Religion

1. If you were there…
You are a Roman soldier stationed in one of the
empire’s provinces. You are proud that you have
helped bring Roman culture to this place far from
the city of Rome. But one group of local people
refuses to take part in official Roman holidays and
rituals, saying it is against their religious beliefs.
Other than that, they seem peaceful. Even so, some
soldiers think this group is dangerous.
What will you do about this religious group?
Write a 3-5 sentence response.
Source: HOLT World History textbook page 332

2. I can analyze the
vast religions in the
Roman Empire.
7.2 Summarize the consequences of the
fall of the Roman Empire including the
continuation of the Eastern Roman Empire
as the Byzantine Empire, Justinian and the
significance of Constantinople.

3. • The Romans were a very religious people
who worshipped many gods (polytheism)

4. • As the Roman Empire expanded, it came to include many
different people groups with different languages and religions.
• The Romans were very tolerant of other people group’s
religions. This is called religious tolerance.
• However, the Romans were not tolerant of other religions when
they conflicted with Roman law.
• For example, the Romans began to clash with the Jews, so they
treated them harshly and taxed them heavily.
• The Jews fought back against the Romans, so the Romans took
over and renamed Jerusalem and forbid the Jews to live there.

5. • At the beginning of the first century a new religion called
Christianity came to be.
• Christianity is based on the life and teachings of Jesus of
Nazareth.
• In the Bible (the Christian holy book), Jesus is called the
Messiah which means “God’s appointed one”.
• Jesus claimed to be the son of the Christian God sent to
earth.
• Around 30 AD, Jesus was arrested by the Romans and
crucified by the Romans with the support of the Jews.
• Crucifixion is a type of execution in which a person is
nailed to a cross.

6. • According to the Bible, Jesus was nailed the cross, died,
and rose from the dead. This rise from the dead is called
the Resurrection.
• Jesus had 12 Apostles who were disciples whom Jesus
chose to receive special training and spread Christianity.
• Christians spread the word about the new religion, but
the Romans persecuted the Christians just like the Jews.
• In the early 300s, the Roman Emperor Constantine
became a Christian.
• How do you think this changed Rome?

7. • Constantine was born in Naissus in
modern Serbia probably in the late
200s AD.
• His parents were Constantius, an
emperor, and Elena, a Christian.
• Constantine was named emporer in
306 CE.
• In a dream, he saw a cross in the
sky and the words “conquer in this
sign.” He saw this as proof of the
power of Christ and the superiority
of the Christian religion.

8. • In 312 AD onwards, Constantine favored
Christianity openly and supported it in
every way.
• In 313 AD he granted Christianity full
equality with all religions in the empire.
• In 315 AD, he decreed the abolition of
death on the cross.
• In 321 AD, he gave the church
permission to accept bequests and
donations and decreed Sunday as a
public holiday.
In this council, Constantine was known as the Pontifex Maximus which means
“the greatest bridge-maker.” WHY WAS HE A BRIDGE MAKER?

9. Emperor Constantine made Christianity a part
of the public life and because of this the
Church faced a truly new world situation.
• Constantine was wary of alienating his pagan
subjects by seizing their sites and temples.
• In 356 CE, Constantine’s son Constantius
decreed that all pagan temples should close
and he prohibited sacrifices to the gods on
pain of death.
• Christians turned from persecuted to
persecutors in the Roman world.

10. 10 minutes
End
CONSTANTINE

11. Download more FREE
World History &
Geography lessons on…
www.alanbaumer.com