Jesus: Rise To Power

Synopsis

Dr Michael Scott sets outs across the historic landscapes of the ancient world to discover how and Christianity becomes the official religion of the Roman Empire in less than four centuries.

Episodes

Season 1

Messiahs

In his quest to find out about the rise of Christianity within the Roman Empire, Dr. Michael Scott tackles the birth of the Christian religion. The Romans executed Jewish Messiah Jesus of Nazareth in the most humiliating way they could. In a world where people are defined by the manner of their death, Jesus should have been branded a failure and rejected. But he is not. Jesus's crucifixion becomes one of the defining moments in Christianity and he is heralded as the Messiah. Michael's quest uncovers how the Christian message spread and grew through Roman expertise and technology, how it became more visible and therefore more vulnerable to attack...

Martyrs

Roman authorities become increasingly intolerant as Christians refuse to sacrifice to the States pagan Gods. With their strange, secret and mysterious practices like communion, Christians are condemned as cannibals and deviants. And yet Romans are reluctant to put Christians to death. In an act of defiance at the Arena in Carthage, the martyr Perpetua assists her executioner by putting the sword to her own throat. Romes attempt to stamp out Christianity ends up inspiring it and ultimately helping it develop into a worldwide political and religious force.