Chapter 6: Christianity

Constantine

A Roman Emperor who played a significant role in the spread of Christianity.

bishop

A senior member of the Christian clergy, typically in charge of a diocese.

Peter

One of Jesus' apostles, regarded as the first pope in Christianity.

pope

The bishop of Rome and the spiritual leader of the worldwide Catholic Church.

Jesus

A Jew born around 6 to 4 B.C. in Bethlehem, known as the central figure of Christianity.

apostle

One of the 12 disciples of Jesus who spread his teachings.

Paul

An apostle who played a crucial role in the spread of Christianity beyond Jewish communities.

Diaspora

The dispersion of Jews beyond Israel, particularly after the Babylonian Exile.

monotheism

The belief in only one God, a key principle in Jesus' teachings.

Ten Commandments

A set of biblical principles relating to ethics and worship, central to Jewish and Christian teachings.

Gospels

The first four books of the New Testament that document the life and teachings of Jesus.

Messiah

The savior promised in Jewish tradition, believed by followers of Jesus to be him.

blasphemy

Contempt for God, a charge brought against Jesus by Jewish leaders.

Pontius Pilate

The Roman governor who accused Jesus of defying the authority of Rome.

public ministry

The period during which Jesus preached, taught, and performed miracles, lasting about three years.

carpentry

The trade Jesus took up as a young man before beginning his ministry.

eternal kingdom

The promised afterlife for those who sincerely repent their sins, according to Jesus' teachings.

Roman Empire

The historical empire that controlled Judea during the rise of Christianity.

Judea

The region where Jesus was born and where Christianity began.

Nazareth

The village in northern Palestine where Jesus was raised.

John the Baptist

The prophet who baptized Jesus.

crowds

Large groups of people who were attracted to Jesus' message during his ministry.

love your enemies

A teaching of Jesus emphasizing compassion and forgiveness towards others.

King

A title used by Jesus' followers, referring to him as the Messiah.

Pilate

The Roman governor who arrested Jesus and sentenced him to be crucified.

Crucifixion

The method of execution where a person is nailed to a large wooden cross to die.

Resurrection

The event where Jesus' body was found gone three days after his death, and he began appearing to his followers.

Ascension

The event where Jesus is said to have ascended into heaven after his resurrection.

Christianity

A religion derived from the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Epistles

Influential letters written by Paul to groups of believers.

Pax Romana

A period of relative peace in the Roman Empire that allowed for safe travel and the exchange of ideas.

Jewish Diaspora

The dispersal of Jews from their homeland into exile, particularly after the destruction of the Temple in A.D. 70.

Jewish Rebellion

An uprising by Jews against Roman rule that began in A.D. 66.

Destruction of the Temple

The event in A.D. 70 when Romans stormed Jerusalem and destroyed the Temple complex.

Masada

A Jewish fortress that held out against Roman forces until A.D. 73.

Scapegoats

Groups or individuals that innocently bear the blame for others.

Persecution of Christians

The act of exiling, imprisoning, or executing Christians by Roman rulers for refusing to worship Roman gods.

Martyrs

Individuals who are regarded as having died for their faith, especially Christians during persecution.

Roman gods

Deities worshipped in ancient Rome, whose refusal to be worshipped by Christians led to persecution.

Exile

The state of being expelled from one's homeland, particularly referring to Jews after the destruction of Jerusalem.

Statelessness of Jews

The condition of Jews not having a political state, which lasted until the creation of Israel in 1948.

Roman rulers

Leaders in ancient Rome who viewed Christians as a threat due to their refusal to worship Roman deities.

Political troubles

Issues faced by Roman rulers that led them to use Christians as scapegoats.

Economic troubles

Financial issues that contributed to the persecution of Christians in ancient Rome.

Reasons for Christianity's Growth

Christianity embraced all people, gave hope to the powerless, appealed to those repelled by imperial Rome, offered a personal relationship with God, and promised eternal life after death.

Constantine's Vision

In A.D. 312, Constantine saw an image of a cross before the battle at Milvian Bridge, which he credited for his victory.

Edict of Milan

A.D. 313 declaration by Constantine that ended the persecution of Christians and approved Christianity as a religion.

Theodosius

The emperor who made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire in A.D. 380.

Hierarchy

A group of persons organized in order of ranks, with each level subject to the authority of the one above.

Early Christian Church Structure

The local level was led by a priest, with bishops supervising several local churches.

Apostle Peter

The first bishop of Rome, referred to as the 'rock' on which the Christian Church would be built.

Heresy

Any belief that appeared to contradict the basic teachings of Christianity.

New Testament

A compilation of beliefs and teachings of Christianity, containing the four Gospels, the Epistles of Paul, and other documents.

Old Testament

The Hebrew Bible, which Christians called the Old Testament, added to the New Testament.

Council of Nicaea

A.D. 325 assembly called by Constantine to solidify the teachings of Christianity.

Spread of Christianity

Christianity's expansion across the Roman Empire and beyond, reaching millions by the late third century A.D.

Christian Areas in A.D. 325

Regions where Christianity was most widespread, including parts of the Roman Empire.

Extent of Christianity's Spread by A.D. 500

The geographical reach of Christianity from north to south and east to west by the year 500.

Divine Help

The assistance Constantine prayed for before his battle, which he attributed to his victory.

Local Church Leadership

Each small group of Christians was led by a priest.

Christian Symbol

The cross, which Constantine ordered to be placed on his soldiers' shields.

Powerless

Individuals who found hope in Christianity, including the poor and enslaved persons.

Imperial Rome

The extravagant society that repelled some individuals, leading them to Christianity.

Nicene Creed

A statement of the basic beliefs of the Church written at the Council of Nicaea.

Fathers of the Church

Early writers and scholars influential in defining Church teachings.

Augustine

An important Church Father who became bishop of Hippo in North Africa in 396 and taught that humans needed God's grace to be saved.

The City of God

A famous book written by Augustine after Rome was plundered, discussing the fate of cities and the eternal city of God.

Two Cities

A concept by Augustine representing two societies: one predestined to reign with God and the other doomed to punishment.

Constantinople

The capital city founded by Constantine, significant in the history of Christianity.

Attila

Leader of the Huns who invaded the Roman Empire, contributing to its decline.

Inflation

A significant economic issue in the Roman Empire during its decline, characterized by rising prices.

Mercenary

A foreign soldier hired to fight for a country, often used by the Roman Empire during its decline.

Diocletian

Roman Emperor known for his reforms that attempted to stabilize the empire.

Political Instability

A cause of Rome's decline, characterized by ineffective leadership and civil unrest.

Economic Weakness

A result of various factors including disrupted trade and inflation during the Roman Empire's decline.

Mercenaries

Foreign soldiers who fought for money.

Roman Army Reforms

Diocletian doubled the size of the Roman army to restore order.

Fixed Prices

A measure taken by Diocletian to control inflation by setting fixed prices for goods.

Division of the Empire

Diocletian divided the empire into the Greek-speaking East and the Latin-speaking West.

Eastern Half of the Empire

Included most of the empire's great cities and trade centers and was far wealthier than the West.

Civil War After Diocletian

Broke out immediately after Diocletian's retirement in A.D. 305.

Decline in Agriculture

Harvests in Italy and western Europe became increasingly meager due to overworked soil and years of war.

Food Shortages

Serious food shortages spread due to declining harvests and disease.

Loyalty of Roman Soldiers

Roman soldiers became less disciplined and loyal, giving allegiance to their commanders instead of Rome.

Patriotism Decline

Conditions in the later centuries caused citizens to lose their sense of patriotism.

Tax Increase

The government raised taxes due to a lack of new sources of gold and silver.

Minting Coins

The government started minting coins that contained less and less silver to create more money.

Emperor's Prestige

Diocletian restored the prestige of the office of emperor by claiming descent from ancient Roman gods.

Roman Republic Loyalty

In the past, Romans cared deeply about their republic and willingly sacrificed their lives for it.

Population Decline

The population declined due to serious food shortages and disease.

Rome's Survival

Rome survived intact for another 200 years due to reform-minded emperors.

Roman Military Disarray

By the third century A.D., the Roman military was in disarray, with soldiers becoming less disciplined.

Overworked Soil

Soil in Italy and western Europe lost its fertility due to overuse.

Constantine Moves the Capital

Constantine gained control of the western part of the empire in A.D. 312 and continued many of the social and economic policies.

Multiple Causes: Fall of the Western Roman Empire

Contributing Factors include Political, Social, Economic, and Military aspects.

Poor harvests

A contributing factor to the fall of the Western Roman Empire.

Political office seen as burden

A contributing factor indicating a decline in the value of political positions.

Decline in interest in public affairs

A contributing factor showing reduced civic engagement.

Threat from northern European tribes

A military contributing factor leading to the fall of the Western Roman Empire.

Disruption of trade

An economic contributing factor affecting the stability of the empire.