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Christianity
World History/Napp
“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 and 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.” ~ World History
1- Who was Jesus of Nazareth and what did he believe?
2- Why did some leaders fear Jesus?
3- What actions did the Romans take against Jesus?
4- What did Christians believe about Jesus?
5- Why did the Romans initially persecute Jesus?
6- Why did the Roman persecutions of Christians eventually stop?
7- Who was Constantine and how did he change the history of Christianity?
8- How is Christianity similar to Judaism?
9- How is Christianity different than Judaism?
10- How is Christianity similar and different than Hinduism?
Spread and Persecution
- Paul was a Jew who had
never met Jesus and at first
was an enemy of
Christianity
- While traveling to
Damascus in Syria, he
reportedly had a vision of
Christ
- He spent the rest of his life
spreading and interpreting
Christ’s teachings
World Religion
- Despite persecution of its followers, Christianity
became a powerful force
- Christianity grew because it embraced all people –
men and women, enslaved persons, the poor, and
nobles - it gave hope to the powerless
- It appealed to those who were repelled by the
extravagances of imperial Rome and Christianity
offered a personal relationship with a loving God as
well as promised eternal life after death
- In A.D. 313, the Roman Emperor Constantine
announced an end to the persecution of Christians
- The Pax Romana, which
made travel and the
- In the Edict of Milan, he declared Christianity to be
exchange of ideas fairly safe, one of the religions approved by the emperor
provided the ideal conditions
for Christianity to spread
- In 380, the emperor Theodosius made it the empire’s
official religion
- Paul stressed that
1- Define persecute.
Jesus was the son of God
who died for people’s sins
2- Why did the Romans persecute Christians?
- He also declared that
Christianity should welcome
3- When did Roman persecution of Christians
all converts, Jew or Gentile
end?
(non-Jew)
- It was this universality
that enabled Christianity to
become more than just a
local religion
- Christians refused to
worship Roman gods
- This refusal was seen as
opposition to Roman rule
- Romans exiled,
imprisoned, or executed
Christians for refusing to
worship Roman deities
4- Why did Roman persecution of Christians
end?
5- Who was Paul?
6- How did Paul increase Christianity’s
appeal?
7- Who was Constantine and how did he help
make Christianity a world religion?
- Where was Christianity most widespread in A.D. 325?
- What was the extent (north to south, east to west) of Christianity’s spread by A.D. 500?
“A major turning point in Christian history occurred when the Roman Emperor
Constantine converted to Christianity. Whether this conversion was sincere or politically
motivated, historians can only speculate. But the result was the end of persecution of
Christians and the beginning of Christendom.
In 313 A.D., Constantine issued the ‘Edict of Milan,’ which commanded official toleration
of Christianity and other religions. He ordered that Sunday be granted the same legal
rights as pagan feasts and that feasts in memory of Christian martyrs be recognized.
Constantine outlawed the barbaric gladiatorial shows (although they persisted until the
fifth century) and forbade Jews to stone to death other Jews who chose to become
Christians.
Contrary to popular belief, however, Constantine did not make Christianity the official
religion of the empire. This was to be accomplished by Emperor Theodosius in 380.
Constantine’s program was one of toleration only, and he continued to support both
Christianity and paganism. In 314, the cross appeared on Constantine’s coins, but so did
the figures of Sol Invictus and Mars Convervator. He raised his children as Christians and
secured Christian clergy as personal advisors, but retained the title pontifex maximus, the
chief priest of the state cult, until his death.
1- Why was the conversion of the Roman Emperor, Constantine, a turning point in
world history?
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In the practice of religion, the Ten
Commandments are to Christianity as the
Eightfold Path is to
1. Buddhism
2. Daoism
3. Islam
4. Shinto
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

- Mauryan Emperor Asoka incorporates
Buddhist ideas into his laws.
- Constantine legalizes Christianity
throughout his empire.
- Prince Vladimir forces Russians to become
Eastern Orthodox Christians.
Which generalization can be made based on
these statements?
1. Religions have had little impact on
the development of empires.
2. Many political leaders discouraged
religious toleration.
3. Leaders are often influenced by
cultural belief systems.
4. Christianity has been a dominant
force in Europe and India.
A goal of modern-day religious
fundamentalism is to
1. combine the religious teachings of
Islam and Christianity
2. maintain traditional religious values
in society
3. encourage the practice of other
religions
4. adopt secular attitudes instead of
religious beliefs
The doctrines of the Roman Catholic,
Eastern Orthodox, and Protestant churches
are all based on the
1. concept of reincarnation
2. principles of Christianity
3. teachings of Muhammad
4. leadership of the pope
Sunnis and Shiites have different
views about who should lead the
Muslim faith.
 Today some Hindus follow caste
rules more closely than others do.
 Most Buddhists belong to one of two
main sects.
 Christianity is practiced by both
Catholics and Protestants.
Which generalization is supported by the
information in these four statements?
1. In many religions, a range of beliefs
often exists.
2. A belief in a god is common to all
religions.
3. A hierarchy of leadership exists in all
religions.
4. Religion is becoming less important
to people.
Which quotation from the teachings of
Confucius (K’ung-fu-tzu) is most similar to
the Golden Rule from Judeo-Christian
teaching?
1. "If a ruler is upright, all will go well
without orders."
2. "By nature, men are pretty much
alike. It is learning and practice that
set them apart."
3. "While a father or mother is alive, a
son should not travel far."
4. "Do not do to others what you do not
wish for yourself."