Rise of Christianity in the Roman Empire Quiz

10 Questions

Where did Christianity first emerge as a sect of the older monotheistic Jewish faith?

Levant region

How did Christianity spread throughout the Roman Empire?

Through traders and travelers

Who is often credited with the first mass persecution of Christian people in the Roman Empire?

Emperor Nero

Which two subsets of Christianity emerged following the division of the Western and Eastern Roman Empires?

Catholic Church in the West and Orthodox Church in the East

Which region was under the control of the Visigoths for nearly 300 years?

Iberian Peninsula

What was the campaign to reconquer the Iberian Peninsula as a uniformly Christian community called?

Reconquista

Which religious groups were targeted by the Inquisition in Spain from the fifteenth until the nineteenth century?

Spanish Jews and Moors

What was the significance of the Great Fire in relation to Christians in the Roman Empire?

It was seen as a sign of displeasure from the Roman gods due to Christians' refusal to participate in traditional Roman religious sacrifices.

What was the role of monasteries in the spread of Christianity?

They were established to serve the local community, educate the population, and spread Christian teachings.

What led to the establishment of Christianity as the official religion of the Roman Empire?

Emperor Theodosius I established Christianity as the official religion in 381 CE.

Study Notes

The Rise of Christianity in the Roman Empire

Disasters like the Great Fire were seen as a sign of displeasure from the Roman gods due to Christians' refusal to participate in traditional Roman religious sacrifices.
This difference in customs led to mob violence against Christians in the wake of natural disasters.
Early Christian believers worshipped in secret due to their persecuted minority status in the Empire.
Christian believers made use of the vast network of catacombs in the Roman Empire for secluded worship, eventually expanding into shrines for martyrs and pilgrimage sites.
Christianity gradually lost its stigma among the imperial leadership in the early fourth century.
Emperor Constantine formalized his support of Christianity with the Edict of Milan in 313 CE, legalizing the practice of Christianity.
Christianity gained popularity over the course of the fourth century and was established as the official religion by Emperor Theodosius I in 381 CE.
Religious leaders solidified their connection to political leaders to increase the power of the new Church in the period following the collapse of the Western Roman Empire.
Germanic tribes converted to Christianity for diplomatic purposes, maintaining many of their previous pagan rites and traditions in practice.
Monasteries were established to serve the local community, educate the population, and spread Christian teachings.
In new territories, the pattern of missionary activity involved establishing monasteries, encouraging alliances with local nobility, and politically motivated conversions for advantageous marriages and alliances with Christian leaders.
The spread of Christianity progressed through economically and politically motivated conversions, leading to the unification of Europe under a common faith, despite the lack of unity within Christianity itself.