Roman Empire · 30-380 AD

Christianity: from persecuted sect to state religion

In about 350 years Christianity grew from a small group in Judea into the official religion of the Roman Empire. Students trace its spread along Roman roads and sea routes and explore why Rome first persecuted it, then embraced it.

Teach it live New Open on the map
Length
50 minutes
Ages
12–15
On the map
3 steps, AD 30 to AD 380
Live lesson
7 rounds, 3 on the map
Worksheet
Two A4 pages, with Classroom
You need
A projector; phones for live

Live lesson · new in Classroom

Teach it live. The class answers on their phones.

Put the board on the projector. Students join with a six-digit code, no account needed, and tap the map: where was the frontier, where did the grain come from. Their pins drop in together when you reveal, and the closest student takes the round.

€19 per month: every lesson live, every worksheet, cancel anytime. Rome at its height runs live for free.

A live lesson on the projector: the class's pins on the map around Alexandria, the closest students listed beside it A student's phone: the question and a map to tap
7 rounds
3 places to find on the map, quiz questions, a class vote and a one-line answer.
About 15 minutes
Run it as the map step, or to open the discussion. You move on with the space bar.
A report
Every answer, per student and per round, to read back or print after the lesson.
1

Introduction

5 min

Read aloud

In about 350 years Christianity grew from a small group in Judea into the official religion of the Roman Empire. Students trace its spread along Roman roads and sea routes and explore why Rome first persecuted it, then embraced it.

By the end of the lesson, students can

  • Trace the spread of Christianity across the Roman Empire using Paul's journeys and early Christian cities.
  • Explain why Roman authorities persecuted Christians at certain times, for example under Nero, Decius and Diocletian.
  • Describe how Christianity became the state religion through Constantine (313) and Theodosius (380).
2

Explore the map

15 min

Project the map, or let students follow on their own devices. Each step opens the map at the right year and place.

a

AD 30

Where it began

Open the map in AD 30, turn on the Cities layer and find Jerusalem, where Jesus was put to death around AD 30-33, and Antioch, where his followers were first called Christians. How far apart are they?

Open this view on the map
b

AD 50

Along roads and sea lanes

Zoom out to the eastern Mediterranean. Paul traveled from Antioch to cities such as Ephesus, Corinth and Rome. Turn on Trade Routes. Why did the new faith spread fastest in cities and ports?

Open this view on the map
c

AD 380

Religious Events

Jump to 380, turn on Historical Events and choose Religious Events. Find the markers for the Council of Nicaea, the Edict of Thessalonica and the conversion of Armenia. Where are they clustered?

Open this view on the map
3

Class discussion

15 min

Pick two or three. They run from what happened to why it mattered.

  1. Romans honored many gods and usually welcomed new ones. Why did Christians, who refused to sacrifice to the gods and the emperor, seem dangerous?
  2. The historian Tacitus says Nero blamed the Christians for the Great Fire of Rome in 64. Why might a ruler look for a group to blame?
  3. Many early Christians were women, enslaved people and the poor of the cities. What might have attracted them to the new faith?
  4. The catacombs of Rome were burial places, not secret hideouts as later stories say. Why do such myths grow?
  5. Once Christianity became the state religion, followers of the old gods lost their temples and festivals. What do you think of that reversal?
4

Game round

10 min

Play the Constantine the Great round in Rule History together and focus on his choices about religion. Discuss: was Constantine guided more by faith or by politics? What evidence would help you decide?

Open Rule History
5

Worksheet

5 min

This worksheet comes with Classroom

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