3.5 Romans, Jews and Christians.

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Romans Jews and Christians

Around 100 AD the Roman Empire had reached its largest size.

Jesus was born in 1 AD in the province Judea (today Israel)

Jesus was brought up in the jewish tradition. 

• The religion started with the Abraham
• In the Tanakh is written that God made an agreement (convenant) with him:

1. Abraham and his descendents were given the land of Canaan
2. They could not worship any other gods than God ( monotheïsm)

Adam en Eva

The story of Moses 

Jerusalem in the time of Jesus. 

In 70 AD this temple was destroyed by the Romans after a failed Jewish uprising. Today, only the Wailing Wall remains.

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I. The Temple

Model of the Jewish temple in Jerusalem, made in 1966, showing the temple as it was before the destruction by the Romans in AD 70.

II. Destruction

Painting made in 1867 showing the destruction of the Jewish temple by the Romans.

Notice the 7-armed candle (menora) that is taken from the temple by the Romans.

IV. Today

This picture shows the only wall that remains of the temple today. It is called the "Wailing Wall" (Klaagmuur) or "Western Wall". This is where Jews come to pray and commemorate the destruction of the temple.

III Triumph

This is a panel from the triumphal arch built in AD 82 by emperor Domitian shortly after the death of his brother Titus.

Titus was the Roman commander who defeated the Jewish rebellion in AD 70 and destroyed the Jewish temple in Jerusalem.

This panel in the arch shows the victory parade in which Roman soldiers show the spoils from the temple, like the menora (7 armed candle).

remains of old Jewish tempel

Mosque were the profet Mohammed went to heaven. 

wall of complaints

Jesus was arrested for rebellion against Roman rule.

He was sentenced to death by crucifixion by the Roman governor of Judea: Pontius Pilatus.

Jesus was crucified in 33 AD, together with two criminals

The crucifix became the main symbol of the new religion: Christianity

Probably, jesus was crucified by putting nails in his wrists rather than through the palms of his hands.

Jesus had followers like Petrus, Paulus, Judas, Lucas and Marcus. These are also known as the apostles. After Jesus' 

death the apostles spread Jesus' teachings across the empire.

Very gradually, more and more people in the Roman Empire became Christians

popular amongst the poor, women and slaves.

Popular amongst women, slaves and poor people.

• everyone is concidered equal
•  promise of a better life after death.
• christians preach compassion. 

secret sign

Emperor Nero, who ruled from 54 till 68 AD, is known for burning Rome and persecuting the Christians

Several Roman writers claim that  Nero sang the "Sack of Ilium (Troy)" in stage costume while the city burned. But historians today believe this did not really happen.

Rumor had it that Nero started the fire himself. Therefore, to blame someone else, he accused the already unpopular Christians for starting the fire. He had them arrested and killed in the arena.

With Nero, the time of the "persecution of the Christians" began. This would last for more than 2 centuries, in which being a Christian was punishable by death. Despite of this, Christianity did not disappear.

Emperor Constantine would become the first Christian emperor. This ended the persecution and caused Christianity to spread further very quickly.

The night before an important battle Constantine had a dream. In the dream his was told that he would win the battle if he fought under the sign of the Christian cross.

Some accounts say that Constantine saw the Greek letters Chi and Rho in his dream and not the cross. Chi and Rho represented the spelling of Christ in Greek.

The next day he had his soldiers paint the Christian symbol of Chi Rho on their shields.

And guess what? His army won the battle.

Because of the fine roads and safe travel options. Christianity spread easy in Roman Empire.

What remained from the Romans after the fall of the Roman Empire?