Roman Achievement

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Roman Achievement

• Adopted ideas from the Greeks
• Also modified many ideas
• Literature
• Virgil and the Aeneid
• Satire
• Horacegentle
• Juvenal and Martialmore stinging

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History

• Romans sought to emphasize Roman History and its
  greatness.
• Livy and patriotism
• Horatius and Cincinnatus
• TacitusNegative writings about Augustus and
  successors
• Philosophyborrowed much from the Greeks
• Stoicismimportance of duty and acceptance of
  ones fatethe well being of all people.

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Art and Architecture

• Based on Greek and Etruscan models but modified
  to fit Roman needs
• Artstressed realism but sometimes stressed
  idealism (Augustus)
• Living spaces and city was decorated
• Architectureimproved on Greek and Etruscan
  workarch and column

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The Rise of Christianity

• Chapter 6
• Section 4

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Religious Toleration

• Generally, Rome tolerated the varied religious
  traditions.
• Toleration was granted as long as citizens showed
  loyalty by honoring Roman Gods and acknowledging
  the divine spirit of the emperor.

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Divisions in Judea

• Judea conquered by 63 b.c.
• Romans excused Jews from requirements of
  worshiping Roman gods.
• Zealots could not accept Roman rule.
• Called for Jews to revolt and reestablish and
  independent Jewish state.
• Belief in a Messiah sent by God would appear and
  lead the Jewish people to freedom.

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Jewish Revolt

• In 66 a.d., discontent flared into rebellion.
• Roman forces crushed the rebellion, captured
  Jerusalem, and destroyed the Jewish temple.
• Thousands of Jews were killed, enslaved, and
  others transported to various parts of the empire.

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Jesus and His Message

• Christianity, a new religion rose from the
  turmoil of the Jews.
• Founded by a Jew named Jesus.
• All information pertaining to Jesus comes from
  the first four books of the New Testament, called
  the Gospels.

• Attributed to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John,
  followers of Jesus.
• Gospel comes from the old English word meaning
  good news.

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Life of Jesus

• Jesus was born about 4 b.c. in Bethlehem, near
  Jerusalem.
• He was descended from King David of Israel.
• Mother was Mary.
• Will be called the Son of the Most High God.

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• Grew up in Nazareth.
• Worshipped God and followed Jewish Law.
• May have followed the occupation of Marys
  Husbandcarpenter.
• Began preaching at the age of 30.
• Recruited 12 followers, known as apostles.

• Chief was Peter.
• Large crowds gathered to hear preaching,
  especially when word of miracles being performed
  was spread.
• Used parables or short stories with moral
  messages to communicate his ideas.

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The Message

• Teachings were firmly rooted in Jewish tradition.
• One God and Ten Commandments.
• Obedience to the laws of Moses and defended the
  teachings of the Jewish prophets.
• New beliefs
• Called himself the Son of God.
• Many believed he was the Messiah.
• Mission was to bring spiritual salvation and
  eternal life to anyone who would believe in him.

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• Jesus emphasize Gods love and taught the need
  for justice, morality and service to others.
• A persons major responsibilities were to love
  the Lord your God with all your heart and to
  love your neighbor as yourself.
• Emphasized the importance of forgiveness.

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Death on the Cross

• Welcomed by some Jews, regarded as dangerous by
  others.
• Jewish priests felt he was a challenge to their
  authority.
• Roman authorities felt he was a revolutionary who
  might lead the Jews in a rebellion.
• Was betrayed by one of his disciples.
• He was arrested by the Romans, tried and
  sentenced to execution by crucifixion.
• Disciples thrown into confusion.
• Rumors spread that Jesus was not dead and that
  the disciples had spoken to him.
• Instructed to spread his teachings and then Jesus
  ascended into heaven.

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Spread of Christianity

• The apostles and other disciples spread Jesus
  message and helped establish Christian
  communities.
• Peter established Christianity in the city of
  Rome itself.
• Paul, a Jew from Asia Minor, played the most
  influential role in the spread of Christianity

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Work of Paul

• Spread the teachings of Jesus beyond Jewish
  communities to gentiles or non-Jews.
• Pauls missionary work set Christianity on the
  road to becoming a world religion.
• He traveled tirelessly around the Mediterranean
  and set up churches from Mesopotamia to Rome.
• Wrote long letters to the Christian Communities.
  These letters would later be recorded in the Book
  of Paul in the New Testament.

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Persecution

• Rome did not extend toleration to Christians.
• Suspected of disloyalty.
• Persecution increased in times of trouble.

• Roman rulers used Christians as scapegoats
  (Nero).
• Over the centuries, thousands of Christians
  became martyrs.
• Both Peter and Paul were killed in Rome by Nero.

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Reasons for Christian Appeal

• Jesus welcomed all people, especially the humble,
  the poor, and the oppressed.
• Equality, human dignity, and the promise of a
  better life beyond the grave were very attractive
  teachings.
• Early Christian missionaries added ideas from
  Plato, the Stoics, and other Greek thinkers to
  Jesus message.

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Triumph

• Persecution ended in A.D. 313, when the emperor
  Constantine issued the Edict of Milan.
• Influenced by his mother.
• 80 years later, emperor Theodosius made
  Christianity the official religion of Rome.

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The Early Christian Church

• Patterns of Life and Worship
• A person fully joined the Christian Community by
  renouncing evil in the the rite of baptism.
• Through baptism, it was believed that sins were
  forgiven by the grace of God.
• Members of the community were considered
  equalsaddressed as brother or sister.
• Each Sunday, Christians gathered for a ceremony
  of Thanksgiving to God.
• Celebrated the Eucharist in memory of Jesus.

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Roles of Women

• Women often lead the way to Christianity.
• Women served as teachers and administrators in
  early Christian communities.
• Paul and womens roles.

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Structure of the Church

• Priest
• Bishop
• Diocese
• Patriarchs
• The Christian Church developed into a hierarchy.

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Divisions in the Church

• Rivalry among the patriarchs.
• Popes began to claim greater authority over all
  other bishops.
• In the east, the five Patriarchs felt that there
  should be shared, equal spiritual authority.
• The emergence of heresies.

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Theology and Scholarship

• Word theology borrowed from Greek philosophy.
• Augustinegreatest of the early church scholars.
• Was bishop of Hippo in North Africa.
• Combined Greco-Roman learning, especially the
  teachings of Plato, with Christian doctrine.

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Looking Ahead

• While the Christian Church was growing in
  strength and influence, Roman power was fading.