A E Stevenson High School

Ms. Niewiadomski Email me

- Global History & Geography

Christians in the Roman Empire

Victims or Victors?

Themes – Political Systems/Belief Systems

You are an advisor to the Roman emperor. Officially, the emperor is pagan, though he doesn't believe much in the Roman gods. The empire is in decline: the economy is crumbling; many people are out of work. There is trouble in the streets. Once a military powerhouse that conquered an empire on three continents, the Roman army is struggling to keep back the barbarian hordes moving in from the North and East.

In these uncertain times, many people have turned back to the old pagan gods, hoping that placating these gods will return peace, security, and prosperity will return to Rome. Christians were once tolerated, but now they are now seen as unpatriotic and even dangerous because they refuse to participate in public sacrifices to pagan gods. Many Christians are soldiers and military officers, though the official god of the army is Mithras. Many people want the Christians to be forced to worship the Roman gods because they believe (like Islamics today) that Roman prosperity and military might have declined because the gods are angered by the toleration of those who refuse to worship them. The Christians say there is only one God. They say Jesus Christ, His son, was acquitted three times of wrongdoing by the Roman Governor Pontius Pilate, who had him crucified when threatened with charges of treason by the Judean leadership, was raised from the dead by God and ascended into heaven, and it is the idolatry of the pagans that has brought these disasters upon them. Moreover, they say that one should be concerned with riches in heaven and spiritual things not the acquisition of wealth and earthly power. These Christian ideas conflict with the Roman policy of imperial conquest and economic domination, but are in harmony with traditional Roman values.

Vile rumors have been spreading about the Christians, started by Judean leaders who consider them heretics, and the Roman Emperor, Nero, who set a fire to serve as a dramatic backdrop for his personal musical and theatrical performance. The fire destroyed three quarters of the city. Nero blamed the fire on the Christians when the public became outraged at the death and destruction and threatened to riot. Most government officials know the truth, but are either afraid to say so, or find it politically expedient, a way to keep and gain power, by allowing the Christians to take the blame and the consequences. The officials fear civil unrest if the people become aware of widespread corruption and incompetence in the Roman government.

Your task is to produce a comprehensive report for the emperor recommending an Imperial policy toward Christians. Your report should examine Roman governmental policies from the beginnings of Christianity in c. 30 AD to approximately 450 AD, how these policies changed over time, and what resulted from these policies. It should be noted that despite persecution, and no matter what policies the government pursued toward the Christians, Christianity continued to grow.

Each group member must contribute an analysis of Roman policy toward Christians in one of the time periods listed. You will hand in five completed GHPPA worksheets (one set per group). You will also give a presentation, which will be five minutes in length, related to your analysis.

Step I

You will be assigned to a group of three. Using a variety of resources (Internet websites, textbook, class notes, handouts) your group will research the Roman policies toward Christians and record your findings on the worksheets provided, using the worksheets to develop your analysis. Once you have written your individual analysis, you will put together with your group a formal recommendation, including an historical overview. Use the website resources listed below, your textbook and handouts to complete the GHPPA worksheets.

Step (click the links to better understand each step)	GHPPA Assignment (Click on the ‘worksheet’ for a word document, on which to record your answers. Be sure to SAVE or PRINT your worksheet!)
Identify the Problem	Include all answers on your worksheet
Gather the Evidence	Gather evidence to show/prove the problem existed; include all answers on your worksheet
Determine the Causes	Identify the causes of the problem by analyzing the websites and completing the worksheet
Evaluate the Policy	Explain how Roman policy toward Christians changed from 30 A.D. to approximately 450 A.D. Include the advantages and disadvantages of each policy, and your suggestions for an improved policy. Include your findings on the worksheet
Do a Comparative Analysis	Choose one or more of these comparisons: Compare the Twelve Tables of Ancient Rome to the policies regarding Christians. Are these policies in accord with or violation of the Twelve Tables? Compare Roman policies toward Christians with polices toward Christians in other countries in the world today. You must include at least three countries, one of which must be an Islamic country. Compare Roman policies toward Christians with polices toward Christians in the United States from 1776 to the present. Complete the worksheet

Step II. – Individual work

Write an analysis of Roman policy toward Christians.

A. Include in your report (from GHPPA worksheets)

1. What is the problem?

2. Explain the evidence showing that Christians were

viewed as a problem.

3. What were the causes of the problem?

4. What policies were enacted and what events took

place in an effort to solve this problem?

5. What happened as a result of these policies?

6. Briefly compare and contrast Roman policy toward

Christians with American policy toward religion.

B In your report, analyze the policies and make a re

commendation.

1. What policies would you implement to correct the problem?

2. Why was the policy you analyzed ineffective and/or unjust?

3. How was this policy in accordance with or in violation of the Twelve Tables of Roman Law?

4. How would a change in policy toward Christians affect Roman society as a whole?

With your group you will assemble your report as a presentation to the Emperor. Be sure to include:

A. Detailed cover page (with title, group member’s names, class,

and teacher.)

B. An introduction, including proper protocol and modes of address

to the Emperor.

C. Type, using Arial font, size 12, check spelling and grammar.

D. Cite each source used.

E. Visuals (illustrations, photographs, charts, etc.) may be used

to illustrate your points.

Each group will present its recommendations to the class. The class and teachers will vote on which group made the most effective and persuasive policy presentation. The winning group will get ten extra points. Each group member must contribute to the presentation either by speaking or creating a visual piece for the presentation (power point presentation, poster, etc.)

Interpersonal: Set up conflict mediation between a representative of the Christians and representatives of the Roman government.

Linguistic: Set up a debate using historical personages (e.g. Pliny, Diocletian, Constantine, etc.) about policies toward the Christians.

Mathematical-Logical: Analyze the different polices toward Christians for a report to the Emperor. Include charts and graphs of the policies and the results of the policies.

Text, handouts, websites from the list below.

 Roman Policies Toward Christians

Pliny and Trajan on the Christians	Letters from Pliny and the Emperor Trajan discussing what policy should be taken on the Christians.
Division between classes - Patricians vs. Plebeians	This site will explain the history leading up to the Twelve tables being codified.
Persecution of Christians Backfires
Diocletian's Rulings Against the Christians	Diocletian's Rulings Against the Christians
What are the Twelve Tables?	Read the Twelve Tables here, the foundational principles of Roman Law.
Writings of the Hebrew Roman Historian Josephus on attitudes toward the Christians	Roman historian gives his account of Jesus Christ.
Discussion and Evaluation of the Hebrew Roman Historian Josephus’ information about the Christians
Discussion of Christianity and Moral Decline in the Roman Empire
Nero's Policies Toward the Christians
The Decline of Rome and its affect on policies toward Christians
Summary of Policies Toward Christians in the Roman Empire	Site is a summary of policies toward Christians in the Roman Empire. Also discusses the “Arian” controversy, i.e. the conflict between the Roman Catholic Church “trinity” and the early Christian idea that Jesus Christ was the son of God, but not God.
Trial and Testimony of the Early * Church: Persecution	Discussion of persecution of Christians in the early church.
Persecution in the Early Church	Discussion of persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire
Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Modern Persecution of Christians	Discusses the reasons for the collapse of the Roman Empire. (Chapter 15 for the discussion of Christians.)  Discusses modern persecution of Christians, particularly in Islamic countries.
Persecution of Christians in the United States
Constantine's Policies Toward Christians	Details on Constantine's actual laws regarding Christianity--and what version of Christianity was acceptable
The Edict of Milan	Text of the law passed by Constantine legalizing Christianity

	Unsatis-factory 0	Needs Improvement 1	Good 2	Very Good 3	Excellent 4
Group GHPPA worksheets complete, neatly written, including thoughtful answers to each question.
Individual Report (Typed using Arial font, size 12, and well thought out)
Group Report (Members produced a report, creatively designed and well thought out)
Presentation (Speaker(s) spoke effectively. Visual aids were neat and well developed. All presenters were respectful of the speaker, answered students’/teachers’ questions after the presentation.)
Groupwork (Members shared their contributions, and worked as a team.)

Conclusion

By completing this Webquest, you should have identified Roman policies toward Christians from 30 A.D. to approximately 450 A.D. and how these policies affected the empire and the Christians. You should be able to compare and contrast Roman policies toward Christians with American policies toward Christians and polices toward Christians in modern Islamic countries and countries in other parts of the world.

Curriculum Standards

 Social Studies - World History

2:1 The study of world history requires an understanding of world cultures and civilizations, including an analysis of important ideas, social and cultural values, beliefs, and traditions. This study also examines the human condition and the connections and interactions of people across time and space and the ways different people view the same event or issue from a variety of perspectives.

2:2 Establishing timeframes, exploring different periodizations, examining themes across time and within cultures, and focusing on important turning points in world history help organize the study of world cultures and civilizations.

2:3 Study of the major social, political, cultural, and religious developments in world history involves learning about the important roles and contributions of individuals and groups.

English Language Arts

1 Listening & Reading to acquire information and understanding involves collecting data, facts, and ideas; discovering relationships, concepts, and generalizations; and using knowledge from oral, written, and electronic sources.