Christianity

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Christianity

• Rise, Spread, and Schism

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Roman Religious World

• By the imperial period, Rome had conquered many
  peoples.
• Very tolerant of other religions so long as they
  did not disturb public order or undermine Roman
  authority.
• New emphasis on spirituality imported from the
  Hellenistic world, particularly Persia.

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Fresco from Pompeii, 1st century B.C.E.,
depicting a womans initiation into a mystery
religion.
Why do you think some cults and spiritual
communities were deemed mystery religions by
Romans and later historians?
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Jewish Origins of Christianity

• Old Israel becomes Roman province of Judea in 63
  B.C.E. Allowed to practice monotheistic worship
  of Yahweh.
• Judaism divided into sects
• Pharisees priests and rulers, wanted
  independence from Rome (non-violent).
• Sadducees priests, wanted to cooperate with
  Rome.
• Essenes mystery religion Dead Sea Scrolls.
• Zealots radical sect, supported violent
  rebellion against Romans led revolt in 66 C.E.
• All sects awaited the coming of a Messiah
  (???????? anointed one) to reestablish Kingdom
  of God.

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The Messiah (?)

• To many, Jesus of Nazareth (6 B.C.E.-29 C.E.) was
  that Messiah (to many more at the time he was
  not).
• Teachings expressed love and obedience to God.
• Sermon on the Mount.
• Crucified by Romans in 29 C.E. followers
  reported his resurrection.

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Crucifixion of Spartacus and other
slave rebels (71 B.C.E.)
Crucifixion of Jesus (29 C.E.)
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Spread of Christianity

• Followers of Jesus proclaimed him the Christ
  (???st?? anointed one) and their sect
  Christianity.
• Original Christians were primarily Jewish later
  Gentiles too.
• Teachings of Christianity attracted members of
  certain social groups, particularly the poor and
  marginalized.
• Persecuted sect within Judaism.

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Map of Judea around the time of Christ.
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Paul of Tarsus

• Paul of Tarsus (3-67 C.E.) responsible for spread
  of Christianity across Mediterranean.
• Pharisaical Jew, Roman citizen.
• Established Christian churches in major Greek-
  and Latin-speaking cities.
• Epistles to churches.

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Defining Christianity

• Paul was influential in defining key tenets of
  Christianity and Christs teachings.
• Resurrection of the dead and judgment.
• Parousia (parousiða appearance) imminent
  Second Coming of Christ.
• Incorporation of Gentiles.
• Creation of a patriarchy within the church.
• Definitions of moral (Christian) behavior.

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Persecution by the State

• Criticism and persecution of Christians shifts
  from Judaism to the Roman state.
• Christians targeted for clannishness and refusal
  to participate in state religion.
• Nero (37-68 C.E.), first emperor to arrest, try,
  and execute Christians.
• Fire in Rome (July 64 C.E.) blamed on Christians.
• Regularly persecuted until 4th century.

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Constantine the Great

• First Christian Roman emperor, Constantine
  (272-337).
• Converted in 312
• Founded city of Byzantium as a New Rome of the
  East.
• Edict of Milan (313)
• Council of Nicaea (325)

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Edicts and Councils

• Edict of Milan (313)
• Declared Roman Empire would be neutral
  regarding religious worship.
• Return confiscated property
• Leads to Christianity becoming state religion of
  Roman Empire
• Council of Nicaea (325)
• Nature of Jesus (Trinitarianism v. Arianism)
• Date of Easter
• Heretics and lapsed Christians
• Nicene Creed

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Mosaic from the Hagia Sophia at Constantinople
(Istanbul). Justinian I offers the church while
Constantine I offers the city to the Virgin Mary
and Christ.
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East-West Schism

• Between 325 and 1045, Christianity slowly divided
  between East and West.
• Roman Empire already divided that way.
• Western church headed by a pope in Rome.
• Eastern church headed by a patriarch in
  Byzantium/Constantinople.
• Pope Leo IX and Patriarch Michael I excommunicate
  each other in 1045.
• Reasons for division
• Papal authority (Caesaropapism)
• Liturgical practices
• Iconoclasm

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Russian Orthodox
Armenian Apostolic
Greek Orthodox
Roman Catholic
Syrian Orthodox
Copts
Ethiopian Orthodox