Ancient Rome Part 2 Sections 4 and 5

The Rise of Christianity In the early centuries A.D., Christians belonged to a very small “cult” that originated in a distant corner of the Roman Empire When the Roman Empire collapses in 476 A.D., the Christian Church takes over many of its functions The Church will become the central institution in Europe for over the next 1,000 years

Rome allows diversity Many people looked to other religions for spiritual fulfillment Rome generally tolerated these as long as you paid lip service to the Roman deities Polytheists worshiped the Roman gods and goddesses as well as their own

Judea Rome conquered Judea in 63 B.C. Jews were excused from worshiping the Roman gods because it violated their monotheistic faith Zealots called on Jews to revolt against Roman rule Jews believed that a messiah would come soon to lead them to freedom Feeding the zealots insistence on an independent state was the brutal suppression of Jewish rebellions by the Romans The Jewish temple was destroyed Many Jews left Judea and settled elsewhere around the Mediterranean The words synagogue and Diaspora come from the Greek influence on the Jewish people

Jesus and his teachings Jesus was a Jew Romans saw him as a threat because he incensed the crowds against Roman rule when he spoke The Romans had Jesus arrested and crucified

Saints Peter and Paul Peter brought Christianity to Rome Paul travelled tirelessly to spread the Gospels –His letters are a part of the New Testament –He is responsible for preaching to the gentiles

“The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.” Missionaries spread Christianity throughout the Roman Empire Even persecutions brought new converts The unity of the Roman Empire and their road system led to Christianity’s expansion Emperor Constantine issued the Edict of Milan allowing freedom of religion across the empire Emperor Theodosius made Christianity the official religion by the end of the 300s