World History / Unit 2: Classical Greece and Rome
2.6 The Roman Empire and the Rise of Christianity
Notes
After Caesar's death, his adopted heir Octavian defeated rivals and became Augustus, Rome's first emperor, in 27 BCE.
- The Pax Romana ("Roman Peace") lasted about 200 years (27 BCE to 180 CE), with trade, roads and stable government.
- Roman achievements: roads, aqueducts, concrete, the arch and dome, the Colosseum, the Latin language and Roman law (including the idea that a person is innocent until proven guilty).
- Christianity began in the Roman province of Judea with the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, a Jewish teacher. Christians believe Jesus is the Son of God and that he rose from the dead after being crucified.
- Apostles such as Paul spread the faith across the empire using Roman roads. Christians were sometimes persecuted for refusing to worship Roman gods and the emperor.
- Emperor Constantine legalized Christianity with the Edict of Milan (313 CE). Theodosius made it the official religion in 380 CE.
Practice
Which factor helped Christianity spread quickly through the Roman Empire?
Paul and other missionaries traveled widely during the Pax Romana.
The Edict of Milan in 313 CE:
Constantine granted religious toleration, ending official persecution.
Which modern feature most directly comes from Roman engineering?
Romans built aqueducts with arches to carry water to cities.
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