Religion and the Roman Empire Mrs. Hadgraft

Early Religion Early Rome was animistic They later adopted Greek Gods and Goddesses

Later Gods and Goddesses Romans adopted the Greek Gods and Goddesses Changed the names Religion was linked to the government Deities were symbols of the state They explained natural phenomena, human qualities, and life events Polytheistic

Rise of Christianity As the empire grew, so did a new religion It was born out of Judaism (Abrahamic Religion) Roman power spread to Judea, where the Jews were living in 63 BCE 6 CE Judea became a province The Jews believed that they would again be enslaved under a non-Jewish king

Jewish Rebellion 66 CE a group of Hebrews rebelled against Rome 132 CE 70 CE Romans destroyed the temple complex All that was left was the Western Wall – which is the holiest place for Jewish followers to worship today Half a million Jews were killed in the rebellion until the Romans won in 73 CE 132 CE Another rebellion, half a million again were killed Many Jews were driven from their homeland in the Diaspora: The time when Jews were driven into exile from their homeland This facilitated a further spread of the religion

Jesus of Nazareth Estimate birth 6-4 BCE Born in Bethlehem, Judea There is little historic information about his life The majority of information about his life is found in: The Bible and the Gospels (Holy Book of Christianity) The first four books of the New Testament of the Christian Bible Jesus was raised in Nazareth in Northern Judea He became a carpenter

Jesus’ Teachings Rise out of Judaism By age 30 he began public ministry He preached for 3 years He began preaching a new Monotheistic religion: Christianity The Ten Commandments: religious law Belief: good people would live in an eternal kingdom after death, wicked would be punished for their sins

Death of Jesus 29 CE Jesus visited Jerusalem People called him the Messiah or king the one who would rescue the Jews Roman governor, Pontius Pilate accused Jesus of defying the authority of Rome He was not the Roman King He was sentenced to crucifixion a common punishment for opponents to Rome His body was placed in a tomb Gospels preach that three days later his body was gone, and a newly living Jesus was appearing to his followers

The Movement Grows Gospels were written by disciples 12 men, later called Apostles These people helped to spread the message of Christianity They traveled, teaching of Jesus, and the Monotheistic Religion Example: the Apostle Paul Never met Jesus At first and enemy to Christianity Believed he had vision of Jesus Spread the word of his teachings Pax Romana allowed the religion to spread quickly and easily Safe roads and trade

Becoming a world Religion Three million Christians by the third century CE People converted because Christianity: Embraced all people – men and women, enslaved, poor, nobles Gave hope to powerless Appealed to those who disliked the extravagance of Rome Offered personal relationship with God Promised eternal life after death

Constantine Roman Emperor 312 CE 313 CE legalized Christianity 380 CE He Reported seeing an image of a cross before a battle symbol of Christianity Put symbol on shields Troops won at the battle of Milvian Bridge 313 CE legalized Christianity EDICT OF MILAN 380 CE Emperor Theodosius made Christianity the official religion of empire

Holy Book: Bible Holy Book: Bible Old Testament: The Jewish Torah – first part of the Christian Bible DIFFERENCE: Christians believe Jesus is the Messiah and son of their God, Jews do not. New Testament : Second part of the Christian Bible Four Gospels believed to have been written by the apostles 325 CE Constantine wrote the Nicene Creed defining basic beliefs