3.4 Christianity in the Roman Empire

• Geschiedenis
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 1

Free farmers

Slaves 

Merchants and crafspeople 

Proletarians 

Elite 

3.4 Christianity in the Roman Empire  

3.4 Christianity in the Roman Empire  

Learning objectives

• You can explain with examples what the difference is between monotheistic and polytheistic religions.
  
• You can explain how Christianity started and give the key features of Christian belief.
  
• You can explain how Christianity developed in late Antiquity.
  

Belief in one God

• The people who lived in Judea (a Roman province; part of Israel) believed in Judaism. A very different belief compared to other religions 
• The Jews believed in one god (monotheism). The Romans were polytheistic
• Holy book and promised land 

 

Belief in one god

• The Jews didn't want to worship the emperor as a god. 
  
• The Jews had holy books (how they should live). They believed that God would give them a country (Israel). They believed someone would come and free them from the foreign rulers 
  

Christianity

• Jesus of Nazareth lived in Judea; he believed people needed to lead a better life. 
• People had to be charitable, tolerant, humble and forgiving
• Some Jews saw Jesus as the man God had sent to free them 
• 'Christ' means 'high priest' or 'king'
• Christianity started 

 

Christianity

Christianity

• Some Jewish religious leaders thought Jesus was a threat --> he was arrested and crucified. Some believed he came back to life after his death and rose to heaven
• Their holy book: the Bible
• People travelled through the Roman Empire to spread the religion
• Paul of Tarsus

Christianity in the Roman Empire

• When people started to convert to Christianity the Romans didn't see the group as 'harmless'' anymore
• Christians also refused to worship the Roman emperor as god --> Christianity was forbidden 
• Emperor Nero was harsh to Christians (crucified, burnt to death, thrown to the lions)
• Still, Christianity grew immensely (Pope) 

 

Christianity was very popular among poor people and slaves. Explain why

Which two statements are correct

1. The Jews had to lead their lives according to the rules in their holy book
2. The Jews made changes to their religion after Judea became Roman
3. The Jews only worshipped the emperor because the Romans said they had to
4. The Jews were not happy about having the Romans in their country

Christianity in the Roman Empire

• Constantine the Great stopped the persecution. Christians could now worship their god in public
• After his death the Church became more powerful. Emperor Theodosius made Christianity the state religion

What is the most important difference between a polytheistic religion and a monotheistic religion?

Write down two reasons why the Romans banned Christianity in the first century.