Development of Christianity 5 4 Background Roman Religion

Development of Christianity 5. 4

Background: Roman Religion • Augustus – Revived Roman state religion • Many gods and goddesses • Emperors • Rituals – Peace and prosperity • Tolerance

The Jewish Background and the Rise of Christianity • Judaea – Unrest • Jewish Revolt – crushed by Romans – destroyed temple in Jerusalem

• Jesus – Jewish – Preached about virtues – Turned over to Romans • Crucified under Pontius Pilate • Followers believed he overcame death Messiah – Simon Peter – Paul of Tarsus – Converts – New Testament • Letters written by disciples • Gospels

• Christian verses Roman – threat to public order – threat to salvation • Persecution – Nero

Triumph of Christianity • Organization • Growth – personal, familiar, belonging – Based on love, equality • Persecution revived • Constantine – Edict of Milan – Theodosius the Great • adopted Christianity as official Roman religion

Decline and Fall 5. 5

The Decline • Unrest after death of last good emperor – Severans – Military rule • Invasions – Persia, Germanic Peoples • Civil Wars • Plague

• Late Roman Empire – Revival – New government structure – Rigid economic and social system – New religion – Christianity – Expanded bureaucracy – Enlarged army – Drained treasury

• Diocletian – Divided into 4 sections • Constantine – Became sole ruler of Rome – New capitol • Constantinople • “New Rome” • Policies based on coercion and control

The Fall • Empire continued for 100+ years • Two Capitols – Rome in the West – Constantinople in the East • Invasions – Huns, Visigoths, Vandals – Western roman Empire fell in 476 • Many theories