- A group of local people in one of Rome's provinces refuses to participate in Roman rituals and holidays, saying it violates their religious beliefs, while otherwise remaining peaceful. Some Roman soldiers see this group as a potential threat. - The document discusses the rise of Christianity in the Roman Empire and the persecution of Christians by Roman authorities for roughly 300 years. It then outlines the conversion of Emperor Constantine to Christianity and his efforts to legalize and promote the religion. - The Roman Empire was divided into Western and Eastern sections with Constantinople as the new capital of the Eastern Byzantine Empire, which continued Roman traditions and controlled major trade routes.

1. 8/31/16 Bell Ringer
If you were there…
• You are a Roman soldier stationed in one of the
empire’s provinces. You are proud that you’ve
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 religous beliefs.
Other than that, they seem peaceful. Even so,
some soldiers think this group is dangerous.
• What will you do about this group?

2. I can analyze the legacy of the
Byzantine Empire and its rulers.
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. Types of Crucifixion Crosses Used

7. • 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.
• They had to worship in secret and if caught faced
terrible punishment (sent to the gladiator pits,
crucified, made slaves)

8. A Christian Ruler!!
• It’s been 300 years since the rule of Emperor
Augustus.
• The Pax Romana ended and many emperors
(good and bad) have ruled.
– All have worshipped the many gods of Rome,
persecuted Jews and Christians.
• In the early 300s, the Roman Emperor
Constantine changes everything!

9. • Constantine was born
in Naissus in modern
Serbia probably in the
late 200s AD.
• His parents were
Constantius, an
emperor, and Helena,
a Christian.
• Constantine was
named emperor in
306 CE.

10. Constantine’s Vision and Dream
• In a vision, he saw a cross in the sky and the words “By this
symbol you will conquer.” He saw this as proof of the power
of Christ and the superiority of the Christian religion. He had a
dream that night of the very same thing.

11. • 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?

12. 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.

13. Dividing the Roman Empire
In 284 AD
Diocletian
became Roman
emperor. He
decided that the
huge Roman
empire could
only be ruled
effectively by
splitting it into
two parts.
How would this division
impact the Roman
Empire?

14. • In 330 AD Constantine
rebuilt the old Greek
port of Byzantium, at
the entrance to the
Black Sea.
• He renamed the city
Constantinople and
made the city the
capital of the Eastern
Roman Empire.

15. How does Constantinople’s location on the
map aid the city in terms of trade and power?

16. Mind Map
• You will step into the mind of Constantine today and become him!
Create a mind map of what you were thinking during the
Byzantine Empire. This must be done in first person! I will model
this for you..use the guide below to assist you:
• Your physical appearance
• Why you preached what you did
• What are your thoughts about the split of the empire? Why?
• What was your personality like?
• Your religion? Your mind
• Your morals?
• Your ambition? Why were you like this?
• Why did you create the laws you did
• What did you hope to accomplish

17. • By 395 AD, the Roman
Empire was formally
divided into two empires.
The Eastern Roman Empire
and the Western Roman
Empire
• With the invasion of
Germanic forces from the
north, the Western Roman
Empire was conquered and
divided.

18. The Byzantine Empire was wealthy
and produced goods such as gold,
silk, grain, olives, and wine. They
traded these for spices, ivory and
precious stones from countries as
far away as China and India along
the Silk Road trade routes.

19. • At first, the Byzantine
Empire controlled only
a small area around
the eastern
Mediterranean.
• During the reign of
Justinian (527-565),
the empire started to
recover much of the
territory of the old
Roman empire.

20. The Byzantine Empire Under
Justinian
This map depicts the
Empire at the death
of Justinian I, who
had reigned from
527 to 565 as sole
Emperor,
sometimes in
concert, and
sometimes in
conflict, with his
powerful wife
Theodora.

21. - They built this beautiful
church named Hagia Sophia
which still stands to this day.
- Justinian ruled with
complete authority with the
help of Theodora.
- Together they created a
massive Christian empire.

22. Justinian organized all the laws
of ancient Rome.
• Laws were fairer to women
allowing them to own
property.
• Children were allowed to
choose their own marriage
partners.
• Punishments were detailed
and fit the crime.
• His work inspired the modern
concept of justice…hence his
name.

23. • The Byzantine Empire
drew to a close in 1453
when forces from the
Muslim Ottoman Empire
to the south surrounded
and conquered
Constantinople.
• The ancient Christian city
was renamed Istanbul
and became the capital of
the Ottoman Empire.