Christianity - Central Bucks School District

Christianity

Introduction to Christianity 1. Who founded Christianity? When and where did he live? Jesus of Nazareth; born in Judea. Lived from about 4 B.C. to A.D. 30. 2. How did Christianity become the official religion of the Roman Empire? Emperor Constantine began the practice of allowing Romans to choose their own religion.

Judea: The Birthplace of Christianity 1. Where was Judea and why was it important to the Jews? A small territory on the eastern edge of the Mediterranean. It was their homeland, which had once been part of the ancient kingdom of Israel (before being taken over by Rome)

Judea: The Birthplace of Christianity 63 B.C.-Rome had Jewish leaders that supported Roman rule. Jews rebel. 37 B.C.- Herod ruled. Jews did not trust him. 4 B.C.-Herod’s sons ruled. Jews did not trust them.

Judea: The Birthplace of Christianity Messiah A savior who many Jews believe had been promised to them by God.

What are the Gospels and who wrote them? The Gospels are accounts of Jesus’s life and teachings written by four of his followers, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

Describe Jesus’s birth according to the Gospels. Jesus was born in a stable in Bethlehem. His parents were on their way to participate in a census ordered by Augustus.

Who were the disciples? Followers of Jesus, mostly simple people like laborers and fishermen

According to the Gospels, what did Jesus say were the two most important of all the Jewish laws? Jesus said that the two most important Jewish laws were, “You shall love your God with all your heart and all your soul” and “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

What is a parable and how does it relate to Jesus? A parable is a simple story that explains a moral or religious lesson. Jesus used these to teach.

Explain the moral of the story The Good Samaritan. Be good neighbors by having mercy on others, even your enemies.

Why was Jesus condemned to die on a cross? Jesus was condemned to die on a cross because his teachings upset many people and because some feared that he might lead a revolt against Rome. What was The belief that Jesus rose the from the dead. The Resurrection Resurrection was and why important because it was it convinced Christians that important to Jesus was the Son of God. Christians?

The Missionary Work of Paul Why did Paul stop persecuting Christians and become a missionary? Paul stopped persecuting Christians and became a missionary because he believed he had heard the voice of the Jesus in a vision. How did Paul’s work help to spread Christianity? Paul helped spread Christianity by preaching throughout much of the empire. While in jail, he wrote letters to other Christians.

Christianity Spreads Why were Christians considered a threat to Rome? Christians were considered a threat to Rome because they refused to worship other Roman gods, would not admit that the emperor was a god, preferred a life of simplicity, and refused to serve in the army.

Explain how the persecution of Christians “backfired”. Rome’s persecution actually helped to spread Christianity because people admired the bravery of the Christians. Christianity also offered hope to the poor and to slaves.

The Christian Church Takes Shape Describe 2 roles the Church played in society after the fall of Rome. Provided leadership Organized distribution of food Preserved old texts

Pope Supreme head of the Church Cardinals Helped the Pope/ Chosen by the Pope Bishops Controlled dioceses Archbishops Oversaw archdioceses Priests Served local parishes Hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church

The Christian Church Takes Shape Explain 3 specific ways that the Church acquired great power during the Middle Ages. Controlled lots of land Collected taxes Controlled politics by knowing how to read and write Latin The Pope proved to be more powerful than emperors

Islam

Introduction to Islam Who founded Islam? When and where did he live? The founder of Islam was Muhammad, who was born in Makkah (Mecca) around 570 C.E. Makkah became Islam’s most sacred city, and the Ka’bah became a center of Islamic worship.

What is the Ka’bah? A shrine that is the center of Islamic worship.

Arabia in the th 6 Century Describe Makkah at the time of Muhammad’s birth At the time of his birth, Makkah was a prosperous city at the crossroads of great trade routes. Explain why long periods of fighting were common in Arabia at this time. There was no central government and people pledged loyalty to tribes

Muhammad's Early Life Summary Few people noticed Muhammad’s birth. His family was not very wealthy, and his mother sent him to live with a family of nomads in the desert. He later returned to the city and his mother, before becoming an orphan. In time, Muhammad became a trader who was known for his honesty. When he was 25, a widow named Khadijah proposed marriage. She and Muhammad had several children, including a daughter named Fatima.

The Call to Prophethood Where was Muhammad and what was he doing, when the angel Gabriel told him, “You are the messenger of God”? Muhammad was praying in a cave in the mountains when he was visited by the angel Gabriel. What does Muslim mean? Muslim means “one who surrenders to God.” What is the holy book of Islam called? What does it contain? The holy book of Islam is the Qur’an. It contains the messages from God that Muhammad received from Gabriel.

Muhammad's Teaching Meet with Rejection What did Muhammad teach when he preached to the Makkans? Muhammad taught that people must worship one God, that all believers in God were equal, and that the rich should share their wealth with the poor. He urged Makkans to take care of orphans and the poor, and to improve the status of women.

Muhammad's Teaching Meet With Rejection Why did Makkah’s leaders try to prevent the spread of Muhammad’s message? Why is Jerusalem a holy city for Muslims? Makkah’s leaders did not want to share their wealth, and they feared that if Muhammad became too powerful he would seize political power. Jerusalem is the site of Muhammad’s Night Journey where he met and prayed with earlier prophets, such as Abraham, Moses, and Jesus, before being guided through the seven levels of heaven and meeting God (Allah).

From the Migration to Madinah to the End of His Life Who are the People of the Book and what did Muhammad teach about them? Christians and Jews. He taught that Muslims should respect them. View the map on page 84. How far into Europe did Islam expand? Spain

The Four Caliphs and Umayyad Dynasty Read the final two sections and summarize what happened after Muhammad’s death. Include the following events: Muhammad’s Death Caliphs Unite Arabia Ali’s Election to the caliphate Muslims Entry into Spain Battle of Tours

Most of Arabia was under Muslim control by the time of Muhammad’s death. After his death, later caliphs unified Arabia and expanded Islamic territory across the Middle East and North Africa. The fourth caliph was Muhammad’s son-in-law, Ali. After his death, Sunnis and Shi’ah split in a dispute over who should be the next caliph. This division continues today. In 661, the Umayyad caliphs moved the Muslim capital to Damascus. Muslims expanded into India, Central Asia, and Europe. A Muslim defeat at the Battle of Tours in France in 732 ended expansion into Europe, but Muslims kept control of Spain.

Introduction to Christianity 2. How did Christianity become the official religion of the Roman Empire? Emperor Constantine began the practice of allowing Romans to choose their own religion. 1. Who founded Christianity? When and where did he live? Jesus of Nazareth; born in Judea. Lived from about 4 B.C. to A.D. 30.