Rise of Christianity in the Roman Empire

Great Fire of Rome

64 BCE

It was during the reign of Emperor Nero. He was blamed for it as a way to bypass the senate to build Rome to his liking. about 70% of the Roman people were left homeless after the fire. Only 3 out of the 12 districts in Rome were left relatively unharmed, one of those was a district that the Christians lived in. They believed that their god had saved them. Emperor Nero on the other hand blamed them for the fire of Rome, and this lead to Christians being prosecuted in Rome. Ended July 23rd, 64BCE

Roman Rule of Israel (begins)

37 BCE

The Romans took over the Seleucid's and became the only great power in the region. With the takeover they also gained the province of Israel. Herod a Roman administrator gained control of Israel his reign was relatively peaceful but when he died and it fell under direct control of the Roman empire. Growing anger of Roman suppression lead to sporadic violence in the region. The Romans lead a total destruction of Jewish temples and killed many Jews. Ended 476CE

Jesus of Nazarath

4 BCE

He was a Jewish leader and religious leader. He became the central figure for Christianity. He was born in Judea, Roman Empire. He was considered the awaited Messiah. He started the belief of Christianity.He founded the church of Christianity, He died by crucifixion after being prosecuted by the Romans. This lead him to becoming more popular and it began the spread of Christianity in Rome. It had already begun before the crucifixion but this just made him become more popular. Ended 30CE

Paul of Tarsus

4 BCE

He was a preacher of Christianity, He was born in Tarsus, Turkey and died in Rome, Italy. He had many enemies in his hometown and all over the world, this was because he was a teacher of Christianity when it was still a very small religion. he criticized some other christian movements at the time fro straying from the original ways. He went to Rome as a missionary for Christianity.He was executed during the Christian persecution ordered by emperor Nero after the great fire. Ended late 62-63CE

Perpetua

181

She was a married Noblewoman that was 22 years old at the age of her death. She was a devout follower of Christianity. She had a slave who was pregnant as well, Felicity. They along with many others were killed at Carthage in the Roman empire. Perpetua and Felicity were sentenced to death as they worshiped Christianity during the time of prosecution. What was so inspiring was that even thoguh she was burned to death, she never screamed or aid anything when she died. Ended 203CE

The Great Persecution of 303CE

303

Diocletian's prosecution, although not the first, was the last and most severe persecution of the Christians in Rome. Diocletian passed laws to exterminate the Christians in Rome. It lead to them being tortured and thrown in the coliseum to be killed by animals. This accidentally made Christianity even more popular though to the people in Rome though. They Christians were fearless in death which spoke to the people of Rome. It helped Christianity gain popularity in Rome. Ended 313CE.

Battle of Milvian Bridge

312

It was between the armies of Constantine the Great and Maxentius. Constantine was greatly outnumbered in the battle and had a high chance of losing. But before the battle he saw a cross in the sky along with his men near the sun. Though it is suspected that Constantine saw something and his soldiers just followed his word for it. That night he had a dream where Christ told him to use the cross in battle. So, he painted the cross onto his soldiers shields. He won a landslide victory.

Constantine the Great

312

It was during a civil war in Rome. Constantine and Galerius were having a civil war in Rome. Before a major battle where Constantine would be outnumbered, the battle of Milvian Bridge, he saw a cross in the sky above near the sun. The night before he had a dream about Christ telling him to use the cross to win the battle. He decided to paint the cross on all of his soldiers shields, and won a landslide victory. He respected Christianity after this and this lead to the Edict of Milan.

Edict of Milan

313

It was a set of documents that permanently established religious toleration of Christianity in the Roman Empire. It was made after a political agreement between Constantine the Great and Licinius. It granted religious freedom in Rome for the time but the Edict was specifically made for the Christians. Previous edicts of toleration by past emperors had not lasted long enough to make that much of a difference. This edict lasted for a very long time and brought about permanent toleration.

Emperor Theodosius

347

He was a powerful emperor in Rome at the time. He was very against Paganism and Arianism and tried to suppress them both as much as possible during his rule. He was a true believer in Christianity and lead Christianity to become the European religion. He established the creed of the council of Nicaea, it became the universal norm for Christianity. This brought unity to the once scattered pockets of Christianity throughout the empire. Ended January 17, 395.