Rise of Christianity in the Roman Empire

Roman Rule of Israel (begins)

64 BCE

Rome took over Israel in 64BC.The Roman general established the Roman province Syria and conquered Jerusalem in 63BC.Under Julius Ceaser, Judaism was officially recognized by the first Roman emperor Augustus.After emperor Augustus,the Jewish-Roman wars wars started in 66AD which resulted in the destruction of Jerusalem and the second Temple Judaism.Around this time, Christianity developed from Second temple Judaism.

Jesus of Nazareth

4 BCE

He was the first century Jewish preacher and religious leader.He is the central figure of Christianity. He was baptized and began his own ministry and was referred as rabbi.He was arrested and turned over to the Roman government and was crucified on the order of Pontius Pilate.After his death, his followers believed that he rose from the dead and the community became the early church.He is said to be born in Nazareth.

Paul of Tarsus

5

Paul was born in Turkey and he was an important founder of Christianity. He spent his early career rooting out Jewish Christians communities and persecuting them.Paul was said to have been encountered by Jesus on his way to Damascus and he was baptized there.He was an apostle who taught the gospel of Christ.He traveled ten thousands of miles around the Mediterranean spreading the word of Jesus.It was Paul who came up with a doctrine that turned Christianity into a worldwide faith.

Great Fire of Rome

64

It was in 19 July 64CE. The fire lasted for 6 days under the reign of Emperor Nero.Nero built a palace for himself after Rome was burned down.Rome was blaming Nero and said that he was merrily playing his fiddle while Rome was burning.To save himself, Nero blamed Christians and Christianity as their area was not burnt. By then,Romans already hated Christians mainly because they were different.Nero blamed the fire on them and blamed them.

Perpetua

203

She was born 181AD.Perpetua was a married Christian noblewoman.She was 22 years when she died and mother of an infant she was nursing.She was put to martyred along with Felicity, a slave in the Roman province of Africa.She had a diary that talked about her last few days arrested.Her father came to her when she was in prison and told her to deny being a Christian but she did not agree. Augustine was so impressed by this ordeal that he preached four sermons about her death.She died on 203.

Great Persecution of 303 CE

303

In 303, Emperors Diocletian,Maximian,Galerius and Constantine issued a series of edicts.The edicts rescinded the Christians' legal rights.They demanded that the Christians comply with the Roman's traditional and religious practices.Later, the edicts targeted the clergy and demanded all inhabitants to sacrifice to God.The persecution varied in intensity across the empire and the strongest was in Eastern provinces.The edict of Milan traditionally marked the end of the persecution.

Constantine The Great

306

Constantine was a Roman emperor who ruled from 306-337AD.Constantine is said to have a vision in which he looked at the sky and "In Hoc Signo Vinces" was written out. He was then told in his dream that he should put the 'labarum' sign on his soldiers' shields.He then won the battle and converted to become a Christian.In 313AD, Constantine and Licinius issued the Edict of Milan at Milan which legalized Christianity.He also built Constantinople filled with churches dedicated to Christian Gods.

Battle of Milvian Bridge

312

The battle takes its name from the Milvian Bridge, an important route over the Tiber.It took place on October 28 312AD between Constantine and Maxentius. Constantine won the battle and became the sole ruler of the Roman empire. Maxentius drowned in Tiber. The battle marked the beginning of Constantine's conversion to Christianity. Constantine and his soldiers had a vision sent by God and they were told to put the first two letters of Christs name on their soldiers shield.

Edict of Milan

313

The Edict of Milan was issued on the February of the 313AD.It was an agreement to treat Christians equally.The letter was issued shortly after emperor Diocletian. Constantine was the first emperor to convert to Christianity.Emperor Constantine and Licinius agreed to change policies towards Christians.The letter gave Christianity a legal status. Because of this, Christianity was no longer criminalized.By the edict of Milan, properties taken away from the Christians were returned back.

Emperor Theodosius

379

He was a Roman emperor from AD379 TO AD395.He was born in Spain.He established Christianity as the state religion and successfully defended it against paganism.He issued decrees that made Nicene Christianity the official state church of the Roman empire.He was the last emperor to rule over both the eastern and western halves of the Roman empire.