PAUL - MISSIONARYDIOCLETIAN - EMPEROR

CONSTANTINE - EMPEROR

Rome and the Rise of Christianity

Paul – Christian Missionary

Early Life Never met Jesus Jewish lawyer who persecuted Christians before

converting after a visionSpread 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

Paul the Apostle

What do you think the line around his head represents? The book?

THE SPREAD OF CHRISTIANITY (PAUL)

CONTRADICTED ROMAN PRACTICES AND THE POWER OF

THE ROMAN EMPEROR

Roman Problems after the Pax Romana

1. Foreign invasions 1. Attila the Hun and Mongols pushing Germans into

Roman territories

2. Mercenaries 1. No one more volunteers for army

3. Government too large to function1. 70 million people/three continents

4. Importance of “Rome” marginalized1. People don’t care about the glory of Rome

Diocletian’s Response

Gov’t splits into two – Eastern ½ & Western 1/2 Tetrarchy – “Rule by Four”

Each half ruled by an emperor and junior emperor Oriental influences

Made emperor a god-like figure Disconnect between rulers and ruled; emperor and

everyday citizens Persecution of Christians

Christianity seen as a reason the empire was weakening – contrary values

Try and unite Rome through attacks on Christians and almost wipe out Christianity

Diocletian’s Tetrachy

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

Constantinople

Relocates capital to Byzantium and renames it Constantinople

Impact on Pope Pope is sole figure in Rome

Pope becomes religious AND political figure Allows Christianity and the Catholic Church to grow in

power

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

St Peter’s Basilica today

Roman Empire soon after Constantine’s rule