• Augustus is considered Rome’s greatest ruler:

– Like Pericles of Athens, Augustus erected splendid public buildings

– Created a system of government that survived for centuries

• A monarch assisted by a collected group of politicians

– Set up civil services

• Appointed citizens to public jobs

– Tax collector, postal services, food monitors

• The “food monitors” would keep track of people’s daily rations of grain.

• Augustus’s regulations brought in many new Romans.

– The population of Rome increased and the city became heavily crowded.

– Accidents and crime was a constant danger

• To distract the massive population in Rome, the government would provide free entertainment:

– Games, races, mock battles, and gladiator contests

• On these days of celebration, 50,000 Romans would fill the Colosseum– Poor and rich alike would crowd in the colosseum to

watch the spectacles

• During this time of Pax Romana, another activity slowly emerged into the Roman empire:

– Christianity

Christianity • Christianity emphasized a more personal

relationship between God and people– This attracted the Romans

• The Romans were polytheists, just like the Greeks – Comparison:– Zeus and Jupiter– Aphrodite and Venus

• Rome took over the Jewish land of Judea, around 63 B.C.

– The city of Judea lived as independently as Rome would let them

• About forty years later, Rome took Judea over and made it a province of the empire.

– Established Roman law

• Historical records of the time mention very little about Jesus, but it is believed that he arrived in Jerusalem 29 A.D. – Like Judea, the Romans had a huge influence over the

governing of Jerusalem

• He was greeted by enthusiastic crowds and masses who wanted to see their Messiah

– According to the bible, the Messiah was sent to save the Jews from the Romans

• **Remember: Jesus emphasized God’s personal relationship with each human being.– More personable than worshipping many Gods – One on One

• He stressed the importance of people’s love for God, their neighbors, their enemies, and even themselves.

• He also taught that God would end the wickedness in the world and would establish a kingdom for those who repented their sins.

• After creating a massive following through his many teachings

• The Roman Governor of Jerusalem, Pontus Pilate accused Jesus of defying authority of Rome.– He had Jesus arrested ordered him to be crucified

• Jesus’ body was placed in a tomb after his death.

• According to the Gospels, three days after the burial, his body disappeared from the tomb and ascended into heaven

• His followers were more convinced than ever that Jesus was the Messiah

• The belief that Jesus conquered death inspired many to take Jesus’s teachings further

– His original followers were Jewish but created a new religion using Jesus’ ideals

Christianity

• Christianity spread throughout Europe quite easily due to Pax Romona – Pax Romona made travel safe and easy– Past Roman conquerings allowed for a general

understanding of common languages• Latin and Greek became most popular languages• Messages were easily translatable

Christianity Spreads

• Paul’s European travels aided the spread of the religion– Paul was one of the Apostles

*Apostle: Jesus’ twelve disciples and pupils

• During his travels, Paul preached and discussed the new religion to large crowds

• Paul declared that Christianity was welcomed to all that desired to convert

Rome and Christianity

• In A.D. 66, there was a Jewish rebellion in Rome.

• In A.D. 70, a group of Roman military men entered Jerusalem and destroyed the Temple complex

– The Jews battled the Romans in Jerusalem for about three more years half a million Jews were killed

• The Jews made another attempt to break free of the Romans in A.D. 73.– The attempt was a failure. – Another half a million Jews died in three years of fighting

• The Jewish religion survived under Roman reign.

• The Romans began to persecute the Christians as well as the Jews

– Christianity was a problem because the Christians did not worship the Roman Gods.

– The Romans saw this as an insult to Roman rule.

• Romans exiled, imprisoned, or executed Christians who refused to worship the Roman Gods

– Thousands were crucified, burned, or killed by animals in the circus arenas

– Some of the Christians were considered martyrs

*Martyr: People who were willing to sacrifice their lives for the sake of a beliefs

• By the late third century, there were millions of Christians in the Roman Empire

– The widespread appeal of Christianity was due to a variety of reasons.

• Embraced all people

• Gave hope to the powerless

• Appealed to those shunned by Romans

• Offered a personal relationship with one God

• Promised eternal life after death

Christianity Accepted

• In 312 A.D., the Roman Emperor Constantine was at war.– Constantine prayed for divine help before battle and a

saw a cross.– He ordered ironsmiths to put crosses on his soldier’s

shields.– They won the battle

• In the next year, A.D. 313, Constantine ended all persecution of Christians.– He allowed the worshipping of Christianity when he wrote

the Edict of Milan.

• Because of its massive following, Emperor Theodosius made it Rome’s official religion in A.D. 380