Download Christianity World History/Napp “About 2,000 years ago in the

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 Jesus’ followers believe happened to Jesus after his crucifixion?
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?
“Emperor Constantine I is often credited with converting the Roman Empire to
Christianity. His association with Christianity began with a fateful battle for control of the
Western Roman Empire. Constantine faced Western Roman Emperor Maxentius at the
Tiber River’s Mulvian Bridge in A.D. 312. Fourth-century historian and bishop Eusebius
of Caesarea reported that before the great battle Constantine saw a flaming cross in the
sky bearing the words ‘in this sign thou shalt conquer.’ Constantine did indeed conquer,
routing and killing his enemy on a day that loomed large not only for the emperor but for
the Christian faith. The next year Constantine, now the Western Roman Emperor, and
Eastern Roman Emperor Licinius signed the Edict of Milan, which finally ensured religious
tolerance for Christians. The agreement granted freedom of worship to all, regardless of
deity, and brought an end to the Age of Martyrs, which had begun after Jesus’ death.
Christians were also given specific legal rights such as the return of confiscated property
and the right to organize dedicated churches.” ~ National Geographic
1- What event changed Constantine’s religious outlook? Why?
2- Why was the Edict of Milan significant in the history of Christianity?
3- How did Constantine’s conversion change world history?
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
- In A.D. 313, the Roman Emperor Constantine
announced an end to the persecution of Christians
- In the Edict of Milan, he declared Christianity to be
one of the religions approved by the emperor
- In 380, the emperor Theodosius made Christianity
- The Pax Romana, which
the empire’s official religion
made travel and the
exchange of ideas fairly safe,
provided the ideal conditions
for Christianity to spread
1- Who was Paul and how did he change the history of Christianity?
2- Why did the Pax Romana help the spread of Christianity?
3- Define persecution. Why did the Romans persecute Christians?
4- Why did Christianity appeal to many people?
5- Why was the Edict of Milan important for Christians?
6- How did Emperor Theodosius help the Christian 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?
Jewish Rebellion
“During the early years of Christianity, much Roman attention was focused on the land of
Jesus’ birth and on the Jews. In A.D. 66, a band of Jews rebelled against Rome. In A.D. 70,
the Romans stormed Jerusalem and destroyed the Temple complex. All that remained was
a western portion of the wall, which today is the holiest Jewish shrine. The Jewish fortress
near Masada held out until A.D. 73. About a half million Jews were killed in the course of
this rebellion.
The Jews made another attempt to break free of the Romans in A.D. 132. Another halfmillion Jews died in three years of fighting. Although the Jewish religion survived, the
Jewish political state ceased to exist for more than 1,800 years. Most Jews were driven
from their homeland into exile. This dispersal of the Jews is called the Diaspora.”
- Why did the Jewish Diaspora occur?
“Centuries of Jewish exile followed the destruction of their temple and the fall of
Jerusalem in A.D. 70. This period is called the Diaspora, from the Greek word for
“dispersal.” Jews fled to many parts of the world, including Europe. In the 1100s, many
European Jews were expelled from their homes. Some moved to Turkey, Palestine, and
Syria. Others went to Poland and neighboring areas. The statelessness of the Jews did not
end until the creation of Israel in 1948.”
- When did the statelessness of the Jewish people end?
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."