The Rise of Christianity in The Rise of Christianity in Rome & the Causes for the Rome & the Causes for the

Decline of RomeDecline of RomeChapter 6 Chapter 6

Societal Problems at Heart Societal Problems at Heart of Rome's Decline (9:55)of Rome's Decline (9:55)

The Beginnings of The Beginnings of Christianity in RomeChristianity in Rome

Paul (Saul) the Apostle spreads ChristianityPaul (Saul) the Apostle spreads Christianity Apostle – person who teaches and spreads the word of Apostle – person who teaches and spreads the word of

JesusJesus Peter the Apostle spread Christianity throughout Peter the Apostle spread Christianity throughout

Palestine and Syria Palestine and Syria Three ways Paul helped spread ChristianityThree ways Paul helped spread Christianity

1.1. Wrote information letters to believersWrote information letters to believers2.2. Pax Romana road system made it easy to spread Pax Romana road system made it easy to spread

the wordthe word3.3. Declared the Christian religion was open to Declared the Christian religion was open to

anybodyanybody

5 Reasons Christianity 5 Reasons Christianity Spread in the Roman WorldSpread in the Roman World1. Invited 1. Invited allall people to worship people to worship 2. Gave hope to people who were poor2. Gave hope to people who were poor3. Appealed to followers that were against 3. Appealed to followers that were against

Roman ruleRoman rule4. Offered a one on one relationship with a 4. Offered a one on one relationship with a

God that cares about youGod that cares about you5. Promised eternal life after death5. Promised eternal life after death

Persecution of the Persecution of the ChristiansChristians

Christians were in Christians were in violation of Roman lawviolation of Roman law

Emperor Nero 64 (C.E.) Emperor Nero 64 (C.E.) – blames Christians– blames Christians

Apostles Peter and Paul Apostles Peter and Paul were put to deathwere put to death

MartyrsMartyrs – people willing – people willing to sacrifice their lives for to sacrifice their lives for the sake of a beliefthe sake of a belief

http://members.eisa.com/~ec086636/christ5.jpg

Constantine (3:00)Constantine (3:00)

Constantine and Constantine and ChristianityChristianity

Emperor Constantine Emperor Constantine prayed for help in an prayed for help in an unmatched battleunmatched battle Placed crosses on all Placed crosses on all

his men's shields and his men's shields and victoriously wonvictoriously won

• Edict of MilanEdict of Milan – – declared end to declared end to persecution of persecution of ChristiansChristians

http://www.prompterinc.com/Photographs/Rome1/Rome1/Rome-25-Constantine.jpg

Constantine’s Constantine’s ContributionsContributions

Generously gave gold Generously gave gold and protection to the and protection to the Christian churchChristian church

Built many churches Built many churches throughout the Roman throughout the Roman EmpireEmpire

Constantine’s Constantine’s successor, Theodosius successor, Theodosius made Christianity made Christianity official religion in 380 official religion in 380 C.E.C.E.

http://www.indembassyhavana.cu/culture/culture-religions-christianity.gif

The Early Christian The Early Christian ChurchChurch

The Christian Church The Christian Church hierarchyhierarchy- From bottom to top…From bottom to top…

4. Christian followers4. Christian followers3. Local priests – minister 3. Local priests – minister

the peoplethe people2. Bishops – a priest that 2. Bishops – a priest that

supervised the local supervised the local churcheschurches

1. Pope – supervised the 1. Pope – supervised the BishopsBishops

http://www.santasusanna.org/images/Pope-Saint-Euletherius.jpg

The 4The 4 Causes Causes for the Decline for the Decline of Romeof Rome

Rome declined slowly Rome declined slowly from from C.E. 200 – C.E. 500C.E. 200 – C.E. 500

1.1. POLITICAL INSTABILITY- Rulers spent to much - Rulers spent to much money and wasted money and wasted troopstroops

The 4The 4 Causes for the Causes for the Decline of RomeDecline of Rome

2.2. ECONOMIC ECONOMIC DECLINEDECLINE Constant warfare Constant warfare

interrupted trade and the interrupted trade and the supply of cropssupply of crops

Inflation – rise in pricesInflation – rise in prices

3.3. UNSUCCESSFUL UNSUCCESSFUL REFORMSREFORMS Diocletian and Diocletian and

Constantine forced Constantine forced families to one jobfamilies to one job

Set a maximum limit on Set a maximum limit on food pricesfood prices

The 4The 4 Causes Causes for the for the Decline of Decline of RomeRome 4.4. BARBARIAN BARBARIAN

INVASIONSINVASIONS VisigothsVisigoths and Chief and Chief

AlaricAlaric invade Rome invade Rome HunsHuns and their chief and their chief

AttilaAttila, plundered and , plundered and spread diseasespread disease

Vandals and their Vandals and their chief Odoacer seized chief Odoacer seized complete controlcomplete control

A Proud Empire CollapsesA Proud Empire Collapses