Rise of Christianity in the Roman Empire

The beginning of the Roman rule of Israel

64 BCE

The Jewish people originated in Israel. Rome let it be a client state at first and then took more and more control over it while the Jews had less and less power. The Jews revolted and formed Israel. The Romans crushed the revolt and destroyed their temples.

Jesus of Nazareth

4 BCE

He is more commonly known as Jesus Christ and he was tried and then turned over to the Roman Empire and was crucified by a roman prefect. His followers believe he rose from the dead and create the early church and the religion Christianity which then spread across Rome.

Paul of Tarsus

5

He was a roman citizen and a jew, an apostle. He was one of the greatest apostles to ever live and he found many churches in Asia minor and Europe. He was one of the greatest figures of Christianity and he ministered to both Roman and Jewish audiences.

The Great Fire of Rome

64

This urban fire devastated Rome in July in the year 64 AD and was stopped 6 days later on July 23rd. Some people blamed Nero for the fire so he blamed it on the Christians and started an empire wide persecution of the Christians. The fire began in shops and spread through the Circus, many people in groups or alone acted to prevent people from stopping the fire and they spread the fire by throwing torches.

Perpetua

203

Perpetua was a devoted Christian and was killed in 203 AD. Her father wanted her to change beliefs so that she would be spared. She is baptized and then soon after killed and she is extremely brave facing her death which inspired the Christians and other Romans to join the religion.

The Great Persecution

303

The persecution was caused by laws being passed forcing Christians to sacrifice and worship roman gods. Diocletian purged an army of Christians and persecuted several thousand of them. This stopped when Constantine rose to power.

Constantine the Great

306

He defeated Maxentius and Licinius for control of the entire roman empire. He had a vision of god telling him to use the sign of the cross against his enemies and the next day he won the battle and later once he defeated maxentius and Licinius he was convinced that god had helped him and he converted to Christianity and became ruler in 306 AD. He created the edict of Milan to let Christianity and other religions be tolerated. He died the 22nd of May in 337 AD.

Battle of Milvian bridge

312

This battle was between Maxentius and Constantine. Constantine had a vision and cream about god telling him to use the sign of the cross against his enemies which he then put on the shields of his army the next day and won the battle which made him believe in Christianity. This event is thought to be the start of the rise of Christianity.

Edict of Milan

313

This was an edict created by Licinius and Constantine after Constantine converted to Christianity. This edict made it so that Christians could no longer be persecuted and that anyone could follow any religion without fear of penalty and backlash.

Emperor Theodosius

347

Theodosius recreated laws and policies that Constantine made about no having to reform to the Roman religion he supported Christianity and other religions. He acted against magistrates who were against polytheism and he was the last emperor to rule both halves of the roman empire.