Year 9
Unit 5 - The Early Middle Ages
Lesson 2 - Why did Europe become Christian?
During the rule of the emperor Tiberius, a new religion began in the Roman Empire. It was called Christianity. It was based on the teachings of a man named Jesus. Christianity began in Palestine. In time, it became the religion of the entire Roman Empire. Later, Christianity spread from Europe to the Americas and other lands. Today, it is the world’s largest religion, with followers around the world.
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The life of Jesus
Most of what we know about the life of Jesus comes from the Bible. The Bible says that Jesus was born in Palestine during the rule of the emperor Augustus. Jesus was a Jew. As a boy, he studied Judaism, the religion of the Jews. When he was about 30, Jesus began to preach to Jews across Palestine. He chose 12 followers, called apostles, to help him. Jesus preached in simple language that everyone could understand. The Bible says that Jesus also performed miracles, such as healing the sick. He began to attract large crowds wherever he went. For years, the Jews had been waiting for the Messiah (a leader chosen by God). Many Jews believed the Messiah would free them from Roman rule. Some Jews believed that Jesus was the Messiah. Jesus won many followers among the Jews. But he also made enemies. Jesus sometimes spoke out against Jewish leaders. He did not always follow Jewish religious laws. That angered some Jews. About A.D. 33, Jesus was brought before Jewish leaders for trial. When Jesus claimed to be the Son of God, he was found guilty of blasphemy. (That is showing disrespect for God and Jewish teachings.) Jewish leaders turned Jesus over to the Romans for punishment. He was crucified, or nailed to a wooden cross and left to die. |
We have no images of Jesus from his lifetime. This picture from the 4th century is one of the earliest to show Jesus with a beard.
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After Jesus died, the Bible says that a miracle took place. Christian believe that on the third day after his death, Jesus rose from his tomb. They commemorate this event at Easter when he met again with his apostles. Then he joined God in heaven. To the apostles, the miracle was proof that Jesus was the Messiah. The Greek word for Messiah is “Christos.” Those who worshiped Jesus as the Messiah and followed his teachings became known as Christians.
Activity 1
a) Explain the meaning of the following words: apostle, miracle, messiah, blasphemy, crucified and Christos.
b) Why do think it is difficult to be historically certain about the events in the life of Jesus? Try to give a number of reasons, each of which you explain.
a) Explain the meaning of the following words: apostle, miracle, messiah, blasphemy, crucified and Christos.
b) Why do think it is difficult to be historically certain about the events in the life of Jesus? Try to give a number of reasons, each of which you explain.
Why did Christianity survive?
The attractive message and teachings of Jesus
The teachings of Jesus grew out of Judaism. Like all Jews, Jesus believed in one God. Jesus described God as a loving Father. He taught that God loves each person as a parent loves a child. God wants people to live good lives. But when they do wrong, God is willing to forgive them. Jesus gave people hope that there was life after death. He promised that people who believed in him as the Son of God would have ‘ ‘everlasting life.’ ’ They would live forever with God in heaven.
The attractive message and teachings of Jesus
The teachings of Jesus grew out of Judaism. Like all Jews, Jesus believed in one God. Jesus described God as a loving Father. He taught that God loves each person as a parent loves a child. God wants people to live good lives. But when they do wrong, God is willing to forgive them. Jesus gave people hope that there was life after death. He promised that people who believed in him as the Son of God would have ‘ ‘everlasting life.’ ’ They would live forever with God in heaven.
Role of Paul and other missionaries
After Jesus died, missionaries carried his teachings across the Roman Empire. (Missionaries are people who travel to other lands to tell others about a religion.) One missionary was especially important. His name was Paul. Most early missionaries preached only among the Jews. But Paul wanted to spread Christianity to all people and because he was a Roman citizen he was able to travel from city to city in the empire. He taught Jews and people who were not Jews about Jesus. Many who heard him speak converted, or changed their religion, to Christianity.
After Jesus died, missionaries carried his teachings across the Roman Empire. (Missionaries are people who travel to other lands to tell others about a religion.) One missionary was especially important. His name was Paul. Most early missionaries preached only among the Jews. But Paul wanted to spread Christianity to all people and because he was a Roman citizen he was able to travel from city to city in the empire. He taught Jews and people who were not Jews about Jesus. Many who heard him speak converted, or changed their religion, to Christianity.
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Rome Becomes a Christian Empire
Some Roman emperors persecuted, or mistreated, Christians. For example in A.D. 64, the emperor Nero executed many Christians. But as the Roman Empire declined, more people became Christians. Constantine I became emperor of Rome in A.D. 324. Before he became emperor, Constantine was a general in the Roman army. A legend says that before an important battle, Constantine saw a cross in the sky. The cross was a Christian symbol. Under the cross were the words “By this sign you shall conquer!” Constantine believed the cross was a sign to him from the Christian God. After Constantine won the battle, he became the first Christian emperor of Rome. He ended the persecution of Christians. Later, the emperor Theodosius made Christianity the official religion of Rome. All other religions were outlawed. |
Peter Paul Rubens - The Emblem of Christ Appearing to Constantine / Constantine's conversion
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Activity 2
The map opposite shows the spread of Christianity between 325 and 600 A.D. a) Explain, using your own words, why Christianity survived during this time. b) Suggests some examples of evidence that historians might use in order to prove that Christianity spread in the ways described in the map. |
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The Christian Church
Early Christians lived together in small communities, or groups, called churches. The oldest members of the community often acted as church leaders. Because Christianity was outlawed at first, Christians had to meet in secret. The used the secret symbol of the fish to spread express their secret faith in Christianity. Christians began using the Greek word for "fish" as an anagram/acronym for "Jesus Christ God's Son, Savior." They often met in each other’s houses. Church members took turns leading church services, or worship.
Early Christians lived together in small communities, or groups, called churches. The oldest members of the community often acted as church leaders. Because Christianity was outlawed at first, Christians had to meet in secret. The used the secret symbol of the fish to spread express their secret faith in Christianity. Christians began using the Greek word for "fish" as an anagram/acronym for "Jesus Christ God's Son, Savior." They often met in each other’s houses. Church members took turns leading church services, or worship.
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As Christianity grew, many small churches sprang up across the empire. Christians needed some way to hold their churches together. By about A.D. 300, Christians had developed an organisation, or government, for their churches. Each local church, called a parish, was run by a priest. The priest led members of the parish in worship. The priest also took care of parish business. Members of the parish called deacons helped the priest. A group of parishes made up a diocese. The leader of a diocese was called a bishop. The bishop appointed a priest to each parish. He worked with the priests to spread church teachings. The bishop also collected money for the poor and sick of the diocese. Women were not leaders in church government. They were not allowed to become priests or bishops.
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The Pope
The bishops of certain large cities, such as Rome and Jerusalem, grew to be very powerful. They were known as archbishops, or head bishops. Archbishops governed their own churches and the churches in surrounding cities and towns. Because Rome was the capital of the Roman Empire, many Christians saw Rome as the centre of Christianity. In time, the archbishop of Rome became the most important church official. Christians saw him as the “Father of the Church.” By A.D. 600, he was known as the Pope. (“Pope” comes from a Greek word for “father”)
The bishops of certain large cities, such as Rome and Jerusalem, grew to be very powerful. They were known as archbishops, or head bishops. Archbishops governed their own churches and the churches in surrounding cities and towns. Because Rome was the capital of the Roman Empire, many Christians saw Rome as the centre of Christianity. In time, the archbishop of Rome became the most important church official. Christians saw him as the “Father of the Church.” By A.D. 600, he was known as the Pope. (“Pope” comes from a Greek word for “father”)
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The Church Divides
As you know the Roman Empire divided into a western empire and an eastern empire. In time, differences arose between Christians in the two empires. Christians disagreed about some church rules and ceremonies. Most Christians in the Western Empire spoke Latin. They accepted the pope of Rome as their leader. But Christians in the Eastern Empire spoke Greek. They looked to the archbishop of Constantinople as their leader. The differences led to a split in the Christian church in A.D. 1054. The Latin speaking churches formed the Roman Catholic church. The Greek-speaking churches formed the Eastern Orthodox church. |
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Activities.
a) Design a diagram to explain the relationship between parish, priest, diocese, bishop, archbishop and pope.
b) What were the consequences of the split in the Church in 1054. Make sure to include a map in your answer.
a) Design a diagram to explain the relationship between parish, priest, diocese, bishop, archbishop and pope.
b) What were the consequences of the split in the Church in 1054. Make sure to include a map in your answer.