1. Mr. Stowinsky World History
Christianity
Mr. Stowinsky
World History

2. Setting the Stage Founded during the Roman Empire
Roman religion was polytheistic and impersonal
Christianity started as a movement within Judaism and emphasized a more personal relationship with God

3. Life & Teachings of Jesus
When Christianity is born, Israel is a province of the Roman empire named Judea
Jews believed The Messiah, the savior of the Jewish people, would be born and give their Promised Land back

4. Jesus was born in Bethlehem between 6 to 4 BC and raised in Nazareth
Was baptized by John the Baptist
Worked as a carpenter
Around 30, he began preaching and supposedly performed miracles
Stressed a more personal relationship with God and promised an eternal kingdom for people who repented their sins

5. Very little was written down about Jesus by Historians
Most of what we know of him comes from the Gospels – the first four books of the New Testament
Apostles – Jesus’ 12 disciples
Jesus ignored wealth and status, so the poor were especially attracted to him

6. Death of Jesus
Both Jewish leaders and Roman officials were threatened by Jesus’ growing popularity
People began calling him The Messiah. Jewish leaders denied this and thought his teachings went against their faith.
Roman officials felt his popularity threatened the emperor and Roman religion
Jesus was crucified
3 days later, his body was gone and people reported he was still teaching his followers

7. Christianity Spreads Throughout Europe
Believing he survived death, both Jews and non-Jews followed the teachings of Jesus
Eventually, a new religion, Christianity, grew from these followers

8. Persecution of the Christians
Christians refused to worship the Roman gods so they were persecuted, tortured, and even executed
Martyr – people willing to die for their religious beliefs
Martyrs only strengthened the following of Christianity
Paul – an apostle who spread and taught Christianity throughout the Roman Empire

9. Why Christianity Grew
Embraced all people – men/women, rich/poor, slaves
Gave hope to the powerless
Offered a personal relationship with God
Promised life after death

10. Christianity Becomes Rome’s Official Religion
312 AD - During a battle, Emperor Constantine prays for divine help
Claims to see a vision of a cross
Orders his soldiers to put crosses on their shields
He wins the battle
380 AD – Emperor Theodosius made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire

11. Early Christian Church
Bishop – priest who supervised several local churches
Pope – head of the Christian/Catholic church
Peter – the first pope, one of the apostles
Heresy – belief that contradicts Church teachings
New Testament – The Four Gospels, the Epistles of Paul, and other documents
Added to the Old Testament to create the Bible