4.5 The Rise of Christianity

• Geschiedenis
• Middelbare school

Christianity in Ancient Rome 

Today's plan

• We make a start on chapter 4.5
• After this lesson you can explain how Christianity became the state religion.

What do we already
know about
Roman religion?

Have you seen this before? Where?

Why is a fish the symbol of christians?

Why would christians need a secret symbol?

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When did Christianity become an official religion in Rome?

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How did most Christians feel about 'Gladiator games'?

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The Christians still organised 'gladiator' games. Why did they do this do you think?

Romans and religion

Romans were tolerant  of most religions

There were 2 exceptions; christians and jews

the romans persecuted these religions

this means that they punish people who believe in them

The start of christianity 

In 64 AD a large part of Rome was burned in a huge fire. The Roman emperor Nero blamed the Christians and had them burned, crucified and fed to the dogs. Romans disliked christians because they worshipped their own gods and refused to acknowledge the Roman gods or the divinity of the emperor.  The Christians also tried to convert other people which the Romans didn't want! 

To convince somebody to become a part of a religion 

someone's godlike qualities 

To be put upon a cross and killed 

to pray to someone or something 

to worship

to convert

Divinity

Crucified 

The victory of Christianity

In 313 AD, emperor Constantine of Rome granted the Christians freedom of religion and became a christian himself. In 392 Christianity became a state religion which ended religious tolerance in Rome. Jews were now discriminated against and other religions were banned. Temples for Roman gods were destroyed and churches were built instead. 

What did religious tolerance mean to the Ancient Romans?

1. That you had to believe in Roman gods.
2. That everyone could believe in what they wanted
3. That you were free to believe what you wanted as long as you also believed in Roman gods
4. That you could believe in Greek and in Roman gods.

Why do you think the christians banned all other religions?

What do you call it when a religion only has one god?

1. polytheism
2. monotheism

Words 

Meanings

Pictures

Drag the words and meanings to the right picture.

Christianity

resurrected

crucified

miracle

disciples

Palestine

The friends of Jesus

A wonder, like healing the sick

Nailed to a cross

Came back to life

A country, now called Israel

The religion of Christians

The Roman Catholic Church

After christianity became the Roman state religion a religous organisation emerges. The Roman Catholic Church divided the Roman empire into church provinces led by bishops. The bishop of Rome became the most powerful religous leader and was called the pope. 

What was not a reason christianity quickly got bigger?

1. good roads in the empire
2. lots of trade in the empire
3. the idea of heaven was populair
4. It was the only mono-theistisc religion

Give me 4 reasosn christianity got populair.

• The Romans used to hate and persecute  Christians
• To persecute - to punish someone for their beliefs
• This persecution didn't really work, christianity grew bigger and bigger
• At the same time there are a lot of problems inside the Roman empire --> lots of civil war
• Civil war = a war between people of the same country (burgeroorlog

9a. What is a civil war?

1. a war between two or more countries
2. a war between two or more different groups within one country
3. a war that is fought mainly on land
4. a war that is fought mainly at sea

• Around 300 AD there are 4 people who want to be emperor who are fighting each other
• 1 of them is called constantine . 
• Constantine is the boss in the west, but wants to control the whole empire
• He knows that there are lots of christians and he wants them to help him fight.

Think about how the roman emperors treated the christians. What could Constantine promise the church to get their help?

• Constantine promises to legalize christianity
• To legalize - to make it allowed/stop punishing it
• In return the christians help him win his wars.
• In 312 the roman emperor starts tolerating christianity