Download Christianity and the Conversion of a Roman Emperor E. Napp

Christianity and the Conversion of a Roman Emperor
E. Napp
Objective: To identify and explain significant beliefs of Christianity
Do Now: Multiple-choice questions from previous lessons
1. For many indigenous (native or
4. • Analyzing the design of a Shang bronze
originating in the area) religions, the pot
idea of spiritual family extends far
• Deciphering the writing on the Rosetta
beyond the human realm including
Stone
(A) Trees.
• Examining the fabric of a Japanese
(B) Rocks.
kimono
(C) Animals and insects.
(D) All of the above.
These actions are most often performed by
(1) a political scientist
2. Important community events in
(2) a sociologist
indigenous cultures include rites of
(3) a geographer
passage such as birth, naming,
(4) an archaeologist
puberty, marriage, and
(A) Thanksgiving.
5. • Separated the cultures of Europe and
(B) Divorce
Asia
(C) Death
• Hindered, but did not prevent, invaders
(D) Harvest
from entering India
• Terraced to increase food production in
3. Traditional Shinto taught that the
South America
emperor was the offspring of
Amaterasu, the ___________.
Which geographic feature is being described
(A) Moon Goddess
in these statements?
(B) Sun God
(1) river valleys
(C) Sun Goddess
(2) mountains
(D) Creator
(3) steppes
(4) tundra
Because Christianity evolved from
Judaism, there are certain concepts that
these two religions share. For example,
both Jews and Christians subscribe to the
Ten Commandments found in the Book of
Exodus. In addition, prophecies of Jewish
prophets contained in several books of the
Old Testament stated that God would send
a savior, or messiah, to the people of Israel.
While Judaism clearly states that this event
has not yet occurred, Christians believe
that Jesus of Nazareth was the Son of God,
sent to redeem the world of sin.
~regentsprep.org
Questions:
From what religion did
Christianity evolve?
______________________________
What do Jews and Christians both
subscribe to?
______________________________
What do Jews believe regarding
the savior or messiah?
______________________________
What do Christians believe
regarding the savior or messiah?
______________________________
Cornell Notes Outline: Christianity and the Conversion of a Roman Emperor (Add Key
Words and Summaries)
The Key Words:
The Summaries:
The Notes:
I.
Jesus
A. A Jewish teacher
B. Beliefs:
1Love thy neighbor
2Turn the other cheek
a) Do not respond to violence
3The kingdom of God is within
C. Arrested by Romans
1Accused of encouraging rebellion
2Crucified
D. Followers believe rose from the dead
1Resurrection
E. Followers believe Jesus is the son of God
II.
Christians in the Roman Empire
A. Persecution
1Persecuting for failing to worship
Roman gods
2Mistreated and sometimes killed
B. Emperor Constantine
1Converted to Christianity in 300s A.D.
2Allowed Christians to practice
C. Eventually began the official religion of the
Roman Empire
1The conversion of the Roman Empire
increased the numbers of Christians in
the world
2After the fall of Rome, the Germanic
invaders of “barbarians” converted to
Christianity
Please read the passage below and answer the questions:
About 2,000 years ago in the Middle East, Christianity began. Christianity is based on the
beliefs and life of Jesus Christ. Jesus was a Jew born in Bethlehem. He taught the
importance of forgiveness, mercy, love, and compassion for the poor. Jesus lived in the
conquered Roman territory of Palestine. The Jews of Palestine longed for political freedom
and believed that one day, God would send them a messiah or king to lead them to
freedom. Some Jews believed that Jesus of Nazareth (Jesus grew up in Nazareth) was this
messiah. Jesus preached that God loved all people equally. The Romans and some Jewish
leaders feared that Jesus and his followers would rebel against Rome. Rebellion would
lead to bloodshed. Eventually, one of Jesus’ followers betrayed him. The Romans
crucified Jesus.
According to the New Testament of the Bible, Jesus’ followers believed that God raised
Jesus from the dead. His followers also taught that Jesus was the son of God and the
Christos, which is the Greek word for messiah. Those who believed that Jesus had risen
from the dead became known as Christians, or followers of Christ. While the first
Christians were Jews, early converts preached to gentiles or non-Jews. The Romans
persecuted many early Christians for refusing to worship the Roman emperor as a god.
But by the 300s A.D., the Roman emperor, Constantine, converted to Christianity. By 395
A.D., Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire.
Questions:
Who was Jesus of Nazareth and what did he believe?
______________________________________________________________________________
Why did some leaders fear Jesus?
______________________________________________________________________________
What actions did the Romans take against Jesus?
______________________________________________________________________________
What did Christians believe about Jesus?
______________________________________________________________________________
Why did the Romans initially persecute Jesus?
______________________________________________________________________________
Why did the Roman persecutions of Christians eventually stop?
______________________________________________________________________________
Just before a crucial battle in A.D. 312 Constantine, a Roman emperor, had a dream
where he was told to paint the Christian symbol on the shields of his soldiers. He did this
and won the battle! He later in A.D 337 decided that in thanks he would allow the whole
Empire to worship any religion freely, including Christianity. The future of Christianity
was assured when Constantine converted to Christianity the Temples of the old Roman
Gods were left to decline or began to be converted to new Christian churches.
Questions:
Explain Constantine’s religious conversion?
______________________________________________________________________________
How did Constantine’s conversion change the treatment of Christians in the Roman
Empire?
______________________________________________________________________________
How did the Romans help spread Christianity?
______________________________________________________________________________
1. Judaism, Islam, and Christianity
share a belief in
(1) the central authority of the Pope
(2) a prohibition of the consumption of
pork
(3) reincarnation and the Four Noble
Truths
(4) monotheism and ethical conduct
2. Christianity, Islam, and Judaism are
similar in that they all ask their followers to
(1) believe in reincarnation
(2) strive for nirvana
(3) follow a code of behavior
(4) practice polytheism
Word Bank:
Torah
Messiah
Trinity
Jesus
Constantine
Christian
Monotheism
Cultural Diffusion
Resurrection
Crucifixion
Gospels
1. This Roman emperor saw a vision of
a cross, a symbol that he then used in
battle.
(A) Urban II
(B) Julius Caesar
(C) Theodosius
(D) Constantine
2. The early Christian belief that the
one God has three aspects-Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit is called
(A) Cross.
(B) Three in One.
(C) Holy Eucharist.
(D) Trinity.