Monotheistic Religions in the Roman Empire Christianity & Judaism
Feb 24, 2016
Monotheistic Religions in the Roman Empire
Christianity & Judaism
Early History of Christianity
Yahweh
Founder of the Arab people
Founder of the Hebrews
Islam Christianity
Judaism
Hagar -- Abraham -- Sarah | | Ishmael Isaac
Empire & New “Mystery” ReligionsWhat “Mystery” religion is this?• Featured a miracle performing
founder• Offered secret knowledge • Promised individual salvation
and eternal life• Focused on a savior deity who
died and came back to life• In groups ate sacred food and
drink• Seventh day was sacred• Founder’s birthday at the end of
DecemberMithraism
Jesus of Nazareth
Born in Roman occupied Palestine
Became a wandering rabbi who taught:
• Hebrew scriptures• Moral perfection• “Blessedness” of society’s
outcasts• Nonviolence
Executed by Romans
Early Foundations The 11 Disciples of Jesus spread the
Christian faith• Disciple – one who is taught• Apostle – one who is sent
Christian means “little Christ”
Peter the Apostle First of the Apostles Traveled to Rome to
become the first Bishop.• “The Rock”• “Pope”
Crucified during reign of Nero
Paul the Apostle A Jewish enemy of the
Christians. Had a vision of Christ Spent the rest of his life
spreading Christ’s teachings.
Enabled anyone to convert to Christianity
Beheaded during Nero’s reign.
Christianity’s Attraction Eternal life and a
relationship with God
Everyone could participate• Encouraged
conversion Sins were forgiven Judaism presented
too many boundaries
Diocletian "Edict against the Christians“ 303 CE
• Scriptures burned• Churches burned• Priests arrested• Christians tortured and killed
How did Christianity survive? 313 CE – Emperor
Constantine converted to Christianity & ended persecution• Edict of Milan
392 CE – Emperor Theodosius established Christianity as the Roman Empire’s only faith
1,000 CE, all European states were Christian and the majority of Europeans were Christians
Judaism in the Roman Empire
King Herod• Rebuilt the Holy Temple• Upper class Jews
accepted him• Small farmers and
commoners did not• He was a foreigner• He used the people’s taxes
to pay for his palaces• Zealots – Jewish rebels
Zealots Viewed Romans as
greedy Awaited the
Messiah Started a mini-
guerrilla war Herod executed
Jewish priests and their family members
This turned many others against him
Diaspora
In Greek, the word Diaspora means dispersion or scattering
The First Diaspora 66 CE – The Jews rebelled against Rome 70 CE, Romans marched into Jerusalem
• Destroyed the Temple complex Only the west wall remains
• Annexed Judea as Roman province• Drove many Jews from Palestine
72 CE – Battle of Masada
Masada
Zealots fled to Masada
900 held out against 15,000 Roman soldiers
Mass suicide
The Second Diaspora
132 CE – Another Jewish revolt Fighting lasted for three years
• At the end, the Jews lost once again• They were forced to leave their
homeland The Jews didn’t return until 1948
when Israel was created