s writings helped turn the Christian

faith into a organized religion.Some of Paul’s Letters became parts of the

Bible

Emperor Nero and Christians In 54 A.D., Nero becomes Emperor of

Rome Since Christians refused to worship

Roman Gods or the Emperor, many Roman officials began to view them as enemies of the Empire.

Under the Emperor Nero, the first official campaign against Christians began.

Rome Burns In 64 A.D., the Great

Fire in Rome burns for nine days, leaving much of the city in ruins.

According to some accounts, Nero blamed the Christians.

He ordered the arrest of Christians. Who were sent to their deaths.

Paul Martyred According to

tradition, it was during this time that Paul was imprisoned

Around 67 A.D., Paul is Martyred in Rome. A martyr is someone

who dies for a particular cause

The Four Gospels Much of what we know

about the life and work of Jesus comes from the Four Gospels

The four Gospels were written sometime between 40 and 70 years after the death of Jesus

They are believed to be written by four DisciplesMatthew, Mark, Luke, and

John

Christianity Grows

In 98 A.D., Trajan becomes Emperor of Rome

Under Trajan we see one of the first Roman Emperors to address Christianity as a major religious force.

This can be seen in an exchange in letters between Emperor Trajan and Pliny the Younger

Letter from Pliny the YoungerIt is my practice, my lord, to refer to you all matters concerning which I am in doubt. For who can better give guidance to my hesitation or

inform my ignorance? I have never participated in trials of Christians. I therefore do not know what offenses it is the practice to punish or investigate, and to what extent. And I have been not a little hesitant as to whether there should be any distinction on account of age or no

difference between the very young and the more mature; whether pardon is to be granted for repentance, or, if a man has once been a Christian, it does him no good to have ceased to be one; whether the name itself, even without offenses, or only the offenses associated

with the name are to be punished.

Meanwhile, in the case of those who were denounced to me as Christians, I have observed the following procedure: I interrogated these as to whether they were Christians; those who confessed I interrogated a second and a third time, threatening them with punishment;

those who persisted I ordered executed. For I had no doubt that, whatever the nature of their creed, stubbornness and inflexible obstinacy surely deserve to be punished. There were others possessed of the same folly; but because they were Roman citizens, I

signed an order for them to be transferred to Rome.

Soon accusations spread, as usually happens, because of the proceedings going on, and several incidents occurred. An anonymous document was published containing the names of many persons. Those who denied that they were or had been Christians, when they

invoked the gods in words dictated by me, offered prayer with incense and wine to your image, which I had ordered to be brought for this purpose together with statues of the gods, and moreover cursed Christ--none of which those who are really Christians, it is said, can be forced to do--these I thought should be discharged. Others named by the informer declared that they were Christians, but then denied it,

asserting that they had been but had ceased to be, some three years before, others many years, some as much as twenty-five years. They all worshipped your image and the statues of the gods, and cursed Christ.

They asserted, however, that the sum and substance of their fault or error had been that they were accustomed to meet on a fixed day before dawn and sing responsively a hymn to Christ as to a god, and to bind themselves by oath, not to some crime, but not to commit fraud, theft, or adultery, not falsify their trust, nor to refuse to return a trust when called upon to do so. When this was over, it was their

custom to depart and to assemble again to partake of food--but ordinary and innocent food. Even this, they affirmed, they had ceased to do after my edict by which, in accordance with your instructions, I had forbidden political associations. Accordingly, I judged it all the more necessary to find out what the truth was by torturing two female slaves who were called deaconesses. But I discovered nothing

else but depraved, excessive superstition.

I therefore postponed the investigation and hastened to consult you. For the matter seemed to me to warrant consulting you, especially because of the number involved. For many persons of every age, every rank, and also of both sexes are and will be endangered. For the contagion of this superstition has spread not only to the cities but also to the villages and farms. But it seems possible to check and cure it. It is certainly quite clear that the temples, which had been almost deserted, have begun to be frequented, that the established religious

rites, long neglected, are being resumed, and that from everywhere sacrificial animals are coming, for which until now very few purchasers could be found. Hence it is easy to imagine what a multitude of people can be reformed if an opportunity for repentance is

afforded.

Response from Emperor Trajan

You observed proper procedure, my dear Pliny, in sifting the cases of those who had been denounced to

you as Christians. For it is not possible to lay down any general rule to serve as a kind of fixed standard. They are not to be sought out; if they are denounced and proved guilty, they are to be punished, with this

reservation, that whoever denies that he is a Christian and really proves it--that is, by worshiping our gods--even though he was under suspicion in the past, shall obtain pardon through repentance. But anonymously

posted accusations ought to have no place in any prosecution. For this is both a dangerous kind of

precedent and out of keeping with the spirit of our age.

The Appeal of Christianity At times over the next 250 years, the

Romans torment and persecute the Christians.

During these years the Roman Empire began to lose its power.

To explain the decline, the Romans sometimes blamed the Christians

By the A.D. 200’s, over 50,000 Romans had accepted the Christian faith.

Growth of Christianity in Empire

It is estimated that the number of Christians grew about a 40% every decade

For example:In A.D. 40 there were about 1,000 Christians

in the empireA decade later, in A.D. 50 there were about

1,400 Christians in the Empire

Groups

A.D. 50 = 1,400 How many will there be in:

○ A.D. 60○ A.D. 70○ A.D. 80○ A.D. 90○ A.D. 100

Estimates (based off 40% growth)

40 1,000 50 1,400 60 1,960 70 2,744 80 3,842 90 5,378 100 7,530

150 40,496 200 217,795 250 1,171,356 300 6,299,832 350 33,882,008