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Ancient Rome: The Rise of Christianity. World History. Entering a Time of Peace. Under Julius Caesar, Rome became an empire. Octavian Augustus was the first emperor of Rome.
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Ancient Rome: The Rise of Christianity World History
Entering a Time of Peace • Under Julius Caesar, Rome became an empire. • Octavian Augustus was the first emperor of Rome. • Rome became too powerful to be challenged and entered a time of peace in the empire, known as the PaxRomanaor “Roman Peace.” • This allowed ideas to spread across the world.
How Powerful Was Rome? • 3 million square miles • 80 million people • 1 million residents in city of Rome.
The Rise of a New Religion • In 63 BC, Rome took over Judea, the home of the Jewish religion. • Judea was controlled by King Herod, a Jewish governor for Rome. • After Herod’s death, fighting broke out among his sons. • Rome sent troops to create peace in Judea.
The Birth of Christianity • Judaism was tolerated by the Romans at first. • First Monotheistic Religion: Only one supreme god. • Jesus of Nazareth was born under the rule of Octavian (Caesar Augustus) • Grew up preaching the idea of one true god • Spread a message of peace, love, forgiveness. • Many Jews believed that Jesus was the Messiah or Savior, from the Romans. • Jesus was called Christ which means “savior” in Greek.
How do We Know About Jesus? • Followers of Jesus wrote about the teachings and experiences that occurred during his life. • These writings were called Gospels, meaning ‘good news’ • Can be found in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. • The Old Testament is used by the Jewish faith which does not believe Jesus was the true Messiah.
Why did Christianity appeal to people? • Embraced ALL people, especially the poor • Promised life after death for ALL people. Because of the PaxRomana, these ideas of Christianity were able to spread quickly throughout the empire.
The Crucifixion of Jesus • The popularity of Jesus with the poor angered the Romans and the Jews. • Jesus was called the “Son of God” and a “King” • Jews feared Jesus’s preaching would anger the Romans • Jewish leaders turned Jesus over to the Roman governor of Jerusalem, Pontius Pilate to be Crucified.
After the Apostles Followers of Jesus became known as Christians. Much of what is known about Jesus comes from the writings of His Apostles.Apostle means “One who travels”. Apostles traveled, spread Christian teachings, and wrote the Gospels of the Bible. Peter and Paul were two very influential Apostles.
Roman Persecution of Jews and Christians • Why did the Romans hate Christianity/Judaism? • Monotheism vs. Polytheism • Christians/Jews didn’t recognize the emperors as Gods. • Blamed for any problems in Roman society. • Emperors such as Nero crucified and tortured Christians and Jews as traitors. • Many Jews fled their homeland to escape- Known as the Jewish Diaspora- or “spreading out” • Christians and Jews became Martyrs: Dying for their beliefs.
The Jews Strike Back • 66 AD- Jews rebel against the Romans. • 70 AD- Romans stormed Jerusalem and destroy their temple, leaving only the Western Wall a.k.a the “wailing wall”. • 73 AD- Jews and Romans fight at the Battle of Masada. Over 500,000 Jews died in this battle, mostly of suicide. • Today- The Western Wall is Jerusalem’s holiest shrine.
The Victory Arch of Emperor Titus over the Jews in Jerusalem
The Martyrdom of Peter • Peter the Apostle traveled to Rome and was crucified upside down by Nero. • Believed to be the first “Bishop” or Pope of the Christian Church. • Today, all Popes are believed to be descendants of St. Peter. • We now call this the “Catholic” church which means “Universal”.
Christianity Under Constantine • In 312 AD, Constantine became Emperor of Rome. • During Battle, he saw an image of a cross and won. • 313 AD- Constantine issues the Edict of Milan making Christianity a legal religion in Rome. • To strengthen the religion he called the Council of Nicaea to establish the core beliefs of Christianity, leading to the Nicene Creed.
The Nincene Creed We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Finally Official • In 380 AD, Emperor Theodosius declared Christianity the Offical Religion of the Roman Empire.
