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Rome and the Rise of Christianity

Rome and the Rise of Christianity. Paul - Missionary Diocletian - Emperor Constantine - Emperor. Paul – Christian Missionary. Early Life Never met Jesus Jewish lawyer who persecuted Christians before converting after a vision Spread of Christianity Spreads quickly during the Pax Romana

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Rome and the Rise of Christianity

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  1. Rome and the Rise of Christianity Paul - Missionary Diocletian - Emperor Constantine - Emperor

  2. Paul – Christian Missionary • Early Life • Never met Jesus • Jewish lawyer who persecuted Christians before converting after a vision • Spread of Christianity • Spreads quickly during the Pax Romana • Missionary who spread Jesus’s ideas to Greece and Italy • Main points: • Christ is divine; Son of God • Redemption through faith in Christ

  3. Paul the Apostle What do you think the line around his head represents? The book?

  4. The spread of Christianity (Paul) contradicted Roman practices and the power of the Roman Emperor Diocletian’s Response

  5. Roman Problems after the Pax Romana • Foreign invasions • Attilla the Hun and Mongols pushing Germans into Roman territories • Mercenaries • No one more volunteers for army • Government too large to function • 70 million people/three continents • Importance of “Rome” marginalized • People don’t care about the glory of Rome

  6. Diocletian • Gov’t splits into two – Eastern ½ & Western 1/2 • Tetrarchy – “Rule by Four” • Each half ruled by an emperor and junior emperor • Like an internship • Oriental influences • Made emperor a god-like figure • Disconnect between rulers and ruled, emperor and everyday citizens • Persecution of Christians • Seen as a reason the empire was weakening – contrary values • Try and unite Rome through attacks on Christians and almost wipe out Christianity

  7. Diocletian’s Tetrachy

  8. Constantine • Battle of Milvian Bridge • Battle to reunite the empire and abolish the tetrarchy in 312 AD • Prayed for intervention before battle – saw sign • Symbol for Christ – Chi and Rho • Won battle and ended persecution of Christians with the Edict of Milan in 313 AD

  9. Constantinople • Relocates capital to Byzantium and renames it Constantinople • Impact on Pope • Pope is sole figure in Rome • Religious and political figure • Allows Christianity and the Catholic Church to grow in power

  10. Impact on Christianity • Nicene Creed • Meeting between all important bishops • Goal: Create a standard set of Christian beliefs • Effect: Create a unified religion that is easy to spread • Sunday is official day of worship • Affirmed divinity of Christ and importance of the Trinity • Building Projects • Donated money to build churches • St Peters in Rome and Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem • Baptism • Baptized on death bed – removed sins • Sets standard/okays the idea of publicly being Christian

  11. St Peter’s Basilica today

  12. Roman Empire soon after Constantine’s rule

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