1. Rome and the Rise of Christianity Chapter 1 Section 3 10.1 Students relate the moral and ethical principles in ancient Greek and Roman philosophy, in Judaism, and in Christianity to the development of Western political thought. 1. Analyze the similarities and differences in Judeo-Christian and Greco-Roman views of law, reason and faith, and duties of the individual.

2. Objectives ► Students will be able to: ► 1) Describe aspects of the Roman Empire including daily life, laws, and government ► 2) Explain the origins of Christianity and why it became a popular religion

3. A. The Roman State ► Early Rome ruled by kings and was divided into two groups: ► Patricians and Plebeians ► 509 B.C. Rome became a Republic ► -there is no king and certain citizens had the right to vote ► At first, only Patricians could be on the Senate ► All male Roman citizens supposed to receive equal treatment under the law ► Roman citizens chose representatives to their assemblies

4. B. Roman Law ► Romans developed a sophisticated law system called the Law of Nations ► -Similar to American law system (innocent until proven guilty, people allowed to defense before a judge, a judge that looked carefully at evidence)

5. C. The Roman Empire ► The Republic lasted for about 500 years ► After a series of civil wars, Rome became an empire under Caesar Augustus ► Pax Romana- Roman peace ► Empire was vast, controlling many different civilizations ► All within the Empire were citizens ► All united under a common language, Latin

6. D. The Development of Christianity ► Jesus of Nazareth preached in the Roman empire ► Said he was trying to fulfill the Jewish religion ► Jesus stressed the transformation of the inner person ► He taught to love God above all things ► Secondly, he taught to love your neighbor as yourself

7. ► At first Romans paid little attention to Xianity ► Their attitudes changed when Xians would not celebrate Roman holidays and worship Roman gods ► Romans saw this as treason, punishable by death ► Nero set fire to Rome and blamed it on the Xians ► Christianity grew slowly and gained more power ► Under emperor Constantine, Xianity became the official religion of Rome

8. D. Why Was Christianity so Popular? ► It was a personal religion as opposed to Roman beliefs ► Offered everyone eternal life ► Contained elements familiar in many religions, which made it easy to understand ► Fulfilled the human need to belong ► Especially attractive to the poor and powerless

9. E. Roman and Christian Values ► Both encouraged virtue ► Both encouraged duty to the community and the state ► Christianity began to change in some ways and became Catholicism ► The Catholic church became an institution that was an avenue between the individual and God ► Christianity was dangerous because Christians would obey the law as long as it didn’t violate their conscience

10. What do we know about ancient Rome? ► ► “I turned in to the games one mid-day hoping for a little wit and humor there. I was bitterly disappointed. It was really mere butchery. The morning's show was merciful compared to it. Then men were thrown to lions and to bears: but at midday to the audience. There was no escape for them. The slayer was kept fighting until he could be slain. "Kill him! flog him! burn him alive" was the cry: "Why is he such a coward? Why won't he rush on the steel? Why does he fall so meekly? Why won't he die willingly?" Unhappy that I am, how have I deserved that I must look on such a scene as this? Do not, my Lucilius, attend the games, I pray you. Either you will be corrupted by the multitude, or, if you show disgust, be hated by them. So stay away.” ► ► -Seneca, Description of the Gladiatorial Games under Nero, 1 Century A.D.

11. ► ► “Consequently, to get rid of the report, Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, called 'Chrestians' by the populace. Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilate, and a most mischievous superstition, thus checked for the moment, again broke out not only in Judaea, the first source of the evil, but even in Rome, where all things hideous and shameful from every part of the world find their center and become popular. Accordingly, an arrest was first made of all who pleaded guilty; then, upon their information, an immense multitude was convicted, not so much of the crime of firing the city, as of hatred against mankind. Mockery of every sort was added to their deaths. Covered with the skins of beasts, they were torn by dogs and perished, or were nailed to crosses, or were doomed to the flames and burnt, to serve as a nightly illumination, when daylight had expired.” ► ► - Cornelius Tacitus, The Annals, 1 st Century A.D.