1) In what ways did Christianity represent a departure from the ideals and practices of ancient Greece and Rome?
Christianity is vastly different from the ideals and practices of ancient Greece and Rome. The ideals of ancient Rome and Greece focus more on achievements, honor, and other worldly achievements, whereas Christianity focuses on faith in one God, moral humility, and salvation in the afterlife. The ideals of ancient Greece and Rome support slavery, social hierarchy, and inequality, whereas Christianity supports equality of all people. The Greeks and Romans supported wisdom and self-mastery, whereas Christianity supports charity, giving to the poor, and love for your neighbors, as well as your enemies.
2) Discuss the relationship between Rome and the Visigoths.
The relationship between Rome and the Visigoths was always switching between uneasy cooperation, and war. At first the Visigoths fought the Romans, but then they made peace, and Rome allowed them to settle in Roman territory as allies in exchange for military service. Then the Romans started to mistreat the Visigoths, leading to a rebellion, where the Visigoths beat Rome in the battle of Adrianople.

The Rule of St. Benedict is a set of guidelines for living a life in a monastery, written by St. Benedict around 516. They were written to govern the daily life of a monk living in a community under the guidance of an abbot. The Rule emphasizes moderation, obedience, stability, humility, prayer, and work, avoiding extreme regulation. It would become the foundation for Western monasticism, strongly influencing medieval European religious, educational, and cultural life.

The routine of a monk would consist of prayer, work, and reading. Monks took vows of stability (staying in one community), obedience, and conversion of life (ongoing spiritual growth).

Based on what you read in Acts, discuss Paul’s missionary journeys.

Paul’s first missionary journey was with Barnabas, starting from Antioch. They went to Cyprus and parts of Asia Minor, including Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe. Paul preached mostly to Gentiles and established several Christian communities before returning.

The second missionary journey was accomplished with Silas, and later in the journey, Timothy and Luke. Paul revisited churches in Asia Minor and expanded into Macedonia and Greece. Important cities included Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens, and Corinth. This journey marked a milestone in the spread of Christianity into Europe.

Paul’s third journey first involved revisiting the churches he had already established, then traveling through Macedonia and Greece, continuing to teach and organize the Christian community before returning to Jerusalem.

After being arrested in Jerusalem, Paul appealed to Caesar and was sent to Rome as a prisoner. Despite being in a shipwreck on Malta, he was brought to Rome, where he continued to preach under house arrest.

How would you compare the teachings of Christianity, as described in the New Testament passages we read for this week, to the values cherished by earlier civilizations we have discussed (particularly the Greeks, and the values expressed in Homer’s works)? Conversely, can you see anything in common between Christianity and some of the great ancient thinkers we have discussed?

Christianity, as described in the New Testament, teaches good values such as the Ten Commandments, loving your neighbor regardless of their religion, and focusing on inward growth. These teachings emphasize a person’s inner character and moral development. Homer’s values, on the other hand, focus more on outward behavior, such as strength, honor, glory, and heroic achievement.

There are also differences in religious beliefs. Both Christianity and Greek religion believe in at least one god; however, the Greeks believe in many gods, such as Zeus, while Christianity believes in only one God who created the earth and everything in it.

Despite these differences, Christianity and Greek religion are similar in that both have good core values and encourage good behavior.

According to Seneca, what is man’s unique good? How should a good man conduct himself?

Seneca, the Roman Stoic philosopher, argued that virtue is man’s unique and highest good. Unlike wealth or power, which depend on chance, virtue is fully under human control and is the only true path to happiness. A good man should live in accordance with nature and reason, remaining calm in both success and hardship. He should be self-disciplined, act morally regardless of rewards, and accept fate with composure.

Why do historians tend to look with favor on the period of the Five Good Emperors? What differences do you observe between that period and the period from the death of Augustus through the death of Domitian?

Historians view the reign of the Five Good Emperors favorably because it was a time of peace, stability, and economic prosperity across the Roman Empire. Emperors were usually chosen through adoption based on merit, which led to capable and effective leadership. In contrast, the period from the death of Augustus to the death of Domitian was marked by political instability, tyrannical rulers, succession crises, and frequent political violence.