HISTORY

RISE AND SPREAD OF CHRISTIANITY

Abrahamic Religion:
Monotheistic religion.
Believed that god created the world and has absolute authority over world and
humanity.

Believed in prophets (link between god and humanity). God reveals himself
to these select few people to offer guidance and instructions to
humanity.
Believed in afterlife – after death, they are judged by their deeds and
are selected to go in hell or heaven.

Society before the Rise of Christianity:

Roman Empire = polytheistic civilization (worshiped multiple god and
goddesses).
Thought that these gods found the Roman civilization.
They allowed Jews to practice their religion but they were treated very cruelly.

ROME OPPERSION IN JUDEA

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Birth of Christianity:
Around 4th BCE, a jew boy named Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea to
Mary and Joseph.
Jesus is believed to be as the same lineage as King David, who freed Israel from
foreign powers.
Jesus is also believed to be a messiah who will save them (the people of Judea)
from all injustice.
Most of knowledge about Christianity comes from:
The Old Testament (Righteous of Laws)
The New Testament (Righteous of Christ)
Jewish religious leaders are called as Pharisees.
Jesus’ mission was not to change the law but to propagate them according to
his understandings and interpretation.
Jesus’ character, (simplicity, wisdom and compassion) attracted the masses.
All of this was not liked by the pharisees who felt threatened by Jesus’ growing
popularity.
The pharisees started convincing ‘Pontius Pilate’ (roman governor) that Jesus
was a threat to the political authority of the romans.
Jesus was then nailed to cross and was crucified and sentenced to death.
Jesus’ disciples then had spread the knowledge all over and the one who
followed his teachings became Christians.
Christ – Greek word – christos meaning messiah.

Constantine 1:
Legalized Christianity during his reign.
Issued the Edict of Milan, which legalized Christianity within the Roman
Empire.

Role of Constantine 1:

He granted privileges (exemption from certain taxes) to the clergy.

Returned confiscated property to the church.
Built various basilicas.
Between 324 CE and 330 CE, Constantine I built a new imperial capital at
Byzantium, which came to be known after him as Constantinople (now
Istanbul).

In 392 CE, Theodosius I made Christianity the official religion of the Roman
Empire.
St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, now known as Old St. Peter's Basilica, became the
religious headquarters.
The Pope became the spiritual leader of the Christians

Decline of the Ancient Roman Empire:

1-Impact of the Barbarian Invasion
2-Byzantium – Birth of a New Empire
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The raids of various Germanic tribes such as the Goths, the Vandals and the
Franks are reffered as the Barbarian Invasion.
These invaders plundered and ravaged the Roman territory.
These tribes gradually settled down and assumed control of the Western part
of the Roman Empire.
Eventually, these Romans and the Germans mixed to become a new cultural
group in the west.
The political and economic crises in the Roman empire were also the reason for
its downfall.
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ROMAN EMPIRE
 Western Empire Eastern Empire

Barbarian Invasion Byzantium

& Empire
Dark Ages

Spread of Christianity:
With the spread of Christianity, Christian churches came up in almost every
village, town and city.
By about 900 CE , most Europeans had been converted to Christianity.
The power of Church multiplied.
Christians monks stayed and pursued their religious missions in monasteries.
Nuns stayed in separate monasteries known as Nunneries or convent

Monasteries:
Christian monks organized together into religious communities called
monasteries.
A monastery is a building, usually strong and large surrounded by gardens and
orchards, serving as the residence and workplace of monks.
It also had a chapel or a church where the residents pray. As Christianity
spread in Europe, many monasteries were built.

Impact of Monasteries:
Besides religious texts, secular subjects such as history, philosophy, medicine,
law and astrology was also taught in these universities.
The nuns educated children and treated the sick and the wounded.
The barren land around the monastery was brought under cultivation and
made productive.
Architecture, mural painting, wood carving and stained glass painting
developed and flourished in the monasteries.
The monasteries provided shelter for travellers and gave food and clothing to
the poor and needy.
They grew medicinal herbs in their gardens.

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In the 11th century CE, after conquering the Holy land of Jerusalem, the Turks
attacked the ruler of Constantinople.
Thus, to reoccupy the Holy Land, a series of wars were fought between the
armies of the Pope and Turkish Muslims.
These wars, known as the Crusades, were waged between the 11th and 13th
centuries CE.
There were 8 major Crusades, which ultimately resulted in the capture of
Jerusalem for nearly a century, and gaining other strongholds in the Near East,
the Crusades failed to establish a permanent Christian Kingdom in the Holy
Land.

Significant changes in Medieval Europe:

(ottoman turks)
They assimilated the best elements of Greek and Turks cultures and education,
and paved the way for Renaissance.
 The Crusaders learned the use of Gunpowder and guns from the Turks, which
changed the old military system present in Medieval Europe.
New trade routes were open and they began to establish trade relations with
the East. As trade increased, the economy of Europe flourished.
The power of the King also increased, as the traders and manufactures paid
taxes for improved law and order. The king started maintaining a big army. This
also led to the emergence of new cities and towns.

Renaissance:
A new spirit in every field of life, is referred to as the Renaissance.
It is a French word 'Rebirth' or 'Revival'.
Important factors that contributed the beginning of the Renaissance : -
The expansion of trade:
The voyages of discovery by Italian merchants
Their interaction with various societies
 RISE AND SPREAD OF ISLAM

Israel Palestine Conflict:

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Who were the Arabs:

Traders
Either fisherman or ran caravans.
Superstitious
Very poor
Lived in tribes
Polytheistic
Played crucial role in Silk Route
Transported goods along the caravan route as well as traded in goods

Silk Route:
Series of ancient trade networks
Connected China and the Far East with countries in Europe and the Middle East
Included trading posts and markets which helped in storage, transport, and
exchange of goods

Before Islam:
Religious center – small temple – Kaaba (in the city of Mecca)
Annual journey to worship Kaaba (Hajj(maybe))
Prophet Muhammad:
Born in 570 in a prosperous trading town along the trade route, Mecca
As an adult, - career – merchant
Married a wealthy widow, Khadija
Financially secured, now he turned to spiritual pursuits which included
meditating in the mountains caves outside Mecca
610 – started having visions while meditating
believed that these visions were the Angel Jibreel who had been charged by
the one true God (Allah in Arabic) to deliver a message to Muhammad
The message delivered in these revelation outlined the basic beliefs of Islam
and were eventually recorded in the Quran (Islamic Holy Text)
Basic belief of Islam – Belief in one god who created everything
Each prophet delivered a divine message which is preserved in the Books of
God, these include the Torah, Gospels, Psalms
Prophet Muhammad – last messenger who wrote the exact words of god in the
form of Quran

5 Pillars of Islam:
Sawm – Fasting during Ramadan (Ramzan)
Zakat – Giving alms (to the poor)
Shahada – Declaration of belief in one true god
Salaah – Five-times daily prayer, facing Mecca
Hajj – A pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in a life time