Unit 7 Lesson 8 Religion and the Roman Empire

Lesson 8 – The Roman Empire and Religion 1. When the _____________ conquered people, they generally allowed them to keep their own religious beliefs and customs. (Romans/Gauls) 2. At the beginning of the first century AD, a new religion appeared in Judea called ___________. (Judaism/Christianity) 3. The Jews were waiting for the _________________, which means “God’s Chosen One.” (Resurrection/Messiah) 4. The __________________ is the holy book of Christianity. (Bible/Old Testament) 5. ______________ was a type of execution in which a person was nailed to a cross. (Persecution/Crucifixion) 6. Christian refer to Jesus’ rise from the dead as the ______________. Messiah/Resurrection) 7. The _________________ were 12 men whom Jesus chose to receive special training. (Apostles/disciples) 8. ______________ of Tarses traveled throughout the Roman world spreading Christian teachings. (Jesus/Paul) 9. People who die for their religious beliefs are called _____________. (disciples/martyrs) 10. _______________________ means punishing a group because of its beliefs. (Crucifixion/Persecution)

Generalization: Religious ideas have both long and short term impacts

Big idea – People in the Roman Empire practiced many religions before Christianity, based on the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, spread and became Rome’s official religion.

Questions - analyze- how did the Romans deal with other religions? They

generally permitted other religions and often adopted gods and beliefs from other religions; only when a religious group caused a problem did Rome restrict them

-compare- what two teachings of Jesus were rooted in Jewish traditions? Love for God and love for others - predict- why might persecution have made Christianity stronger? It created unity among Christians

Religion in Rome - Polytheistic -had adopted many of the Greek gods, but added gods from everywhere - more duty then spiritual - loyalty and service to Rome and the family - offerings and prayers as a way to get what you wanted or to hurt those you disliked - no real belief in an afterlife - allowed conquered people to keep their own religions as long as they acknowledge the Roman gods and the emperor as a god when he died - Jews were given a special dispensation - general religious tolerance – sort of - only banned religions they though would cause a problem - Bacchanalia – too much drunkenness - Judaism – became a political problem - Christianity – secret religion, monotheistic

Causes - Romans conquer Judea - Jews oppose Roman rule - Differing views on religion

- describe – how did the Roman’s attitude about religion differ from that of the Jews?

- contrast – how was Hadrian’s policy different from previous Roman policies?

- draw conclusions- why did Romans consider Judaism a threat?

- analyze- although the Romans did not ban Judaism, why did the Jews continue to rebel?

Hadrian banned the practice of some Jewish rituals and eventually destroyed Jerusalem

They wanted to be ruled only by Jews and did not want to worship Roman gods and violate their religious beliefs

Because Jews continued to rebel and demand independence

The Romans honored many gods but did not impose their religion on others. Jews believed in one god and rebelled against Roman rule

Effects - Hadrian bans certain Jewish rituals - Revolts are crushed - Jerusalem is destroyed - Jews forced to leave Jerusalem

Event - Jews rebel against Rome

Jewish Rebellions - religion banned only when became tied to their attempt toward independence Zealot Revolt - AD 66, led by a group called the Zealots - refused to obey Roman officials - lasted 4 years - Jerusalem in ruins - Second Temple destroyed - Masada - last stronghold of the Zealots - held out for 2 years - chose death over surrender -result - large number of Jews killed - most of the rest sold into slavery - others left the area to move to different parts of the empire

- make inferences – Why was the Roman destruction of the Second Temple so devastating to the Jews?

The temple was the center of Jewish religious life and the holiest Jewish site.

Jewish Revolt Against Rome, AD 66-70

Short-Term Effects - Loss of many lives, particularly Jews - Destruction of Jerusalem, Second

Temple - Roman enslavement of many

surviving Jews - End of Jewish power structure in

Jerusalem - Migration of many Jews throughout

Roman Empire

Long-Term Effects - Second unsuccessful revolt against

Rome - Ban of Jews from Jerusalem - Dispersal of Jews throughout the

world - Changes in nature of Judaism

(synagogues, rabbis) - Discrimination against Jews

Masada’s Role Today The fortress of Masada has become a symbol to modern Jews of their survival as a people and a religious group. Today, Israeli soldiers go to Masada and take the oath, “Masada shall not fall again.”

Second Revolt - Jews rebelled against Roman again – lost again - all Jews banned from the city of Jerusalem - migrated throughout the empire - called the diaspora

Christianity - based in the teachings and life of Jesus of Nazareth - believed to be the Messiah by Christian after his execution by the Romans - Christians believe that he returned from the dead - called the resurrection - Christians believe that he is the Son of God - major teachings of Christianity - salvation through belief in God - love for all people - care for those in need

The Spread of Christianity - spread through the teachings and preaching of Jesus’ disciples and followers - eventually recorded in the New Testament of the Christian Bible - his life is covered in the Four Gospels - Matthew, Mark, Luke and John - much of the rest was written by Paul of Tarsus

- analyze- why did different denominations of Christianity develop over time?

Because different people interpreted the teachings of Jesus in different ways

Why were the Romans threatened by Christianity? - monotheistic – refused to worship the Roman gods - secret religion – had to hide because of early persecution - led to misunderstandings and exaggerations about their practices - baptism - communion - religion of equality - started as a slave religion

- summarize- what challenges did early Christianity face in practicing and spreading their religion?

Were persecuted, held to meet in secret

From Persecuted to State Religion - Constantine made Christianity a legal religion – equal to all others - Edict of Milan AD 313 - did not ban other religions – freedom of worship - Theodosius - made Christianity the state Religion - banned all other religions - everyone was forced to become Christians - those who refused were persecuted - the same things that had been done to the Christians were now done to them.

Read each set of four vocabulary terms. Cross out the term that is not part of each set

1. Christianity Jesus of Nazareth Apostles Yahweh

2. Nazareth Jerusalem Hadrian Bethlehem

3. Judea Apostles followers disciples

4. Martyrs Bible persecution punishment

-- writing idea – what does the events at Masada and the Jewish Revolt in general tell us about the values and beliefs of both the Romans and the Zealots?