Judeo-Christian TraditionJudeo-Christian TraditionPrologue Sec. 2Prologue Sec. 2

Judaism in the EmpireJudaism in the Empire As Rome secured Judea under As Rome secured Judea under

Augustus Augustus Jews believed a Jews believed a messiahmessiah would would

save themsave them Jewish revolts lead to unrest in Jewish revolts lead to unrest in

Judea Judea

Destruction of the Temple 70 A.D.

Jesus of NazarethJesus of Nazareth

A Jew who proclaimed that God’s A Jew who proclaimed that God’s rule was close at hand preached rule was close at hand preached acts of kindnessacts of kindness

DisciplesDisciples believed he was messiah believed he was messiah

JesusJesus of Nazareth of Nazareth

Jesus’s teachings offended many Jesus’s teachings offended many Jewish leadersJewish leaders

Romans viewed him as an Romans viewed him as an instigatorinstigator

Executed by crucifixionExecuted by crucifixion

Spread and Persecution of Spread and Persecution of ChristianityChristianity

Disciples claimed Jesus had risen Disciples claimed Jesus had risen from the dead and was the messiahfrom the dead and was the messiah

Converts like Paul spread religion Converts like Paul spread religion throughout Mediterranean throughout Mediterranean

Peter brought Christianity to RomePeter brought Christianity to Rome Many believers were Many believers were martyredmartyred by by

the Romans the Romans

Early Christianity in RomeEarly Christianity in Rome Rome’s early tolerance of Rome’s early tolerance of

religions and transportation religions and transportation routes allowed for routes allowed for Christianity to spreadChristianity to spread

Rome began to view Rome began to view Christians as a threat and Christians as a threat and persecuted thempersecuted them

Christians served as a Christians served as a scapegoat for the problems scapegoat for the problems in the Empire in the Empire

Christian Martyrs in Rome

The Early ChurchThe Early Church According to legend, Constantine According to legend, Constantine

accepted Christianity in 312 after a accepted Christianity in 312 after a battlebattle

Edict of Milan granted all religious Edict of Milan granted all religious freedomfreedom

Theodosius made Christianity Theodosius made Christianity Rome’s official religion in 392Rome’s official religion in 392

The Early Church The Early Church Church was set up in a hierarchy by Church was set up in a hierarchy by

the 400’s and the the 400’s and the bishopbishop of Rome of Rome had taken a leadership role as the had taken a leadership role as the popepope

Latin churches-Roman CatholicLatin churches-Roman Catholic Greek churches-Eastern OrthodoxGreek churches-Eastern Orthodox

““Legacy of Monotheism” p. 15Legacy of Monotheism” p. 15

Roman Roman DeclineDecline

Empire’s ProblemEmpire’s Problem After Marcus Aurelius, there were After Marcus Aurelius, there were

28 emperors in 90 years28 emperors in 90 years Instability opened Rome up to Instability opened Rome up to

attacks from “Barbarians”attacks from “Barbarians” Warfare led to poor crops, Warfare led to poor crops, inflationinflation, ,

and extreme financial hardship for and extreme financial hardship for the empirethe empire

An Empire DividedAn Empire Divided

The west part of the Roman Empire The west part of the Roman Empire was being constantly attackedwas being constantly attacked

Diocletian and Constantine tried to Diocletian and Constantine tried to implement reforms to slow implement reforms to slow economic decline unsuccessfullyeconomic decline unsuccessfully

Theodosius decreed that the empire Theodosius decreed that the empire should be split in 395 should be split in 395

Reasons Barbarians AttackedReasons Barbarians Attacked Sought warmer, southern Sought warmer, southern

climateclimate Wanted Rome’s wealthWanted Rome’s wealth Inability of military to Inability of military to

contain Visigoths led to contain Visigoths led to further uprisings from further uprisings from Franks, Vandals, Goths, Franks, Vandals, Goths, Huns and othersHuns and others

Visigoths Sack Rome

Fall of Western EmpireFall of Western Empire Vandals destroyed Rome in 455Vandals destroyed Rome in 455 Franks and Goths divided GaulFranks and Goths divided Gaul In 476, Odoacer defeated the In 476, Odoacer defeated the

last Roman Emperorlast Roman Emperor This German general accepted This German general accepted

Latin culture and ChristianityLatin culture and Christianity

Reasons for Roman CollapseReasons for Roman Collapse Collapse took hundreds of yearsCollapse took hundreds of years Decline in Morals Decline in Morals (Gladiators, Prostitutes)(Gladiators, Prostitutes) Barbarian InvasionsBarbarian Invasions Inflation and Military SpendingInflation and Military Spending Political CorruptionPolitical Corruption Public HealthPublic Health

Roman LegacyRoman Legacy Preserved Greek CulturePreserved Greek Culture Latin became the base language for Latin became the base language for

many other languages throughout many other languages throughout EuropeEurope

Roman Law and Gov’t became the core Roman Law and Gov’t became the core for many western countries todayfor many western countries today

The western world’s major religion, The western world’s major religion, Christianity, was greatly influenced by Christianity, was greatly influenced by RomeRome