10/10/2012

[4th LizzK]

• Background Information
  • Religion had always played a large role in Roman society
  • However, the polytheistic system was very impersonal.
  • So as the empire grew, so did the new religion called Christianity.
• Jesus of Nazareth
  • Viewed as the Messiah or savior by the Christians.
  • Born in the town of Bethlehem in Judea.
  • Baptized by John the Baptist.
  • He took up carpentry.
  • A the age of thirty eh then took up ministry.
  • For the next three years, he preached, taught, and did good works, and reportedly performed miracles.
• History of Jesus
  • Historical records of the time mention very little about Jesus.
  • The main source of information about his main teachings are the Gospels.
  • These gospels were written by his disciples or pupils, called apostles.
• Jesus' Death
  • Jesus was growing in popularity and this concerned Roman and Jewish leaders.
  • A governor of Rome named Pontius Pilate accused Jesus of defying the authority of Rome.
  • He was then crucified on a wooden cross.
• The Spread of Christianity
  • After Jesus' death, the followers of Jesus continued to spread his ideas.
  • Despite the large amount of political and religious opposition, the new religion of Christianity began to spread.
• Paul
  • A man who really influenced the spreading of Christianity.
  • He was once a jew against Christianity.
  • He was able to do many of his speeches and travel throughout the Roman Empire because it was during Pax Romana.
• Charts
  • Christian
    • Belief that Jesus is the Messiah
    • Acceptance of Gentiles and Jews alike
  • Jewish
    • Belief that the Jews are the chosen people
    • Adherence to Jewish Law
  • Both
    • Believe in one God
    • Believe in the Ten Commandments
• Organization Chart
  • Pope
    • Bishops
      • Priests
        • Peoples (awwww yisssss)
• Persecution of Christians
  • The main reason they were attacked was because they refused to worship Roman gods.
  • As Pax Romana began to crumble, persecution o the Christians increased.
  • Thousands were crucified, burned, or killed by wild animals in the circus arenas.
  • Other Christians and even some non-christians regarded persecuted Christians as martyrs - people who were willing to sacrifice their lives for the sake of a belief or cause.
• Popularity
  • Became a world religion for multiple reasons
    • Embraced all people
    • Gave hope to the powerless
    • Appealed to those who were repelled by the extravagances of imperial Rome
    • offered personal relationships with a loving God
    • Promised eternal life after death.
• Constantine accepting Christianity.
  • Constantine was fighting over the leadership of Rome.
  • He then prayed to the Christian God and saw a vision of the Christian Cross.
  • He ordered the artisans to paint the Christian symbol on the shields.
  • He was successful in battle so he began to accept Christianity.
• Research
  • Attila the Hun
  • One paragraph on basic information about him
  • Then state if you would rather have Attila or Alexander the Great as a leader ( one paragraph ).