Download Ancient Rome - Relgion

 Warm-Up…No, you may not use your notes..
 1. What role did Julius Caesar, Marc Antony and
Octavian play in bringing down the Roman Republic?
 2. How was the Roman Empire – politically different –
under the rule of Octavian?
 3. Provide three examples on how life was like during
the Pax Romana or Roman Peace.
 Christianity
Early
Roman
Religion
Romans
practiced
polytheism –
they believed in
many gods and
goddesses.
They were the
same gods and
goddesses of the
Greeks –
however they
had different
names.
 Rome allowed
conquered peoples
to practice their
religions within the
empire.
 During this time –
Rome came into
contact with two
other religions.
 Both religions were
monotheistic – they
believed in one god.
 In Palestine, the Hebrews,
or Jews, had come to
believe long before the
Roman Empire existed
that they had a covenant,
or binding agreement,
with God.
 They had accepted God as
the ruler of Heaven and
Earth.
 In return, God made the
Jews the chosen people on
Earth.
 Jews also believed that a
Messiah or Savior would
one day save them.
God's
Laws
From Moses the Jews
had received God’s
Ten Commandments
(religious and moral
laws), which guided
their lives.
They forbid stealing,
lying, cheating, and
murder.
They also urge
people to treat one
another with justice,
love, and respect.
Romans
vs. Jews
Roman authorities
and Jewish leaders
generally lived in
peace.
But in 70 A.D., Rome
crushed a Jewish
revolt.
Many Jews were forced
to leave Israel.
The scattering of Jews
throughout the world
is called the Diaspora
 In Palestine, about 2 BCE, a
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baby was born to a married
Jewish couple named Mary
and Joseph.
This Jewish baby was named
Jesus.
According to Christian
sources called the Gospels,
Jesus as a young man studied
with Jewish scholars and
teachers.
When Jesus was about thirty,
he began to spread his
preach.
His message was rooted in the
Jewish faith in one God, the
God of the Hebrews, or Jews.
Jesus also upheld the Ten
Commandments as God’s law.
 Jesus taught about God’s
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goodness and mercy.
He spoke of a forgiving God.
God was the loving father of
all people, rich and poor, Jew
and non-Jew.
Jesus urged repentance,
which means to ask for
forgiveness of sins.
He told Jews, according to the
Gospels (Christian Texts),
that “no one can come to the
Father, except through me.”
Death To
A Rebel
Jesus attracted many
followers.
As Jesus’ following
grew, Roman officials
worried that he
might provoke an
uprising.
In 33 A.D., Jesus was
arrested and
sentenced to die by
crucifixion, a Roman
method of execution.
 Jesus’ followers believed that he was the son of God and
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Savior or Messiah, and that he rose from the dead, or
resurrected, three days after his crucifixion.
The Apostles were 12 disciples who Jesus chose to receive
special training. After the Resurrection, the Apostles
traveled widely telling about Jesus and his teachings.
Some of the disciples wrote about his life and teachings.
Known as the Gospels (Good News in Greek), they can be
found in the New Testament of the Bible.
Paul, one of the most important early convert (disciple),
traveled in the Roman Empire, spreading Jesus’ message.
Those who followed Jesus’ teachings became known as
Christians, or followers of Christ.
Christ comes from the Greek word Christos, or messiah.
Persecution
of Christians
Christianity spread rapidly
throughout the Roman
Empire. Thousands emerged
by a hundred years of the
death of Jesus.
Rome became increasingly
suspicious. Christians refused
to show respect for Roman
gods. Also, emperors feared
Christians would cause
revolts.
As a result, thousands of
Christians suffered
persecution (punishment of
a group because of their
beliefs) and death.
Christians met in secret but
continued to spread their
faith.
 In 312 A.D., on the eve of a
battle, the Roman Emperor
Constantine dreamed of a
cross.
 In his dream, Constantine
understood that if he took
the cross as his
symbol……he won the
battle.
 After his victory,
Constantine converted to
Christianity and allowed
Christians freedom of
worship.
Christianity Spreads
Throughout the
Empire
In 380 A.D., Emperor
Theodosius declared
Christianity the
official and only
religion of the Roman
Empire.
Under Roman rule,
Christianity spread
even more and easily
throughout the
Mediterranean and
northward into
Europe.
 Other religious practices in Rome continued during the
Christian Era. These religions focused on gods and
goddesses, and animal and natural spirits. These religions
had special holidays and feast days.
 Christian leaders placed their holidays and feast days on
the same days – eventually, people stopped practicing the
older religions.
 Example – Christmas was placed over several original
holidays.
 Roman holiday called Saturnalia which exchanged gifts.
 Roman god Janus (January) was celebration of new year, had
greenery and lights.
 Northern Pagans with the Winter Solstice of lights, bon fires, Yule
logs
 Christianity developed over many years and grew stronger
through a well-organized system of authority.
 The highest Christian officials were bishops.
 Eventually, the bishop of Rome became head of the Church
(Christian Religion).
 He took the name of pope, or father of the Church
(Christian Religion).
 Peter – a disciple, who spread Christianity in the city of Rome
and was crucified upside down, became the first Pope.
 It was the Church that carried the Christian faith into
Europe.
 1. Judaism
 2. Christianity
 3. Judaism under Roman rule
 4. Christianity under Roman rule
 5. Christian Organization
1. Compare and Contrast
Judaism and Christianity.
2. According to many
historians, Christianity should
not have survived and become
the world’s largest religion.
How did this occur?