Christianity

The Beginning of Christianity

• To keep peace the Romans allowed people in their provinces to practice different religions

• At first Jews were not required to worship Roman gods because Rome didn’t want to violate the Jewish belief in one god.

• Eventually the Jews revolted against Rome. • The Romans sacked the Holy City of Jerusalem

and the destroyed all but the western wall of the second temple.

Wailing Wall

The Beginning of Christianity

• Today the western wall is known as the Wailing Wall

• Hadrian banned all Jews from the Holy City of Jerusalem

• They still carried on the their Jewish faith and culture

• Christianity arose. Founded by the followers of the Jewish teacher Jesus of Nazareth

The Teachings of Jesus

• Began teaching around 2,000 years ago • Wandered the countryside with his disciples.• His life and teachings are recorded in the

Gospels of: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John• Make of the first four books of the New

Testament of the Christian Bible. • Jesus taught that there was only one true god.

The death of Jesus

• The Romans feared the Jesus would lead an uprising

• Jesus was arrested and put on trial before Pontius Pilate the Roman governor.

• Jesus was crucified: nailed or hung on a cross and left to die.

• According to the Gospels Jesus arose from the dead and remained on earth for 40 days.

The spread of Christianity

• The disciples spread the Jesus’ message and helped establish Christian communities

• Christianity accepted everyone • Many Christians became martyrs: they were put

to death for their beliefs . The Roman efforts failed to stop the spread of Christianity.

• Eventually Roman law accepted Christianity as a religion.