Life of Jesus and Spread of Christianity in the Roman Empire
Directions: Use 3-5 minutes to double check this subject’s Power School for your class grade and work listings verifying that all work is caught up. Read and heed embedded messages. Next, research your part of the following topics and figure out answers to the questions. Write your questions and detailed answers on lined paper or your notebook paper. These questions and related answers are required to be handed in, once the class discussion is completed. You are expected to use the time completely, be through and become knowledgeable. Write down any puzzles you have related to the material on your paper and bring them up during the class discussion. Warning: If you are found to be using your research time for other things, it will hurt your learning and grade. If you think or claim to be done, you are not! Once your assigned part is ready, then help others on your team or study the test resources from Mr. Spitzer’s web page for the upcoming test. No games, non-topic talk or other activities allowed during research time. The class will research as much as time allows before team sharing and whole class discussion. Since there is always more to learn, Mr. Spitzer encourages you to look into this topic more on your own time. Your class work grade includes: 1. Entire use of time while researching. 2. Answer questions & pay attention during team sharing. 3. Paying attention & participate during class discussion. 4. Turning in your readable questions & notes. Team members who do not do their share, provide hasty sloppy answers, disrupt others and use time ineffectively in the four grade aspects will be removed from the team and required to write out and turn in all answers on their own for the grade.
Topics to Research
Jesus birth, life, and his teachings
Death of The Christ and formation of the Christian Church
Paul the Apostle and the other disciples
Persecution of Christians by Romans and The Arena (Don’t forget Nero)
Growth and spread of the underground Church until about A.D. 300
The later creation of the A.D./B.C. dating system and what it replaced
The leadership of the Roman Empire during the first though third centuries A.D.
List some good emperors and bad and find an example of what each did.
Investigate the Roman mismanagement t of Judea, the Jewish Revolt and its outcome
Check the map for the geographic extent of the Roman Empire at it’s height
Questions to be able to discuss
1. Who is Jesus? What is his historical importance?
2. What did the terrified disciples do after the death of Jesus? Why?
3. Who was the Apostle Paul and what did he do? Why is he important even today?
4. Why did Christianity spread throughout the Roman Empire?
5. How did Romans figure out whether an accused Christian really was a real Christian or not?
6. Explain Nero’s role and the effect of persecution on the Church.
7. What do Christians really believe? (Hint-check The Apostles Creed) Why did Christianity spread instead of die out?
8. What words do A.D. and B.C. stand for? What is happening today in the U.S. related to this dating system? Why?
9. How did emperors become emperor during the Empire times?
10. List some good and bad emperors and give an example of what each did. Why were the bad ones insane?
11. What did the emperors expect from their subjects?
12. Why did the Jews revolt and what happened when they did? What historically came of this?
13. How widespread was the Roman Empire and for how many centuries did it rule?
Essay Options – Chose one and write at least three full paragraphs
14. How is your life affected today by heritage from the ancient Christians?
15. How is your life affected today by heritage from the Romans?