In Ancient History religion played key roles and influence politics of early empires including the Roman Empire and Han Dynasty. Religions discussed issues of truth, loyalty, and solidarity and many thought through religion clear answers to the human nature, to who they should obey, and how they should live. It shared culture throughout these empires instead of military conquest and linked large areas of people. Through religion leaders were seen as servants of God and not just people who wanted power and influence.
In the early Han Dynasty, 206 BCE-220 CE, religion and beliefs had a lot of influence socially and politically. Under Emperor Wu, Confucianism took on religious overtones. “In the early Han world dominated by social elites, religion …show more content…
In the time between 98-117 CE, the Roman Empire was only tolerant of certain religions, and feared monotheistic religions. Judaism was much more tolerated than Christianity because it had been around before the empire but Christianity emerged during the period of the Roman Empire and seemed strange. The empire tolerated these religions as long as they abided by the old gods, but Christians were much more resilient. In the fourth century CE, the Roman Empire had the same beliefs, and expected all subjects to worship the correct god. Christians refused to obey other gods, and believed in obedience to God, not a human ruler therefore they were seen as threats, because of their rebellion to the empire. Christian martyrs, people who died for their beliefs, arose after they were persecuted for not abiding by the law of the empire but instead of taming the religion, this caused the faith of Christians to grow. In the fourth century Christianity took a major turn for the better with the convergence of Emperor Constantine after a win in battle that he contributed to Christ. Christianity went from being a religion that followers were persecuted, then tolerated, and now the religion of the Roman Empire due to Constantine. This gave Christianity absolute political power. Christianity had power over the other religions and connected the people of the empire. The empire was now not only connected by military …show more content…
He argued that the incorporation of taxes that hurt the poor and the remission of taxes for the rich by the elites were unjust sins and compared the romans to barbarians. In the comparison to the barbarians he claims that romans are destined to be great and know the book of God, while barbarians are ignorant of it but romans were then not following the orders of God and acting in a barbaric manor. When priests made accusations like these, especially during hard times, they received a lot of support throughout the empire and this challenged the authority and their decisions. When priests spoke out against the actions of the ruling class the support of the people weakened. This made Christianity a major authority in the Roman Empire politically, and caused the elites to submit more to the religion to gain support of the
In the early Han Dynasty, 206 BCE-220 CE, religion and beliefs had a lot of influence socially and politically. Under Emperor Wu, Confucianism took on religious overtones. “In the early Han world dominated by social elites, religion …show more content…
In the time between 98-117 CE, the Roman Empire was only tolerant of certain religions, and feared monotheistic religions. Judaism was much more tolerated than Christianity because it had been around before the empire but Christianity emerged during the period of the Roman Empire and seemed strange. The empire tolerated these religions as long as they abided by the old gods, but Christians were much more resilient. In the fourth century CE, the Roman Empire had the same beliefs, and expected all subjects to worship the correct god. Christians refused to obey other gods, and believed in obedience to God, not a human ruler therefore they were seen as threats, because of their rebellion to the empire. Christian martyrs, people who died for their beliefs, arose after they were persecuted for not abiding by the law of the empire but instead of taming the religion, this caused the faith of Christians to grow. In the fourth century Christianity took a major turn for the better with the convergence of Emperor Constantine after a win in battle that he contributed to Christ. Christianity went from being a religion that followers were persecuted, then tolerated, and now the religion of the Roman Empire due to Constantine. This gave Christianity absolute political power. Christianity had power over the other religions and connected the people of the empire. The empire was now not only connected by military …show more content…
He argued that the incorporation of taxes that hurt the poor and the remission of taxes for the rich by the elites were unjust sins and compared the romans to barbarians. In the comparison to the barbarians he claims that romans are destined to be great and know the book of God, while barbarians are ignorant of it but romans were then not following the orders of God and acting in a barbaric manor. When priests made accusations like these, especially during hard times, they received a lot of support throughout the empire and this challenged the authority and their decisions. When priests spoke out against the actions of the ruling class the support of the people weakened. This made Christianity a major authority in the Roman Empire politically, and caused the elites to submit more to the religion to gain support of the