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Jesus did not seek fame; recall that the betrayal by Judas was to identify Jesus for capture, because otherwise most people would not recognize Him.  But non-believing historians recorded Jesus's life and the rise of Christianity.  For example, the Jewish historian Josephus (A.D. 37-100) wrote:

Jesus did not seek fame; recall that the betrayal by Judas was to identify Jesus for capture, because otherwise most people would not recognize Him.  But non-believing historians recorded Jesus's life and the rise of Christianity.  For example, the Jewish historian Josephus (A.D. 37-100) wrote:

:"At this time there was a wise man who was called Jesus. ... Pilate condemned Him to be condemned and to die. And those who had become His disciples did not abandon His discipleship. They reported that He had appeared to them three days after His crucifixion and that He was alive; accordingly, He was perhaps the Messiah concerning whom the prophets have recounted wonders"<ref>Antiquities, xviii.ch. 3, subtopic 3, Arabic text.  http://www.bibleviews.com/non-biblical.html.</ref>

:"At this time there was a wise man who was called Jesus. ... Pilate condemned Him ... to die. And those who had become His disciples did not abandon His discipleship. They reported that He had appeared to them three days after His crucifixion and that He was alive; accordingly, He was perhaps the Messiah concerning whom the prophets have recounted wonders."<ref>Antiquities, xviii.ch. 3, subtopic 3, Arabic text.  http://www.bibleviews.com/non-biblical.html.</ref>

and

and also:

:"Now, there was about this time, Jesus, a wise man, ... for he was a doer of wonderful works--a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew ever to him both many of the Jews, and many Gentiles. ... [W]hen Pilate, at the suggestions of the principal men amongst us, had condemned him to be condemned and to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him, for he appeared to them alive again the third day, as the divine prophets had foretold these and the ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him; and the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct at this day."<ref>Antiquities, xviii.ch. 3, subtopic 3, Greek text.  http://www.bibleviews.com/non-biblical.html (possible subsequent editions to the text removed)</ref>

:"Now, there was about this time, Jesus, a wise man, ... for he was a doer of wonderful works--a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew ever to him both many of the Jews, and many Gentiles. ... [W]hen Pilate, at the suggestions of the principal men amongst us, had condemned him to be condemned and to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him, for he appeared to them alive again the third day, as the divine prophets had foretold these and the ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him; and the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct at this day."<ref>Antiquities, xviii.ch. 3, subtopic 3, Greek text.  http://www.bibleviews.com/non-biblical.html (possible subsequent editions to the text removed)</ref>

After the Resurrection, Peter and Paul brought Christianity to many parts of the Roman Empire, and Peter is recognized by the Roman Catholic Church ("catholic" is from a Greek word meaning "universal") as the first and longest-serving "bishop of Rome," or "pope" of the Church.  The works of Peter, Paul and others in spreading Christianity are described in their own letters that follow the Gospels in the New Testament.   

After the Resurrection, Peter and Paul brought Christianity to many parts of the Roman Empire, and Peter is recognized by the Roman Catholic Church ("catholic" is from a Greek word meaning "universal") as its first and longest-serving "bishop of Rome," or "pope" of the Church.  The works of Peter, Paul and others in spreading Christianity are described in their own letters that follow the Gospels in the New Testament.   

As Christianity grew, it began to organize itself along the lines of local parishes managed by priests, who in turn were selected by bishops.  A group of local churches forms a diocese.  Christianity is primarily an evangelical faith, and spreading its truths is considered a fundamental aspect of its doctrine.  By seeking conversion of others to the Good News, Christianity differs from other religions that lack an evangelical component, such as Judaism.  Popes were established in both Rome (a line of succession from Peter) and Alexandria, Egypt (a line of succession from Mark), and the Roman Catholic Church began to develop its own system of law known as "canon law."

As Christianity grew, it began to organize itself along the lines of local parishes managed by priests, who in turn were selected by bishops.  A group of local churches forms a diocese.  Christianity is primarily an evangelical faith, and spreading its truths is considered a fundamental aspect of its doctrine.  By seeking conversion of others to the Good News, Christianity differs from other religions that lack an evangelical component, such as Judaism.  Popes were established in both Rome (a line of succession from Peter) and Alexandria, Egypt (a line of succession from Mark), and church law began to develop, known as "canon law."

While Christianity was and is primarily peaceful in its evangelism, Roman emperors were brutal in attempting to suppress the religion.  Roman emperors Nero and Diocletian would actively persecute Christians, thereby creating many martyrs, but the religion continued to grow.  Christians would hold worship services in secret places, making use of pre-existing catacombs or tunnels underlying Rome.  There were numerous early Christian martyrs, such as Lawrence, who openly expressed their faith in Rome.  In A.D. 258, the Roman emperor abruptly issued an edict that all bishops, priests and deacons be immediately killed ("episcopi et presbyteriet diacones incontinenti animadvertantur").  The bishop of Rome (the pope) was found in a catacomb and immediately executed.  Lawrence, accordingly to verbal tradition, was roasted to death by a red-hot grid.  A very inspirational martyr, Lawrence reportedly said during his execution, "Turn me over. I am done on this side!"

While Christianity was and is primarily peaceful in its evangelism, Roman emperors were brutal in attempting to suppress the religion.  Roman emperors Nero and Diocletian would actively persecute Christians, thereby creating many martyrs, but the religion continued to grow.  Christians would hold worship services in secret places, making use of pre-existing catacombs or tunnels underlying Rome.  There were numerous early Christian martyrs, such as Lawrence, who openly expressed their faith in Rome.  In A.D. 258, the Roman emperor abruptly issued an edict that all bishops, priests and deacons be immediately killed ("episcopi et presbyteriet diacones incontinenti animadvertantur").  The bishop of Rome (the pope) was found in a catacomb and immediately executed.  Lawrence, accordingly to verbal tradition, was roasted to death by a red-hot grid.  A very inspirational martyr, Lawrence reportedly declared courageously during his execution, "Turn me over. I am done on this side!"

There were many other Christian martyrs.  A Christian named "Valentine" was another one.  In A.D. 269, the Roman Emperor Claudius II ("Claudius the Cruel") banned marriages because he was having difficulty raising an army.  Valentine defied the order and performed Christian marriages in secret.  Inevitably Valentine was discovered, and he was sentenced to be beaten to death with clubs and beheaded.  The jailor's daughter visited him during his imprisonment and just before his death on February 14th, Valentine wrote her a letter that he signed, "From your Valentine."

There were many other Christian martyrs, such as a Christian named "Valentine".  In A.D. 269, the Roman Emperor Claudius II ("Claudius the Cruel") banned marriages because he was having difficulty raising an army.  Valentine defied the order and performed Christian marriages in secret.  Inevitably Valentine was discovered, and he was sentenced to be beaten to death with clubs and beheaded.  The jailor's daughter visited him during his imprisonment and just before his death on February 14th, Valentine wrote her a sweet letter that he signed, "From your Valentine."

The inspiration of the Christian martyrs ultimately prevailed over the mighty Roman empire.  Persecution of Christians continued until the Edict of Milan in A.D. 313, issued by the emperor Constantine.  This edict established Christianity as an acceptable religion to be practice in Rome, and in A.D. 391, emperor Theodosius declared Christianity to be the official religion of the Roman Empire and the worship of Roman gods was outlawed.  The only legal religions in the Roman Empire were then Christianity and Judaism.  All the Roman emperors after Constantine were Christian, with one exception (Julian "the Apostate").

The inspiration of the Christian martyrs ultimately prevailed over the mighty Roman empire.  Official persecution of Christians continued only until the Edict of Milan in A.D. 313, issued by the emperor Constantine.  This edict established Christianity as an acceptable religion to be practice in Rome.  In A.D. 391, emperor Theodosius declared Christianity to be the official religion of the Roman empire and the worship of Roman gods was outlawed.  The only legal religions in the Roman empire were then Christianity and Judaism.  All the Roman emperors after Constantine were Christian, with one exception (Julian "the Apostate").

Constantine built a new Christian capital in the East for the Roman empire that would be safe from the German invaders, and he called it Constantinople.  The city was located to benefit from the expanding trade with the East.  He built a beautiful Church of Holy Wisdom there, now known as the "Cathedral of the Hagia Sophia."  This city survived and thrived for another 1000 years, as '''the eastern portion of the Roman Empire did not decline and fall as the western portion did'''.  The architecture of this city, now known as Istanbul, Turkey, is a mixture of Christianity and Hellenistic classicism.  It is located on the Bosporus Strait at the point where Europe meets Asia, and was the wealthiest city in Europe throughout the Middle Ages.  Half the city is in Europe and the other half is in Asia.  It was sometimes called the "Queen of Cities."

Constantine built a new Christian capital in the East for the Roman empire that would be safe from the German invaders, and he called it Constantinople.  The city was located to benefit from the expanding trade with the East.  He built the beautiful Church of Holy Wisdom there, now known as the "Cathedral of the Hagia Sophia."  This city survived and thrived for another 1000 years, as '''the eastern portion of the Roman Empire did not decline and fall as the western portion did'''.  The architecture of this city, now known as Istanbul, Turkey, is a mixture of Christianity and Hellenistic classicism.  It is located on the Bosporus Strait at the point where Europe meets Asia, and was the wealthiest city in Europe throughout the Middle Ages.  Half the city is in Europe and the other half is in Asia.  It was sometimes called the "Queen of Cities."

   

   

Meanwhile, Christianity was hindered by internal conflicts over doctrine, otherwise known has heresies.  The biggest heresy was "Arianism", based on teachings of a Libyan priest in Alexandria, Egypt, who declared that Jesus was an exceptional man but was not divine (God).  To address this heresy, Constantine convened the Council of Nicaea, in A.D. 325 in Asia Minor (present-day Turkey), and he presided over it.  This was the first of several important ecumenical councils held by Christians, typically one being held every 50 or 100 years.  The 300 Christian leaders declared that Jesus was a human who was also fully and eternally divine, and they excommunicated and banished Arian (i.e., the emperor Constantine forced him into exile).  This issue did not generate as much of a division amongst the bishops as some modern authors suggest, and only two of over 300 bishops dissented when the nature of Jesus's divinity was voted upon.   

Meanwhile, Christianity was hindered by internal conflicts over doctrine, otherwise known has heresies.  The biggest heresy was "Arianism", based on teachings of a Libyan priest in Alexandria, Egypt, who declared that Jesus was an exceptional man but was not divine (God).  To address this heresy, Constantine convened the Council of Nicaea, in A.D. 325 in Asia Minor (present-day Turkey), and he presided over it.  This was the first of several important ecumenical councils held by Christians, as one was held every 50 or 100 years.  The 300 Christian leaders declared that Jesus was a human who was also fully and eternally divine, and they excommunicated and banished Arian (i.e., the emperor Constantine forced him into exile).  This issue did not generate as much of a division amongst the bishops as some modern authors suggest, and only two of over 300 bishops dissented when the nature of Jesus's divinity was voted upon.   

The Christian leaders issued the Nicene Creed, which confirms the divine Trinity of God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.  Virtually all Christians of almost any denomination today, Protestant and Catholic, adhere to the Nicene Creed, and many Christians recite it daily or weekly.  As to Arianism, it was simpler than Christianity and gained popularity among Germanic invaders of the Roman Empire, but lost influence after the 8th century.

The Christian leaders issued the Nicene Creed, which confirms the divine Trinity of God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.  Virtually all Christians of almost any denomination today, Protestant and Catholic, adhere to the Nicene Creed, and many Christians recite it daily or weekly.  As to Arianism, it was simpler than Christianity and gained popularity among Germanic invaders of the Roman Empire, but lost influence after the 8th century.

Another Christian heresy was "Gnosticism", based on the Greek work for knowledge ("gnosis").  The Gnostics claimed to rely entirely on knowledge or reason, and later the word "agnostic" was coined to describe people who claim that recognition of God is impossible because it is somehow beyond human reasoning.  There are implied criticisms of the Gnostics in the letters included in the New Testament (see, e.g., 1 Timothy 1:4), so this dispute goes back to the very early days of Christianity.  The Gnostics promoted works as scriptures that were doubted or rejected by other Christians, such as the "Gospels" of Thomas and Judas, with the latter obtaining much publicity just this year.  Gnostics would also edit out passages from accepted Gospels if they felt it could not be proven, such the reference in Luke to an angel coming to strengthen Jesus during his agony prior to the Crucifixion (Luke 22:43-44).  Gnosticism had its roots in pre-Christian philosophy, and it persists to this day in attempts to pick and choose from the New Testament, and supplement it with Apocrypha (non-authentic works) as in the ''Da Vinci Code'' book and movie.

Another Christian heresy was "Gnosticism", based on the Greek work for knowledge ("gnosis").  The Gnostics claimed to rely entirely on knowledge or reason, and later the word "agnostic" was coined to describe people who claim that recognition of God is impossible because it is somehow beyond human reasoning.  There are implied criticisms of the Gnostics in the letters included in the New Testament (see, e.g., 1 Timothy 1:4), so this dispute goes back to the very early days of Christianity.  The Gnostics promoted works as scriptures that were doubted or rejected by other Christians, such as the "Gospels" of Thomas and Judas.  Gnostics would also edit out passages from accepted Gospels if they felt it could not be proven, such the reference in Luke to an angel coming to strengthen Jesus during his agony prior to the Crucifixion (Luke 22:43-44).  Gnosticism had its roots in pre-Christian philosophy, and it persists to this day in attempts to pick and choose from the New Testament, and supplement it with Apocrypha (non-authentic works) as in the ''Da Vinci Code'' book and movie.

===Jewish Rebellion===

===Jewish Rebellion===