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 SUFFERED HEROES & KINGS – ELYSIUM

 ROME expands all the way to Eastern into Mesopotamia and incorporates Jerusalem  As a result come in contact with a variety of different 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?  life-of-a-slave/ 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 1 st & 2 nd 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

 EMPEROR  All religious power  All political power  All 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