1. Rome and the Rise of Christianity
Chapter 1 Section 3

2. Question
What about Christianity appeals to so many people? (Why do so many people believe in it?)

3. 1. The Roman State Romans owned a Mediterranean empire
Early Rome was divided into to orders:
1) patricians: ruling class, great land-owners
2) plebians: less wealthy craftsmen, merchants, and small farmers
Rome became a Republic
-there is no king and certain citizens had the right to vote
Only the patriciate could hold office

4. All male Roman citizens supposed to receive equal treatment under the law
Roman citizens chose representatives to their assemblies

5. 2. 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)

6. 3. Influence of Roman Empire
In first century A.D., Rome became an empire
They had grown so large, that a Republic would not work
Caesar Augustus created the Roman Empire btwn 14 and 180 A.D.
After civil war was a long period of peace called the Pax Romana
Rome extended citizenship to all in the empire
Educated citizens spoke Latin
Latin became the language of trade

7. 4. 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

8. Some Romans and Jews thought he might try to lead a rebellion against Rome
Jesus was crucified
After Jesus’ death, his followers said that he had risen from the dead and was the Messiah prophesied about in the Old Testament

9. 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

10. 5. 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

11. 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