1) How did Romans Treat Christians ?
100 years after Jesus's death, christianity won followers around the roman world spreading their ideas. The peace and order allowed christians followers to spread the word safely throughout the land. They used the romans paved road to travel and could speech easily to greeks and romans. Roman officials treaded christians as they are a treat to the government. The empire expected everyone to worship the emperor as a god, but christians refuse to do this. Christians also refused to serve in the army and government, judged their festivals and games. The romans say them as traitors and punished them, persecute them, banned christianity, and killed The emperor Nero blames the christians for the fire that destroyed rome. Many christians became Martyrs, people who die for what they believe in. Many were buried in catacombs. After all the hardships christianity spread and began to draw in people from all classes. As the war in the roman empire dragged on romans began to admire the faith and courage of christianity, but christians also started to accept the empire.
2) Why do Romans Adopt Christianity? In early 300's of the roman empire, the emperor Diocletian planned to carry out the last great persecution,, but failed. Roman Officials realized that christianity grew too strong to destroy by force . In 312 the Emperor Constantine accepted christianity because he saw a vision of a flaming cross with the words in latin meaning,"In this the sign you will conquers." He won the battle believing that the Christian God helped him. In 313 he issued the Edict of Milan stating that ALL religions are given freedom. Constantine also gave government help the christian churches. His Mother, Helena, help Constantine build churches in Rome and Jerusalem. Constantine made churches not pay taxes, and his successor outlawed other religions making Christianity the ONLY and OFFICIAL Religion of the empire.
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3) What is the New Testament + Pope?
Church leaders explained ideas of christianity in writings. They wrote recording of Jesus's life told from his early Disciples. By 300 there were 4 different accounts of Jesus's life, teaching, and resurrection, these were well-known among christians. These Gospels,meaning good news, are called Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. After some time Christians combined the Gospels with the writings of Paul, and other early apostles, creating the New testament of the Bible.
As the power of the church grew, the bishop of Rome claimed power over other Bishops. He believed he had the authority of Peter. By 600 the bishop of Rome had gain the title of Pope meaning,"Father". Latin-Speaking Christians accepted the pope as the HEAD of the churches. They change the name of churches to the Roman Catholic Church. But Greek-Speaking Christians disagreed this and formed their own church. This became the Eastern Roman Empire in the Byzantine Empire.
As the power of the church grew, the bishop of Rome claimed power over other Bishops. He believed he had the authority of Peter. By 600 the bishop of Rome had gain the title of Pope meaning,"Father". Latin-Speaking Christians accepted the pope as the HEAD of the churches. They change the name of churches to the Roman Catholic Church. But Greek-Speaking Christians disagreed this and formed their own church. This became the Eastern Roman Empire in the Byzantine Empire.
4) What was the Great Schism? Catholic vs. Orthadox
The church of Rome survived the fall of the western empire. The Pope became the strongest leader in the Western Empire. Under the Pope's guidance latin churches became known as Roman Catholic Church. In the East the Roman Empire continued developing into the Byzantine empire. The byzantines formed their own form of christianity known as the Eastern Orthodox Church.
Problems broke out between these two types of churches. They don't like their idols, way they ran things, and problems with the pope. The pope claims that he is the head of ALL churches, but the byzantine disagree. They believe that Patriarchs and other bishops are ALL equal to the pope. To make things worse, sometimes either churches refuse to help each other when attacked by outsiders. In the Byzantine Empire the Emperor is in control, but in the west the Pope is in charge of the churches and government. They argued over churches and government affairs. In 1054 they Excommunicated each other, this was known as the great Schism. This means they believe that this group is no longer belongs to the church. The split between of the two most branches of christianity still last to this day. |
5) How does Christianity spread to England?
In the western empire, people faced confusion and conflict, they search for order and unity. Christianity offered order and unity, which means they spread rapidly to roman lands. Christians brought new ways of thinking and living.
A new important role appeared in Catholic and Orthodox churches. These are the Monks and Nuns. They ran the Hospitals, Schools, help the poor/injured, and preserve greek and roman writings. Another important group of people are Missionaries. They help non-Believers to their religion.
In the west missionaries looked the the Islands of Britain and Ireland. In the 300's Britain were open to attacks after Roman soldiers were called home to defend against Germanic tribes. Stating in the 400's tribes from (today) germany invaded Denmark in Britain. These invaders were Angles and Saxons, and united becoming the Anglo-Saxons. They set up settlements and small kingdoms pushing aside the Celts (People living there before the invasion) . On part of Britain became Angleland or England. The Celts left Britain's mountainous regions while some went to Ireland. In the 400's a priest named Patrick brought christianity the Ireland, setting up churches and monasteries. Irish monks preserved Christian and Roman Learning. In the Newly founded Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms, they slowly accept the new Religion. In 597 Pope Gregory the first sent 40 Missionaries to teach christianity to the people of England. One missionary converted the ruler of a english kingdom of Kent Ethelbert to Christianity. In 100 Years most of england was Christian, and Canterbury is still an important center of Christianity in England.
A new important role appeared in Catholic and Orthodox churches. These are the Monks and Nuns. They ran the Hospitals, Schools, help the poor/injured, and preserve greek and roman writings. Another important group of people are Missionaries. They help non-Believers to their religion.
In the west missionaries looked the the Islands of Britain and Ireland. In the 300's Britain were open to attacks after Roman soldiers were called home to defend against Germanic tribes. Stating in the 400's tribes from (today) germany invaded Denmark in Britain. These invaders were Angles and Saxons, and united becoming the Anglo-Saxons. They set up settlements and small kingdoms pushing aside the Celts (People living there before the invasion) . On part of Britain became Angleland or England. The Celts left Britain's mountainous regions while some went to Ireland. In the 400's a priest named Patrick brought christianity the Ireland, setting up churches and monasteries. Irish monks preserved Christian and Roman Learning. In the Newly founded Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms, they slowly accept the new Religion. In 597 Pope Gregory the first sent 40 Missionaries to teach christianity to the people of England. One missionary converted the ruler of a english kingdom of Kent Ethelbert to Christianity. In 100 Years most of england was Christian, and Canterbury is still an important center of Christianity in England.