Middle East/North Africa 0-600

Christianity

• Jesus of Nazareth was born after the Romans had conquered Judea

• Focused on teaching love for God, their neighbor and their enemies and repentance of sin

• Christianity as a term comes from Greek word Christos or “savior”- messianic religion

Teachings of Christianity

• Trinity – Three Parts to God. Father, Son and Holy Spirit

• Resurrection- when Jesus was killed he rose from dead.

• Jesus died for the sins of humanity

Mathew 5:3-11“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom

of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peace makers, For they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

• 61 CE- Treaty of Samos between Rome and Kush

• Rome dominated throughout region

• North African and Sub-Saharan Slave Traffic

• Spice Trade

Judea

• 66 CE- 70CE- Jewish Wars (unsuccessful rebellions) as Cesar asked them to worship him

• 70 CE Rome burns 2nd Temple and expels Jews from Jerusalem

• 132 Rome renames Israel Palestine (after Philistine)

• Jewish Diaspora begins• 313 after break up of

Roman Empire Byzantine (Eastern Roman) rule

Ecological Context

• Ecological approach- analyzing culture based on total environment

• Bedouin- live in harsh desert what do you think their culture would be like?

Arab Peninsula Bedouins• No farming= no

permanent settlements, or houses, instead wander from oasis to oasis housing is in tents…herds of camels because pigs can not survive, they are not offended when someone hasn’t bathed in days…paradise is what they don’t have boundless fruit and fountains

Summary Questions

1) Who are the Bedouins?2) The Ecological Approach?3) Who made the Samos Treaty with the

Romans?4) Christianity is a Messianic religion. What

is Messianic?5) What is the Trinity?6) What religion did Jesus of Nazarath

practice?