Western Civilization

University High School

2011-12

The Rise of Christianity

in modern-day Israelruled by King Herod from 37 – 4

BCEunpopular for embracing Greek

cultureHerod was a nasty guy…

Judea

Jews revolt after Herod’s death civil war!

famine, plague, war end of the world?Some predicted the

coming of a Messiah (savior of Israel)

Problems In Judea

Judea put under control of officials who answered directly to the emperorsome officials harsh,

unaccepting of Jewish culture (esp. tax collectors!)

2 Jewish responses…

Rome Steps In & Takes Control

Zealots: extremists who wanted Rome out of Judearefused to pay Roman

taxesmany violent conflicts

with Roman army

Response #1: Zealotry

belief that the Messiah is coming soonliteral belief; most desperate times?Dead Sea Scrolls 972 texts from Hebrew

Bible, Jewish cultures preparing for arrival

Response #2: Apocalypticism

born roughly 7-2 BCEraised in Galileedifficult to separate truth

from fiction

Jesus of Nazareth

primary source (?) of Jesus info: the four Gospels (“good news”) of the New Testamentwritten by Matthew, Mark,

Luke, & Johnrecords of Jesus’ teachings,

doctrinesearliest ones written 75

years after Jesus’ death2006: Gospel of Judas

Iscariot discovered

Jesus of Nazareth

heaven eternal happiness after death

mostly traditional Judaism; claimed to be Messiahnot establishing an

earthly kingdom, but a spiritual one

Jesus’ Teachings

Jesus was controversial!Some loved him. Some hated him.

Some wished he would be more forceful vs. Rome…

Pontius Pilate: Roman prefectconcerned about violence, chaoscondemned Jesus to deathhung from a cross to die

3 days later: Resurrection? (Body stolen?)central tenet of Christianity

(immortality)

The Death of Jesus

Paul of Tarsus: most important figure in turning Christianity from sect/cult to independent religionurged universal

Christianityurged Jews to include

Gentiles (non-Jews) in the faith

Spreading Jesus’ Ideas

Christianity reaches Romecenter of Western

civilized world (literally & metaphorically)

appealed to commoners/poorforgiveness, afterlife,

salvation…being a good Christian

= spreading God’s word

Spreading Jesus’ Ideas

Go over SPQR homework for next weekReturn papers and things

Review for Week 10 QuizWeek 10 QuizNotes: Augustus’ Successors

Today’s Plan