4.4/4.5 The Rise of Christianity and fall of Rome

• Geschiedenis
• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 1

The rise of Christianity and fall of Rome

What do you already know about Christianity?

Jesus of Nazareth

• Jesus of Nazareth was a Jewish man traveling trough Palestina. He shared stories about love, supporting the poor and oppressed (onderdrukte mensen).
• After death he promised people they would go to a place called heaven and that there was one God.
• 27-30 AD
• Jesus gains many followers
• Prophet
  

Christianity in the Roman Empire

• Spread quickly after it was opened up to gentile people.
• Christians supported each other and their God was loving.
• Roman gods were often punishing their people.
• The hope of a better place after death made the religion popular.
• The well made roads in the Roman empire helped the spread of the religion to all regions of the Empire.

Constantine

• Christians were prosecuted for almost 300 years.
• A lot changed when Constantine became emperor.
• He was the first to accept Christians in the Roman empire.
• But why?

A new capital

• Emperor Constantine was responsible for another big change.
• He moved the capital from Rome to the east.
• Byzantium
• Renamed it to Constantinople 
• Current: Istanbul

The split of the Roman Empire

• Western Roman Empire
• Capital: Rome
• Eastern Roman Empire / Byzantine Empire
• Capital: Constantinople

From prosecution..

• To becoming the state religion.
• Emperor Theodosius the Great made Christianity the official religion in 380 AD.
• The previous (polytheistic religion) was banned.

Decline and fall of the (western) Roman Empire

• The split of the Roman Empire was one of the causes of instability in the Western Roman Empire
  
• Different Roman 'emperors' were fighting for control.
• Or partying..  

Roman Limes

The fall of The Western Roman Empire

• Different Germanic tribes were roaming the Roman Empire.
• Vandals
• Rome was sacked by the Visigoths around 410 AD
• In 476 AD the barbarian Odaeker crowned himself emperor of Rome
• This historical event --> Fall of the Western Roman Empire