CIVIC VIRTUE PUTTING THE NEEDS OF THE COUNTRY AND ITS CITIZENS ABOVE

What is CIVIC VIRTUE?
PUTTING THE NEEDS OF THE
COUNTRY AND ITS CITIZENS ABOVE
ONES PERSONAL DESIRES/WANTS
Today:
I CAN IDENTIFY THE BASIC
BELIEFS OF CHRISTIANITY AND
UNDERSTAND THE CONDITIONS
IN THE ROMAN EMPIRE THAT
CONTRIBUTED TO THE SPREAD
OF CHRISTIANITY
Christianity 4 Corners Activity
• Use the pages in your textbook (169-174)
• Make sure you are working hard, I will be
walking around and giving a grade for
participating
• You have 20 minutes to complete it
• Once you are done start the spoke
diagram for Christianity
Christianity
People still visit
this rock where
Jesus was said to
be crucified
• 1.9 billion followers world wide
• God
• Jesus Christ - 33 AD Jerusalem
• Bible
• Clergy
(pope/bishop/priest/minister/pastor)
Da Vinci’s
Last Supper
Basic Beliefs:
There is only one God, who
watches over and cares for his
people.
Jesus Christ was the son of God.
He died to save humanity from sin.
His death made eternal life possible
for others.
Persons achieve salvation by
following the teachings of Jesus.
Christianity in the Roman
Empire
Origin
Roman power had spread to Judea –
homeland of the Jews in 63 bc, and
had taken control by ad 6; Jews had
Biblical tradition of Messiah who would
come & restore kingdom of Judah
Born 4-6 bc in Judea, Jesus gathered
his 12 disciples around him & began
public ministry at age 30. Crucified
three years later. After being placed in
tomb, three days later he began
appearing to disciples & was reported
to have ascended to heaven.
Other Important People
Simon Peter, leader of the apostles;
Paul , Roman Jew, spread
Theodosius the Great – adopted
Christianity as official religion
Constantine – became 1st Christian
emperor & issued Edict of Milan:
toleration for Christians
Status in the World Today
2 billion believers;
largest religion
emphasis on conversion
many different sects –
Catholic, Eastern Orthodox,
Protestant
Spread
Paul took message to Gentiles
Paul’s “epistles” or letters
Constantine – Edict of Milan
Theodosius – made Christianity
official religion of Empire
Pax Romana and road system
Appealed to & embraced all people
persecution made more popular &
strengthened commitment
evangelical emphasis
common language
Christianity
Special Vocabulary
Apostles – special name for
the twelve disciples or pupils
Bishop – priest over several
local churches
Pope – head of Christian
Church (now Catholic)
Heresy – any belief that
contradicts the teachings of
the church
Basic Beliefs
Monotheism – personal
relationship w/ God
Split with Judaism over
divinity of Jesus
Jesus is Son of God, who
saves believers from sins
Jesus rose from dead &
ascended to heaven
Promise of eternal life for
repentant people
Follow 10 Commandments &
“Do unto others”
importance of service
highly structured clergy
Social Structure
appealed to all classes, but
especially to poor – stressed
equality
Holy Book
Bible – Old and New
Testament is the word of God
New Testament written down
between ad 40 and 100
Christianity 4-Square
• How did conditions in the Roman Empire
contribute to the spread of Christianity?
Answers:
• Travel was easy and safe because of Pax
Romana
• Common language – Hebrew, Greek, then
Latin
Christianity 4-Square
• Why were the citizens of the Roman Empire so
receptive to a new religion at this time?
Answers:
• It embraced all people
• gave hope to the powerless
• appealed to those who were repelled by Roman
extravagances
• offered personal relationship with God
• promised life after death
Christianity 4-Square
• Do you think Christianity would have
developed in the same way if it had arisen
in an area outside the Roman Empire?
Explain.
Answers:
• More slowly outside w/o benefit of
roads and common language
• Perhaps faster w/o persecution
Christianity 4-Square
• Who do you think did more to spread
Christianity – Paul or Constantine? Explain.
Answers:
• Paul – he carried it throughout and
welcomed Gentiles
• Constantine because he accepted Christianity
and ended the persecution
End of class:
• Begin your review
• With Today’s notes you can fill out the
Christianity portion of the religions chart
• To receive a retest on the Unit 2 Test you must
turn in a completed review.
• All notes are online. Let me know if you
would like to check out a book from me to
study!