Rome and Christianity

Rome and Christianity

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​Chapter 15 of Textbook

Multiple Choice

In the Roman Senate Senators served for life....

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

What is a patrician?

• A group of judges
• A  small group of powerful nobles
• A large but politically limited group of people
•  3 Roman Leaders

Multiple Choice

What is a plebeian?

• A small group of powerful nobles

• A group of judges

• Three Roman Republic leaders

• A large but politically limited group of people

Multiple Choice

He was a dictator of Rome and later killed by senators because he became too powerful.

• Ceasar Augustus

• Sparticus

• Constantine

• Julius Ceasar

Multiple Choice

What was the effect after Julius Caesar died?

• The Roman Kingdom was established

• The Roman Republic was established

• The Roman Empire was established

• The Roman Government was established

Multiple Choice

The Pax Romana was

• A program to give land to the poor

• A period of Civil Unrest, riots, & wars

• Period of peace and prosperity

• The leader of the senate

Lesson Objectives

1. Describe the rise of Christianity in the Roman Empire between 1 CE and 200 CE

2. Recognize Constantine as the first Christian emperor of Rome

3. Explain how the Roman persecution of Christians led to Constantine's signing the Edict of Milan

Fun Facts about History!

• The names of the months come from the Romans

• ​January = Janus (god of gates and doors)

• ​February = Februa (Festival of purification)

• ​March = Mars (God of War)

• ​April = Aperire (latin word meaning to open)

• ​May = Maia (Goddess of growing plants)

• ​June = Juno (Goddess of marriage and childbirth)

• July = Julius Caesar

• August = Caesar Augustus

• ​September = Septimus (7th month of the Roman year)

• ​October = Octavus (8th month of the Roman year)

• ​November = Nonus (9th month of the Roman year)

• ​December = Decimus (10th month of the Roman year)

Chapter 15 Vocab

• Ritual: an act or series of actions done in the same way in a certain situation, such as a religious ceremony

• Persecution: cruel and unfair treatment of a group of people

• Conversion: a change to one's religious beliefs

• ​Edict: An official order given by a ruler

• Baptize: to perform a ceremony that brings a person into the Christian Church

• Pagan: related to the worship of many gods or goddesses

Multiple Choice

An official order given by a ruler

• Edict

• Pagan

• Baptize

• Ritual

Big Question

Why was the growth of Christianity originally considered a threat to the Roman Empire?

Background

• Roman Empire had a wide range of backgrounds, spoke many different languages, and practiced different religions

• In many cities around the Empire, such as Antioch or Damascus, people would encounter goods from all over, miracle workers, and preachers of new religions

Beginnings of Christianity

• Jesus lived in Judea (present day Israel/Palestine) and first preached to the Jewish community

• Disagreements within the community about these new Christian ideas leads to conflict

• Judaism and Christianity eventually become two different religions with very different beliefs

Multiple Choice

Christianity evolved from what Religion?

• Hinduism

• Buddhism

• Islam

• Judaism

Beginnings of Christianity in Rome

• ~40 CE, people in larger cities began to hear about a new religion in which the followers believed in a man called Jesus Christ

• Paul and a few other followers traveled around the empire, trying to convert people to Christianity

Beginnings of Christianity in Rome

• Around 40 CE, tales of Jesus Christ and his resurrection began spreading to larger cities in the empire

• Some followers, including Paul, traveled around to spread the word

• Most Romans in the cities ignored them

• There were always new religions, new reports of a miracle, or prophesies about the future being told

Multiple Choice

People who were conquered by the Romans were generally allowed to worship whatever gods they pleased.

• True

• False

Conflicts

• Christians were frequently arrested or beaten because their preaching frequently started arguments

• Christians frequently blamed for other problems that developed

• First major persecution came from Emperor Nero

• 64 CE - Major fire breaks out in Rome, lasts 6-7 days. Nero blames Christians for the fire

Problems in Rome

• During the 2nd and 3rd Centuries, the Empire had grown so large that communication was difficult between Rome and other cities

• Other civilizations attempting to conquer parts of the Empire

• Armies and governors of provinces were often corrupt or cruel

• Romans believed the empire would be strong and united if everyone was loyal to it

Loyalty means...

• Paying taxes to Rome

• Taking part in rituals and ceremonies that were part of the Roman process of government

• Many ceremonies and rituals were religious

• Required people to make offerings to the gods, who were believed to protect Rome

• Those who were not loyal would be executed

Loyalty to Rome

• Christians claimed they were loyal to Rome because they could pay taxes and remain loyal to the Roman gov., Rome was not convinced

• Romans required Christians to make offerings to the gods and goddesses, Christians refused

• Romans would arrest, and sometimes execute, them for not obeying

Gladiators

• Some forced to fight in gladiator battles

• Gladiators were enslaved men, prisoners of war, or criminals whose lives were considered worthless by the Romans

• Forced to fight to the death against wild animals and each other in the Colosseums

Multiple Select

Who usually became gladiators? Tick all the correct answers.

• soldiers

• slaves

• condemned criminals

• prisoners of war

• poor citizens

Christian Persecution

• Faced persecution until 310 CE throughout the Roman Empire

• Persecution did not take place everywhere and was not continual

• Rome hoped that persecuting Christians would make citizens more loyal and keep the empire united (didn't work)

• Many people admired Christians for their willingness to stand up for their beliefs

• Many felt Christians embodied characteristics that Romans admired

Early 300s BCE

• Roman Empire was falling apart

• Christianity was the strongest, fastest growing religion in the empire

Battle of Milvian Bridge

Emperor Constantine

• October 12, 312 CE - Constantine has a vision in which he believed the Christian God promised him victory at the Battle of Milvian Bridge

• Constantine converted to Christianity because of his vision and subsequent victory

• 313 CE - Constantine signs the Edict of Milan

• Edict of Milan legalizes Christianity

Multiple Choice

What did Constantine issue in A.D. 313 that gave religious freedom to all people?

• Edict of Rome

• Edict of Milan

• Edict of Venice

• Edict of Constantinople

Constantine

• Actively promoted Christianity and Christianity prospered in the Roman Empire

• Believed that Constantine was baptized on his deathbed

• Became the first Christian emperor

• All successors to the empire were Christian

• By late 300s CE, Rome was persecuting Rome's old pagan relgions

Multiple Choice

Originally Christianity was suppressed by Roman authorities –

• but later it was tolerated, but not accepted.

• and continued to remain illegal until the Empire’s fall.

• but later it became the official state religion.

• and eventually died out within the Empire.

Multiple Choice

Which emperor made is safe to be a Christian and was the first Christian emperor?

• Theodosius

• Constantine

• Augustus

• Nero

Open Ended

Why was the growth of Christianity originally considered a threat to the Roman Empire?