5/9

Rise of Christianity

- jesus spends three years preaching, is killed by Roman leaders

- Jesus' followers believe be is the messiah and Savior who has risen from the dead

- Saul (the persecutor) becomes Paul (the evangelist), spreading Jesus' message (one true God, nor   Roman gods)

- Christaianity evolves from cult status to established, official structure

- priest, bishops, pope (Bishop of Rome)

- Christians and Jews were monotheistic (believing in one God)

-this conflicted with Roman beliefs

-persecution against both was common

-Christianity appealed to the poor, and since there were many poor, their numbers grew 

-as it grew, even some Roman leaders embraced Christianity

-(can you see the tide beginning to ture?)

AD 180: Rome has problems

-economic(trade became risky; taxes are too high; food supply was dropping)

-military (frontiers were hard to control; soldiers; loyalty declined and mercenaries appeared)

-Diocletian divided the empire into two

-Greek-speaking East (had more resources)

-Latin -speaking west (Rome, tradition)