Rise of Christianity in Rome

Paul of Taurus

4 BCE

-he was an Apostle of Jesus.
-had a huge impact of Christianity.
-13 books in the New Testament are attributed to Paul.
-arrested for his Gentiles and was sent to Rome
-was killed in the executions following the Great Fire of Rome

Jesus of Nazareth

29

-son of Virgin Mary
-was taken to trial for disobeying Roman laws
-he was nailed to a cross with a crown of thorns on his head
-his body was put in a rock tomb that same day
-that Sunday, three days later, Jesus rose from the dead
-this day is now celebrated as Easter.

The Great Fire of Rome

64

-lasted 6 days & burned 65% of city
-blamed the Christians
-initiated the emperors first persecution of Christians
-Some Christians were burned, others were mauled by animals

Perpetua

203

-had dreams an visions about God
-was killed because she had her own beliefs and didn't follow the decree of emperor Septimius Severus
-young Christian of Carthage
-She was set for execution and stabbed by gladiator
-he father attacked her for being Christian

The Great Persecution

303

-Diocletian and Galerius both agreed to persecute Christian
-believed that plague and civil wars were the fault of the Christians --several thousands Christians were killed
-they held the persecution in the names of the Roman gods
-many christian leaders were killed.

Battle of Milvian Bridge

312

-Constantine won it lead him to being sole ruler of Roman Empire
-marked beginning of Constantine's conversion to Christianity
-him and his soldiers had vision sent by God
-first two letter of Christ's name in Greek painted on soldiers' shields

Roman Rule of Isrel

313

-Titus burnt Jerusalem to the ground and destroyed all the temples
-people of Jerusalem were forced to settle somewhere else
-there was a set of wars between the Romans and the Jews
-around one million Jews lost their lives.

Edict of Milan

313

-a lot like the Freedom of Religion
-it allows any man to worship any religion in any area
-gave back the property taken from Christians

Constantine the Great

324

-became the sole ruler of Rome in 324
-he was the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity
-e had an important role in the Edict of Milan
-he is referred to as the “First Christian Emperor”
-witnessed the Great Persecution.

Emperor Theodosius

380

-in 380 he proclaimed himself a christian
-used his power to enforce orthodox Christianity
-accepted Christian baptism