1. Section 4 The Rise of Christianity
Chapter 1
Section 4
The Rise of Christianity

2. Jesus of Nazareth

3. Christianity Spreads
After Jesus’ death, Apostles and disciples spread his teachings
Apostles=Greek for “Person sent forth”
At first preach only to other Jews
Jews who accepted Jesus as the Messiah become known as Christians
Messiah=Savior sent by God to lead Jews to freedom
Christ=Greek for “annointed one”

4. Christianity Spreads Peter (the chief apostle) Paul (originally Saul)
opens Christianity to non-Jews.
Establishes church in Rome
Paul (originally Saul)
tries to destroy the new religion.
Converts
begins spreading Christianity to Gentiles (non-Jews)
Helps separate Christianity from Judaism

5. New Covenant Christianity started as a sect within Judaism
Different in its focus on Jesus as the Messiah and center of the faith
Maintained Jewish monotheism and the Hebrew scriptures
Torah and the writings of the prophets (Old Testament)
Christian writings about Jesus became the New Testament
4 Gospels, Paul’s letters, etc.
Christians saw this as a new covenant with faith in Jesus and observance of his teachings replacing strict observance of the old law

6. Persecution Romans had a history of tolerance
Less tolerant of Jews and Christians
Refused to sacrifice to the emperor
Refused to honor the Roman gods
Suspected of disloyalty
Used as scapegoats by Nero and others
Jews scattered (diaspora)
Christians martyred (including Peter and Paul)

7. Christianity’s Appeal
Continued to spread despite persecution
Acceptance of others, particularly the poor
Began to incorporated ideas of Plato, Stoics, and other Greek thinkers
Wrote in Greek and Latin, spreading message easily throughout empire
Constantine
Mother a devout Christian
Ended persecution with Edict of Milan (313 AD)

8. Christian Church A person joined Christian community through baptism
Scattered communities gradually organized a structured hierarchy
Clergy=people authorized to perform ceremonies (sacraments)
Priests served each community under authority of a Bishop
Bishops responsible for all priests in an area
Bishops traced authority to apostles and therefore Jesus himself
Bishops of more important Roman cities became known as Patriarchs
Patriarchs oversaw Bishops in a region

9. Christian Church
Patriarch of Rome, called the Pope, claimed authority over all bishops
Led to disunity and conflict
In 1054 the church split into eastern and western churches
The eastern church became known as the Orthodox Church
Russia, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania
The western church under the pope became known as the Roman Catholic Church

10. Medieval Church
Roman Catholic Church held absolute power in religious matters and significant control over European society.
Church Laws
System of church courts
Wealth made it leading secular (worldly) power in Europe
Many clergy owned large tracts of land
Many clergy given high government positions (often the only educated people)

11. Spread of Learning

12. Judeo-Christian Tradition

13. Assignment
Pg. 39 (3-6)