Monotheistic Religions in the Roman Empire

Christianity & Judaism

Early History of Christianity

Yahweh

Founder of the Arab people

Founder of the Hebrews

Islam Christianity

Judaism

Hagar -- Abraham -- Sarah | | Ishmael Isaac

Empire & New “Mystery” Religions

What “Mystery” religion is this?• Featured a miracle performing

founder• Offered secret knowledge • Promised individual salvation

and eternal life• Focused on a savior deity who

died and came back to life• In groups ate sacred food and

drink• Seventh day was sacred• Founder’s birthday at the end of

DecemberMithraism

Jesus of Nazareth

Born in Roman occupied Palestine

Became a wandering rabbi who taught:

• Hebrew scriptures• Moral perfection• “Blessedness” of society’s

outcasts• Nonviolence

Executed by Romans

Early Foundations

The 11 Disciples of Jesus spread the Christian faith• Disciple – one who is taught• Apostle – one who is sent

Christian means “little Christ”

Peter the Apostle First of the Apostles Traveled to Rome to

become the first Bishop.• “The Rock”• “Pope”

Crucified during reign of Nero

Paul the Apostle A Jewish enemy of the

Christians. Had a vision of Christ Spent the rest of his life

spreading Christ’s teachings.

Enabled anyone to convert to Christianity

Beheaded during Nero’s reign.

Christianity’s Attraction

Eternal life and a relationship with God

Everyone could participate• Encouraged

conversion Sins were forgiven Judaism presented

too many boundaries

Diocletian "Edict against the Christians“ 303 CE

• Scriptures burned• Churches burned• Priests arrested• Christians tortured and killed

How did Christianity survive?

313 CE – Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity & ended persecution• Edict of Milan

392 CE – Emperor Theodosius established Christianity as the Roman Empire’s only faith

1,000 CE, all European states were Christian and the majority of Europeans were Christians

Judaism in the Roman Empire

King Herod• Rebuilt the Holy Temple• Upper class Jews

accepted him• Small farmers and

commoners did not• He was a foreigner• He used the people’s taxes

to pay for his palaces

• Zealots – Jewish rebels

Zealots

Viewed Romans as greedy

Awaited the Messiah

Started a mini-guerrilla war

Herod executed Jewish priests and their family members

This turned many others against him

Diaspora

In Greek, the word Diaspora means dispersion or scattering

The First Diaspora

66 CE – The Jews rebelled against Rome 70 CE, Romans marched into Jerusalem

• Destroyed the Temple complex Only the west wall remains

• Annexed Judea as Roman province• Drove many Jews from Palestine

72 CE – Battle of Masada

Masada

Zealots fled to Masada

900 held out against 15,000 Roman soldiers

Mass suicide

The Second Diaspora

132 CE – Another Jewish revolt Fighting lasted for three years

• At the end, the Jews lost once again• They were forced to leave their

homeland The Jews didn’t return until 1948

when Israel was created