Judeo-Christian TraditionJudeo-Christian TraditionPrologue Sec. 2Prologue Sec. 2

Judaism in the Judaism in the EmpireEmpire

As Rome secured Judea As Rome secured Judea under Augustus under Augustus Jews believed a Jews believed a messiahmessiah would save themwould save them

Jewish revolts lead to unrest Jewish revolts lead to unrest in Judea in Judea

Destruction of the Temple 70 A.D.

Jesus of NazarethJesus of Nazareth

A Jew who proclaimed that A Jew who proclaimed that God’s rule was close at hand God’s rule was close at hand preached acts of kindnesspreached acts of kindness

DisciplesDisciples believed he was believed he was messiahmessiah

JesusJesus of Nazareth of Nazareth

Jesus’s teachings offended Jesus’s teachings offended many Jewish leadersmany Jewish leaders

Romans viewed him as an Romans viewed him as an instigatorinstigator

Executed by crucifixionExecuted by crucifixion

Spread and Persecution Spread and Persecution of Christianityof Christianity

Disciples claimed Jesus had risen Disciples claimed Jesus had risen from the dead and was the messiahfrom the dead and was the messiah

Converts like Paul spread religion Converts like Paul spread religion throughout Mediterranean throughout Mediterranean

Peter brought Christianity to RomePeter brought Christianity to Rome Many believers were Many believers were martyredmartyred by by

the Romans the Romans

Early Christianity in Early Christianity in RomeRome

Rome’s early tolerance of Rome’s early tolerance of religions and religions and transportation routes transportation routes allowed for Christianity to allowed for Christianity to spreadspread

Rome began to view Rome began to view Christians as a threat and Christians as a threat and persecuted thempersecuted them

Christians served as a Christians served as a scapegoat for the scapegoat for the problems in the Empire problems in the Empire

Christian Martyrs in Rome

The Early ChurchThe Early Church

According to legend, According to legend, Constantine accepted Constantine accepted Christianity in 312 after a battleChristianity in 312 after a battle

Edict of Milan granted all Edict of Milan granted all religious freedomreligious freedom

Theodosius made Christianity Theodosius made Christianity Rome’s official religion in 392Rome’s official religion in 392

The Early Church The Early Church Church was set up in a Church was set up in a

hierarchy by the 400’s and the hierarchy by the 400’s and the bishopbishop of Rome had taken a of Rome had taken a leadership role as the leadership role as the popepope

Latin churches-Roman CatholicLatin churches-Roman Catholic Greek churches-Eastern Greek churches-Eastern

OrthodoxOrthodox ““Legacy of Monotheism” p. 15Legacy of Monotheism” p. 15

Roman Roman DeclineDecline

Empire’s ProblemEmpire’s Problem

After Marcus Aurelius, there After Marcus Aurelius, there were 28 emperors in 90 yearswere 28 emperors in 90 years

Instability opened Rome up to Instability opened Rome up to attacks from “Barbarians”attacks from “Barbarians”

Warfare led to poor crops, Warfare led to poor crops, inflationinflation, and extreme financial , and extreme financial hardship for the empirehardship for the empire

An Empire DividedAn Empire Divided

The west part of the Roman The west part of the Roman Empire was being constantly Empire was being constantly attackedattacked

Diocletian and Constantine tried Diocletian and Constantine tried to implement reforms to slow to implement reforms to slow economic decline unsuccessfullyeconomic decline unsuccessfully

Theodosius decreed that the Theodosius decreed that the empire should be split in 395 empire should be split in 395

Reasons Barbarians Reasons Barbarians AttackedAttacked

Sought warmer, southern Sought warmer, southern climateclimate

Wanted Rome’s wealthWanted Rome’s wealth Inability of military to Inability of military to

contain Visigoths led to contain Visigoths led to further uprisings from further uprisings from Franks, Vandals, Goths, Franks, Vandals, Goths, Huns and othersHuns and others

Visigoths Sack Rome

Fall of Western Fall of Western EmpireEmpire

Vandals destroyed Rome in 455Vandals destroyed Rome in 455 Franks and Goths divided GaulFranks and Goths divided Gaul In 476, Odoacer defeated the In 476, Odoacer defeated the

last Roman Emperorlast Roman Emperor This German general accepted This German general accepted

Latin culture and ChristianityLatin culture and Christianity

Reasons for Roman Reasons for Roman CollapseCollapse

Collapse took hundreds of yearsCollapse took hundreds of years Decline in Morals Decline in Morals (Gladiators, (Gladiators,

Prostitutes)Prostitutes) Barbarian InvasionsBarbarian Invasions Inflation and Military SpendingInflation and Military Spending Political CorruptionPolitical Corruption Public HealthPublic Health

Roman LegacyRoman Legacy Preserved Greek CulturePreserved Greek Culture Latin became the base language for Latin became the base language for

many other languages throughout many other languages throughout EuropeEurope

Roman Law and Gov’t became the Roman Law and Gov’t became the core for many western countries core for many western countries todaytoday

The western world’s major religion, The western world’s major religion, Christianity, was greatly influenced by Christianity, was greatly influenced by RomeRome