RISE OF CHRISTIANITY

ROMAN RELIGION

What was the religion of Ancient Rome? POLYTHEISM – OLYMPIAN GODS

Who was the political leader of Roman Empire?THE EMPEROR

Who was the religious leader of Roman Empire?THE EMPEROR

What was the “afterlife” like in early roman religion?

LIKE GREECE – SINNERS SUFFEREDHEROES & KINGS – ELYSIUM

ROME expands all the way to Eastern into Mesopotamia and incorporates Jerusalem

As a result come in contact with a variety of diff erent religions and for the most part are tolerated (because they are also polytheistic)

EXPANSION OF ROME

Starts as a secret society cult religion 30 AD – Jesus of Nazareth is crucified (not in the year

O AD)

CHRISTIANITY

10 years after Jesus is crucified – estimated Christians = 1000

The Roman trade routes and roman roads allowed the message of the Christians to spread easily from the East westward all across the empire.

SPREAD OF CHRISTIANITY

What attracted many people to Christianity?

http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/videos/the-life-of-a-slave/

WHY WAS IT SO APPEALING?

COMMONERS & SLAVES: “So your telling me that

regardless of my social status now, if I live a virtuous

life, I can be treated as equal in the afterlife? Where

do I sign?”

ELITE: “Wait…so all those assassinations I planned,

and my sleazy political ways…my treating of the

commoners like crap, my abuse of my slaves….that is

going to get me sent to hell!?.....This religion must

be stopped!”

MESSAGE OF THE CHRISTIANS

During his reign Rome is “mysteriously” burned…but why? 1 Theory: Nero did it on purpose to clear land near the

coliseum to build his own palace

NERO – 64 AD

NERO: “I know! Lets blame the Christians!”

1. That’ll gives an excuse to get rid of that religion that severely contradicts the old gods and threatens the elite

2. Deflects the attention away from me and my hidden agenda

KILL 2 BIRDS WITH 1 STONE

The persecuted Christians become martyrs

What is a martyr?

Pretty much for every Christian that dies there is a witness who spreads the word of their courage and as a result Christianity doesn’t die but instead it spreads.

PLAN BACKFIRES…

First churches are held in secrecy in peoples houses

The home is a woman’s domain.

Church is being held in the home.

Roman society is generally discriminatory to women

Christianity gives women a distinct role….

CHRISTIANITY GROWS

250 BC Population of Rome - 60 million Population of Christians – 1.1million

Martyrdom continues…

People see these people facing persecution and death without fear showing their belief in salvation which spreads word further and further across the empire…

300 BC Population of Rome = 60 million Population of Christians = 6 million.

GROWTH CONTINUES

303 BC – Emperor Diocletion says enough is enough

Becomes furious when he realizes Christians won’t sacrifice to the old gods

Rounds up all the Christians he can find and persecutes about 5000 of them outside the Coliseum.

Again they face death with no fear and again the word spreads even further…

ETHNIC CLEANSING

Previously to held the Empires management problems Diocletian separated the Empire into East & West and it was ruled by co-emperors (a Tetrarchy – rule of 4).

Guess what…just like the 1st & 2nd Triumvirates …this doesn’t work and civil war ensues between Constantine & his co-emperors

CONSTANTINE THE GREAT

Prior to marching into battle Constantine sees an “omen” or “sign from god” in the sky (it is unclear what it was – possibly an eclipse)

Declares he will fight this Battle in the name of the lord and the Christians.

They win decisively …therefore it must be because of the support of the lord Jesus Christ.

CONSTANTINE THE GREAT

Returns to Rome, institutes policies of religious tolerance

First Emperor to be baptized

CONSTANTINE THE GREAT

The Arch of Constantine in Rome tells the story of this “divine” battle

EMPERORAll religious powerAll political powerAll judicial power

POWER – BEFORE CONSTANTINE

THE “POPE”Worried about

church matters & that’s about it

The Pope was

technically still a

subject of the

Emperor

CONSTANTINE: “ Hey Pope, why not have some secular powers too?” Secular: Powers outside of the church (political, legislative)

POPE: “Thanks dude.”

Christians begin taking over political roles and authority

POWER DURING CONSTANTINE

Medieval Kings & Rulers become a subject of Christianity and therefore have to answer to the Pope

The State becomes subject to the will of the Christian Church

POWER AFTER CONSTANTINE (NEXT UNIT)

Barbarians continue to invade and pillage the Western Roman Empire

The Eastern Empire is much more secure & “safe”

Constantine founds the city of New Rome in Byzantium

Renamed: Constantinople in his honor

CONSTANTINE THE GREAT