Lesson #28 - The Rise of Christianity

Let's take a quick look at those links I also placed on yesterday's blog.

The Science Museum of Minnesota is currently featuring an exhibit and film worth checking out.

Greece: Secrets of the Past is currently running at the Omnitheater.
A Day in Pompeii is currently on exhibit.

Rome Reborn: This is the name of the most ambitious computer model of an ancient city ever created. It is designed to give you a look at the city near its peak in the summer of 320 CE. You can find short video clips and pictures from the project in these links. It's worth browsing around.

"Ancient Rome reborn in virtual reality"
"Rome reborn" - Smithsonian Magazine
"Rome reborn" - Newsweek/ MSNBC.com
"Photo Gallery: Ancient Rome Reborn in 3-D" - National Geographic

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The Ethics Workbook I - World History - I asked you to take a look at Chapter 7, "Ancient Rome" for today. (It's pages 50 - 53.) Let's see what you thought about some of the ideas.

THE RISE OF CHRISTIANITY: As with the other great religious traditions that we have examined, I'm guessing that the class has a wide variation in its familiarity with the early history of Christianity. While your own beliefs may range widely, it's clearly important to take a look at major events in the birth and spread of what has become the world religion with the greatest number of followers.

We'll work through two major topics today.
* Jesus' Life and Teachings
* The Spread of Christianity

Jesus' Life and Teachings: Together, we'll piece together the historical record as it exists regarding the figure Jesus of Nazareth. In addition, we'll attempt to figure out what it was about his message that was so compelling to its followers.

The Search for Jesus- ABC News with Peter Jennings: This special aired in the summer of 2000 and rekindled many of the historical debates about Jesus. Their web site contains a lot of interesting resources. It contrasts the "traditional" and "non-traditional" views and scholarship on Jesus. Take a quick look at some of the six areas explored in some depth here.

Birth
Appearance
NOTE: At the turn of the millenium, a group of artists met to consider a "newer" face for Jesus that they believed would be more historically accurate. You can see the image they produced here.
Politics
Miracles and Parables
Trial and Crucifixion
Resurrection

From Jesus to Christ: The First Christians- PBS Frontline
This is another very good site where you can find a number of references and links related to the early years of Christianity.

The Spread of Christianity: Let's consider how what begin as a small group of Jewish followers grew to be the dominant and official religion of the Roman Empire.

Paul's contributions
Peter's journey to Rome
Rebellion in Judea - 66 CE (Temple destroyed in 70 CE), Masada in 73 CE, Diaspora
Persecution by Rome
Constantine's conversion - Edict of Milan (313 CE) legalizes Christianity
380 CE - Theodosius makes Christianity Rome's official religion

HOMEWORK for next class: Thursday, December 13th

Your Latin Phrases quiz is tomorrow.

Please read Section 4, "The Fall of the Roman Empire." (It's pp. 173 - 176 in your textbook.)

Read the FIRST PART of Chapter 7 in The Ethics Workbook I: World History. I need you to get through the Christianity section, so that's pages 54 through 61. (We'll get back to Islam and the few remaining chapters next quarter we are together.

Your two "graffiti" entries are due to be posted to the correct blogs by the start of class time on Friday. The sign-up sheet is up front for anyone who was gone yesterday, and you can find more information about this brief assignment on yesterday's lesson.