Rise and Spread of Christianity (with Introductory Islam Topics) – Lecture Review

These question-and-answer flashcards cover the meaning of “medieval,” socio-political background of Christianity, life and teachings of Jesus, Constantine’s policies, fall of Rome, monasteries, Crusades, and introductory beliefs and practices of Islam, ensuring a solid review of the lecture content.

What does the Latin term “medium aevum” mean?

Middle Age; it gives us the word “medieval.”

Which centuries mark the Medieval Period in Europe?

Roughly 500 CE – 1500 CE.

Which two Israelite kings united the tribes and made Jerusalem the capital?

David and Solomon.

After Solomon’s death, into which two kingdoms was Israel divided?

Israel (north) and Judah (south).

Which empire turned Judaea into an imperial province in 6 CE?

The Roman Empire under Augustus.

Who was the Roman-appointed king of Judaea around Jesus’s birth?

Herod the Great.

Why did many Jews hope for a messiah under Roman rule?

To deliver them from Roman oppression and restore Israel’s glory.

Where was Jesus born and where did he grow up?

Born in Bethlehem; grew up in Nazareth.

Who baptized Jesus, prompting the start of his ministry?

St. John the Baptist.

During which years did Jesus preach across Judaea and Galilee?

Circa 30 CE – 33 CE.

By what method was Jesus executed and on whose order?

Crucifixion ordered by Pontius Pilate.

What Christian holy day commemorates Jesus’s crucifixion?

Good Friday.

What event is celebrated by Christians as Easter?

The Resurrection—Jesus rising from the dead on the third day.

What does the Greek word “christos” mean?

Messiah (anointed one).

Name two central teachings of Jesus.

Unconditional love for God and true love for one’s neighbour (including enemies).

What collective name is given to Jesus’s key moral sayings delivered on a hillside?

The Sermon on the Mount.

What are parables?

Short stories using everyday events to convey moral or spiritual lessons.

How many apostles did Jesus choose, and what was their mission?

Twelve; to spread his teachings to distant lands.

Which apostle is traditionally believed to have brought Christianity to India?

Thomas (St. Thomas the Apostle).

What does the term “church” originally refer to in early Christianity?

Assemblies of believers gathering to discuss Christian teachings.

Which Roman emperor legalized Christianity with the Edict of Milan?

Constantine I in 313 CE.

Name two ways Constantine I supported the Christian Church.

Returned confiscated property and granted tax exemptions to clergy (also built basilicas, promoted Christians to office).

What new imperial capital did Constantine build, and what name did it take?

Byzantium, renamed Constantinople (modern Istanbul).

Who made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire in 392 CE?

Emperor Theodosius I.

After Theodosius’s death, into what two parts was the empire divided?

Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine) and Western Roman Empire.

Who deposed the last Western Roman emperor in 476 CE?

The Germanic chieftain Odoacer.

Name three Germanic tribes involved in ‘barbarian invasions.’

Visigoths, Vandals, Franks.

What Central Asian confederation pressured Germanic tribes into Roman lands?

The Huns.

Which branch of Christianity became dominant in the Byzantine Empire?

The Orthodox Church.

What roles did monasteries play in medieval Europe?

Centers of learning, hospitality for travelers, assistance to poor/sick, craft production, and missionary work.

Give two medieval universities that began as monastic schools.

University of Oxford and University of Cambridge.

What were female monastics called and where did they live?

Nuns; they lived in convents.

Define the Crusades.

A series of ‘holy wars’ (11th–18th c.) fought by Christian armies, sanctioned by the Pope, against Turkish Muslims to reclaim Jerusalem and aid Constantinople.

In which year did the First Crusade begin?

1096 CE.

List two long-term consequences of the Crusades for Europe.

Increased contact with Greek/Arab knowledge (sparked Renaissance) and expansion of trade routes improving the economy.

What military technology did Europeans learn from Turks during the Crusades?

Use of gunpowder and firearms.

What is the biblical canon?

A set of books deemed divinely inspired, making up the Bible’s Old and New Testaments.

What does “polytheistic” mean?

Belief in more than one god.

What is crucifixion?

An ancient execution method involving nailing or binding a person to a cross.

Translate the Arabic word ‘Islam.’

Surrender or submission (to the will of Allah).

Who is considered the founder and final prophet of Islam?

Prophet Muhammad.

In which city and approximate year was Muhammad born?

Mecca, circa 570 CE.

What was the Hijra (Hijrah) and when did it occur?

Muhammad’s migration from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE.

Name the sacred scripture of Islam.

The Koran (Qur’an).

State the First Pillar of Islam.

Profession of faith: “There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is His messenger.”

How many daily prayers are prescribed in Islam (Second Pillar)?

Five.

What is Zakat?

Annual almsgiving to the poor, a required act of charity in Islam (Third Pillar).

During which month do Muslims fast from dawn to sunset (Fourth Pillar)?

Ramadan.

What is the Hajj?

Pilgrimage to Mecca that Muslims should undertake at least once (Fifth Pillar).

Name two holiest cities in Islam.

Mecca and Medina (Jerusalem is also sacred).

What cube-shaped sanctuary in Mecca is the focal point of Muslim pilgrimage?

The Kaaba.