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Essential UnderstandingsEssential Understandings

The followers of Jesus spread Christianity The followers of Jesus spread Christianity throughout the Roman Empire, bringing it throughout the Roman Empire, bringing it into conflict with Roman polytheism and into conflict with Roman polytheism and eventually changing Western civilization.eventually changing Western civilization.

How did Christianity become established within the How did Christianity become established within the Roman Empire? Roman Empire?

What were the essential beliefs of the early What were the essential beliefs of the early Christian faith?Christian faith?

Origins of ChristianityOrigins of Christianity Has roots in Judaism (Has roots in Judaism (MonotheisticMonotheistic))

– Conflicted with Conflicted with polytheisticpolytheistic beliefs of beliefs of Roman EmpireRoman Empire

Founder: Jesus of NazarethFounder: Jesus of Nazareth– proclaimed as the proclaimed as the MessiahMessiah– Son of God & Son of God & incarnationincarnation of God of God

incarnationincarnation: a living being embodying a deity : a living being embodying a deity or spiritor spirit

The Birth of JesusThe Birth of Jesus

Born in Bethlehem between Born in Bethlehem between 2 and 4 A.D.2 and 4 A.D.

Family fled to Egypt for a Family fled to Egypt for a period of time to escape period of time to escape King HerodKing Herod

Grew up in NazarethGrew up in Nazareth

His MinistryHis Ministry

Worked as a carpenter Worked as a carpenter as a young manas a young man

Began his ministry Began his ministry around the age of 30around the age of 30

A teacher; performed A teacher; performed many miracles many miracles including exorcisms including exorcisms and healingsand healings

Crucifixion and ResurrectionCrucifixion and Resurrection

What holidays celebrate these two What holidays celebrate these two events?events?

Beliefs, traditions, and customs Beliefs, traditions, and customs of Christianityof Christianity

Belief in life after death (resurrection)Belief in life after death (resurrection)

New TestamentNew Testament– Contains accounts of the life and teachings of Contains accounts of the life and teachings of

Jesus (Gospels), as well as writings of early Jesus (Gospels), as well as writings of early Christians (Epistles)Christians (Epistles)

Christian Christian doctrinedoctrine established by early established by early church councilschurch councils

a teaching

Spread of ChristianitySpread of Christianity

How did Christianity spread?How did Christianity spread?

Carried by the Carried by the ApostlesApostles, , including Paul, throughout the including Paul, throughout the Roman EmpireRoman Empire

– apostleapostle: a missionary of the early : a missionary of the early Christian ChurchChristian Church

Paul’s TravelsPaul’s Travels

400-600 400-600 A.D.A.D.↓↓

↑↑200-400 A.D.200-400 A.D.

Spread of ChristianitySpread of Christianity Slowed as a result of Slowed as a result of

persecutionpersecution by by Roman authoritiesRoman authorities

Adopted and Adopted and legalized by legalized by Emp. ConstantineEmp. Constantine

Church CouncilsChurch Councils

Areas would have a bishop Areas would have a bishop (“overseer”) (“overseer”)

Bishops came together to form Bishops came together to form churchchurch councilscouncils when important decisions when important decisions needed to be madeneeded to be made

Established Christian doctrineEstablished Christian doctrine

As the Roman Empire declined in the As the Roman Empire declined in the West, the Church in Rome grew in West, the Church in Rome grew in importance, membership and importance, membership and influence.influence.

What was the impact of the early What was the impact of the early Church in the late Roman Empire?Church in the late Roman Empire?

ReviewReviewWhy did the Roman Empire Decline?Why did the Roman Empire Decline?

EconomyEconomy the cost of defense and devaluation of Roman the cost of defense and devaluation of Roman

currencycurrency MilitaryMilitary

Army membership included invaders, resulting in Army membership included invaders, resulting in decline of disciplinedecline of discipline

Moral decayMoral decay People lost faith in Rome and the familyPeople lost faith in Rome and the family

Political problemsPolitical problems Civil conflict and weak administrationCivil conflict and weak administration

InvasionInvasion Attacks along the bordersAttacks along the borders

Church of Rome Church of Rome in the late Roman Empirein the late Roman Empire

Church became an Church became an example for moral example for moral authorityauthority

Loyalty to the Church Loyalty to the Church became more became more important than loyalty important than loyalty to the Emperorto the Emperor

Church became main Church became main unifying factor in unifying factor in Western EuropeWestern Europe

Symbols of ChristianitySymbols of Christianity

FishFish

Alpha & OmegaAlpha & Omega Cross Cross

JesusJesus