Exam
Exam Questions and Instructions
The exam is 2 hours and there are 2 activities of roughly an hour each:
- The first is a source analysis on Solomon: good or bad king?
You can prepare for this by revising what the 5 types of questions are for a source analysis and how best to answer them (from the work we did on our first assignment). Also read up on Solomon both in the bible and in the extract from the text book I have photocopied for you.
- The second activity is an essay: Argue that the Roman Empire was the ideal time for the spread of Christianity (you will have to consider social, political, spiritual and physical factors to assess the role of the conditions of the era in the successful spread of Christianity as well as ideas of continuity and change and cause and effect).
You can research this too and I have provided some resources already, as well as directed you to take notes on this topic.
Summary of Some Factors for Spread of Gospel in Roman Empire
•Peace – Pax Romana
•Efficient and extensive road system
•Common language – Koine Greek (simplified version used for trade etc – NT)
•Roman/Greek religion didn’t have same appeal of personal salvation and future hope
•It was a caring religion as contrast to at time
•It offered freedom from class distinctions – there were a lot of poor, slaves and women who felt included
•Roman persecution - Christians died in faith without denying God and fled to other areas
•The Roman Empire was a ‘melting pot’ of cultures - Christianity was attractive to all nationalities
Roman World Maps