The Origins

& Spread of

Islam and

ChristianityHow did these re l ig ions or ig inate

and spread?

Introduction to Christianity

2. How did Christianity become the official religion of the Roman Empire?

Emperor Constantine began the practice of allowing Romans to

choose their own religion.

1. Who founded Christianity? When and where did he live?

Jesus of Nazareth; born in Judea. Lived from about 4 B.C. to A.D. 30.

Judea: The Birthplace of Christianity

1. Where was Judea and why was it important to the Jews?

• A small territory on the eastern edge of the Mediterranean. It was their homeland, which had once been part of the ancient kingdom of Israel (before being taken over by Rome)

Judea: The Birthplace of Christianity

63 B.C.-Rome had Jewish leaders that supported Roman rule. Jews rebel.

37 B.C.- Herod ruled. Jews did not trust him.

4 B.C.-Herod’s sons ruled. Jews did not trust them.

Judea: The Birthplace of Christianity

Messiah

• A savior who many Jews believe had been promised to them by

God.

What are the Gospels and who wrote

them?

• The Gospels are accounts of Jesus’s life and teachings written by four of his followers, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

Describe Jesus’s birth according to the

Gospels.

• Jesus was born in a stable in Bethlehem. His parents were on their way to participate in a census ordered by Augustus.

Who were the disciples?

•Followers of Jesus, mostly simple people like laborers and fishermen

According to the Gospels, what did Jesus say were the two most important of all the Jewish laws?

• Jesus said that the two most important Jewish laws were, “You shall love your God with all your heart and all your soul” and “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

What is a parable and how does it relate to Jesus?

• A parable is a simple story that explains a moral or religious lesson. Jesus used these to teach.

Explain the moral of the story The Good Samaritan.

• Be good neighbors by having mercy on others, even your enemies.

• Jesus was condemned to die on a cross because his teachings upset many people and because some feared that he might lead a revolt against Rome.

Why was Jesus

condemned to die on a

cross?

• The belief that Jesus rose from the dead. The Resurrection was important because it convinced Christians that Jesus was the Son of God.

What was the

Resurrection and why

was it important to Christians?

Why did Paul stop persecuting Christians and become a missionary?

• Paul stopped persecuting Christians and became a missionary because he believed he had heard the voice of the Jesus in a vision.

How did Paul’s work help to spread Christianity?

• Paul helped spread Christianity by preaching throughout much of the empire. While in jail, he wrote letters to other Christians.

The Missionary Work of Paul

Christians were considered a threat to Rome because they refused to worship other Roman gods, would not admit that the emperor was a god, preferred a life of simplicity, and refused to serve in the army.

Why were Christians considered a threat to

Rome?

Christianity Spreads

Explain how the persecution of Christians “backfired”.

• Rome’s persecution actually helped to spread Christianity because people admired the bravery of the Christians. Christianity also offered hope to the poor and to slaves.

The Christian Church Takes Shape

Describe 2 roles the Church played in society

after the fall of Rome.

Provided leadership

Organized distribution

of food

Preserved old texts

Hierarchy of the Roman

Catholic Church

Pope

Supreme head of the Church

Cardinals

Helped the Pope/ Chosen by the

Pope

Bishops

Controlled dioceses

Archbishops

Oversaw archdioceses

Priests

Served local parishes

The Christian Church Takes Shape

Explain 3 specific ways that the Church acquired great power during the

Middle Ages.

Controlled lots of land

Collected taxes

Controlled politics by knowing how to

read and write Latin

The Pope proved to be more powerful

than emperors

Introduction to Islam

Makkah became Islam’s most sacred city, and the

Ka’bah became a center of Islamic worship.

Who founded Islam? When and where did he live?

The founder of Islam was Muhammad, who was born in

Makkah (Mecca) around 570 C.E.

What is the Ka’bah?

A shrine that is the center of Islamic worship.

Picture of Ka’aba: The small shrine located near the center of the Great Mosque in Mecca.

Muslims everywhere consider this to be the most sacred spot on Earth.

Arabia in the 6th Century

Explain why long periods of fighting were common in Arabia at this time.

There was no central government and people pledged loyalty to tribes

Describe Makkah at the time of Muhammad’s birth

At the time of his birth, Makkah was a prosperous city at the crossroads of great trade routes.

Muhammad's Early Life

Summary

• Few people noticed Muhammad’s birth. • His family was not very wealthy, and his mother sent

him to live with a family of nomads in the desert. • He later returned to the city and his mother, before

becoming an orphan.• In time, Muhammad became a trader who was

known for his honesty.• When he was 25, a widow named Khadijah

proposed marriage. She and Muhammad had several children, including a daughternamed Fatima.

The Call to Prophethood

Where was Muhammad and what was he doing, when the angel Gabriel told him, “You are the messenger of God”?

• Muhammad was praying in a cave in the mountains when he was visited by the angel Gabriel.

What does Muslim mean?

• Muslim means “one who surrenders to God.”

What is the holy book of Islam called? What does it

contain?

• The holy book of Islam is the Qur’an. It contains the messages from God that Muhammad received from Gabriel.

Muhammad's Teaching Meet with Rejection

• Muhammad taught that people must worship one God, that all believers in God were equal, and that the rich should share their wealth with the poor.

• He urged Makkans to take care of orphans and the poor, and to improve the status of women.

What did Muhammad teach when he preached to the Makkans?

Muhammad's Teaching Meet With Rejection

Why did Makkah’s leaders try to prevent the spread

of Muhammad’s message?

• Makkah’s leaders did not want to share their wealth, and they feared that if Muhammad became too powerful he would seize political power.

Why is Jerusalem a holy city for Muslims?

• Jerusalem is the site of Muhammad’s Night Journey where he met and prayed with earlier prophets, such as Abraham, Moses, and Jesus, before being guided through the seven levels of heaven and meeting God (Allah).

From the Migration to Madinah to the End of His

Life

• Christians and Jews. He taught that Muslims should respect them.

Who are the People of the Book and what did Muhammad teach about them?

• Spain

View the map on page 84. How far into Europe did Islam expand?