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Religion and the Roman Empire

Religion and the Roman Empire. Ms. Carmelitano. Early Religion. Numina: Powerful spirits or divine forces worshiped by the earliest Romans Believed to live in everything Lares : Guardian spirits of each family Names were given to them and honored through rituals. Later Gods and Goddesses.

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Religion and the Roman Empire

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  1. Religion and the Roman Empire Ms. Carmelitano

  2. Early Religion • Numina: Powerful spirits or divine forces worshiped by the earliest Romans • Believed to live in everything • Lares: Guardian spirits of each family • Names were given to them and honored through rituals

  3. Later Gods and Goddesses • Adopted the Greek Gods and Goddesses • Changed the names to “Roman” names

  4. Religion and the Government • Religion was linked to the government • Deities were symbols of the state • Romans were expected to honor them in shrines in their homes but also in public ceremonies at the temples

  5. Rise of Christanity • As the empire grew, so did a new religion • It was born out of Judaism • Roman power spread to Judea, where the Jews were living in 63 BCE • 6 AD Judea became a province • The Jews believed that they would again be enslaved under a non-Jewish king

  6. Jesus of Nazareth • Estimate birth 6-4 BCE • Born in Bethlehem, Judea • There is little historic information about his life • The majority of information about his life is found in: • The Bible and the Gospels • The first four books of the New Testament of the Christian Bible • Jesus was raised in Nazareth in Northern Judea • He became a carpenter

  7. Jesus’ Teachings Rise out of Judaism • By age 30he began public ministry • He preached for 3 years • He began preaching a new Monotheistic religion: Christianity • The Ten Commandments was the foundation for religious law • Belief: good people would live in an eternal kingdom after death, wicked would be punished for their sins • The Torah is the Old Testament to the Christian Bible • DIFFERENCE: Jews who believed Jesus was the Messiah became Christians, those who did not, remained Jewish

  8. Death of Jesus • 29 AD Jesus visited Jerusalem • People flocked calling him the Messiah or king – the one who would rescue the Jews • Roman governor, Pontius Pilate accused Jesus of defying the authority of Rome • He was not the Roman King • He was sentenced to crucifixion • a common punishment for opponents to Rome • His body was placed in a tomb • Gospels preach that three days later his body was gone, and a newly living Jesus was appearing to his followers

  9. Jewish Rebellion • 66 AD a group of Jews rebelled against Rome • 70 AD Romans destroyed the temple complex • All that was left was the western wall – which is the holiest place for Jews to worship today • Half a million Jews were killed in the rebellion until the Romans won in 73 AD • 132 AD • Another rebellion, half a million again were killed • Many Jews were driven from their homeland in the Diaspora: • The time when Jews were driven into exile from their homeland • This facilitated a further spread of the religion

  10. The Movement Grows • Gospels were written by disciples or pupils • 12 men, later called apostles • These people helped to spread the message of Christianity • They traveled around the Roman Empire, teaching of Jesus, and the Monotheistic Religion

  11. Christianity Spreads • Followers spread the ideas and teachings of Jesus outside of the Roman empire • The Apostle Paul • Never met Jesus • At first and enemy to Christianity • Believed he had vision of Jesus • Spread the word of his teachings

  12. PaxRomana • Safe roads, common language • Made trade safe and easy • Made the spread of ideas easy as well • This allowed for the religion to spread quickly and easily

  13. Becoming a world Religion • Three million Christians by the third century AD • People converted because Christianity: • Embraced all people – men and women, enslaved, poor, nobles • Gave hope to powerless • Appealed to those who disliked the extravagance of Rome • Offered personal relationship with God • Promised eternal life after death

  14. Constantine • 312 AD • Constantine was a Roman Emperor fighting for leadership of Rome • He Reported seeing an image of a cross • symbol of Christianity • He put symbol on shields, troops won • At the battle of Milivian Bridge • 313 AD announced an end to persecution of Christians • EDICT OF MILAN • 380 AD • Emperor Theodosius made it official religion of empire

  15. Early Church • Roman hierarchy • Priest: lead a small group • Bishop: priest who supervised many churches • Peter was first Bishop of Rome • Pope: leader of whole church • Peter was the first Pope • Bishop of Rome was leader of church

  16. Holy Book: Bible • Old Testament: The Jewish Torah – first part of the Christian Bible • New Testament : Second part of the Christian Bible • Compilation of four Gospels believed to have been originally written by the apostles • 325 CE Constantine wrote the Nicene Creed defining basic beliefs

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