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The Ancient World
The Rise of Christianity
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Time Line of Art History:
The Eastern Mediterranean and Syria, 1–500 C.E.
Time Line Index:
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Western Civilization Interpreting the Past:
The Roman Empire and the Rise of Christianity
With control in the hands of Augustus by 27 B.C., the Augustan Age began. A variety of reforms transformed the Republic into the Empire. Rome entered a period of expansion, prosperity, cultural vigor, and relative political stability that would last until the end of the second century. This was particularly so under the long rule of Augustus (27 B.C.-A.D. 14) and the five "good emperors" (A.D. 96-180). During this same period Christianity arose. Initially, it seemed only one of many religious sects and was perceived as a version of Judaism. But through the missionary work of Paul and the internal organization of the Church, Christianity spread and became institutionalized. During the fourth century it was recognized as the state religion within the Roman Empire.
The History Guide:
Christianity as a Cultural Revolution
When Christianity came to the Roman Empire it performed perhaps one of the most significant cultural revolutions in the history of the West. In general, Christian values stood directly opposed to those values of classical thought, that is, of the Greco-Roman tradition. This tradition taught that man ought to seek the good life today, here in this world, in the present world, and for the Romans, that meant the Empire. Christianity taught that our earthly existence was merely a preparation for life after death. Our life on earth was temporary, a stopping off point before the journey into eternal life. The visible world was a world of exile. We are all held as prisoners in Plato's Cave.
The early Christian church was confronted with the challenge of explaining the significance of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The first written interpretation of the Christ event is found in the letters of the Apostle Paul which were composed during the middle of the 1st century for the churches which he founded. As a Pharisee Paul sought to present Christ's ministry as continuous with Jewish religious traditions. This he did through depicting Christ as the new Adam who brought salvation into the world as opposed to the old Adam who brought sin into the world.
The Church Fathers: St. Jerome and St. Augustine
There were many ways in which Christianity was made more popular among Roman pagans. For instance, early mystery cults made the Romans more prepared to accept something like Christianity once it made its appearance. The Roman persecutions of Jews and Christians had the unintended consequence of producing a vast and well-known list of saints and martyrs. The Jews had also allowed Christians to use their synagogues. The conversion of Constantine in the early 4th century certainly had an effect on the growth of Christianity. Furthermore, Jesus was a real man, not some mythical figure or hero -- he commanded the faith of the dispossessed. And monasticism provided a religious outlet for those men and women who abandoned Rome and the material world. The monks became the heroes of Christian civilization.. And evangelicals seemed to be everywhere spreading "good news."
Video Presentations:
Public Broadcasting System: Frontline
"From Jesus to Christ: The First Christians" tells the epic story of the rise of Christianity.Drawing upon historical evidence, the series challenges familiar assumptions and conventional notions about Christian origins. Archaeological finds have yielded new understandings of Jesus' class and social status; fresh interpretations have transformed earlier ideas about the identity of the early Christians and their communities. Through engaging on-camera interviews with twelve scholars--New Testament theologians, archaeologists, and historians--the series presents their contributions to this intellectual revolution. For example they talk about the quest for the historical Jesus - what can we really know? And how do we know it?
Bridging World History
How do religions interact, adopt new ideas, and adapt to diverse cultures? As the missionaries, pilgrims, and converts of Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam moved around the world, the religions created change and were themselves changed.
Dr. David Neiman
This is the eighth and final segment in an ongoing series of lectures entitled The Church and The Jews by Dr. David Neiman. In this lecture, Dr. Neiman analyzes the inherent conflicts that existed between the early Christian and the Jews and the Christian attempt to confront the theological implications of the Jewish People.
Primary Sources:
Internet Ancient History Source Book:
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