Rise of Christianity in the Roman Empire

Roman Rule of Israel begins

64 BCE

Romans started ruling Israel around 66 AD. Julius Caesar restored some areas in Judea and made Hyracanus II ethnarch. Hyracanus was weak so Idumaean Antipater took control of most everything and made his sons Herod and Phasael governors. The Parthian invasion in 40 BCE was meant to make Judea have a Hasmonean king and it worked. Herod had been kicked out of Judea and was furious so he came back with troops and some northerners and took back control of Israel. Hasmonean rule over Israel was over.

Paul of Tarsus

4 BCE

Paul/Saul of Tarsus was born in 4 BCE in Tarsus and died in 63 CE. Paul was a jew and studied Jewish law in Jerusalem. Paul returned home, heard about Jesus, and then started persecuting Christians. But he was surprised about the fact that more people kept becoming Christians. On his way to Damascus, Jesus talked to him and blinded him. After three days his sight returned when he was baptized and Paul became a Christian. He then started going to different countries and spreading the work of God.

Jesus of Nazareth

1 BCE

Born in Nazareth near the sea of Galilee in 4-6 BCE. When he was thirty, he joined a group of preachers and prophets that traveled around and spread the word of God. He promised the poor people he visited that God would give them relief from their struggles and it gave them hope for the future. Jesus saw people sacrificing animals during Passover he wrecked the stalls causing him to get arrested and eventually executed. This caused Christians to outrage and made more people join the rebellion.

The Great Fire of Rome

64

The fire started in the Circus Maximus on July 19, 64 AD. It burned 10 of Rome's 14 districts over a span of 6 days before it was finally put out. At the time Nero was being denied his plan to tear down the city and build a new one, so people believe Nero started it to go through with his plan anyway. Nero blamed the Christians for starting it and because of that many Christians were killed. It's just a speculation that Nero started it but when you look at the evidence it seems quite probable.

Perpetua

203

Emperor Septimius Severus wanted to get rid of Christianity and because of that, Perpetua and 4 others were sent to prison. Her father tried to convince her to change her religion but she had to stay true to who she was. All of the Christians refused to give a sacrifice for the emperor. They didn't lie about their religion so they were sent to be killed crowds. Many people were inspired by their commitment to their religion and their God. This was a big cause for the growth of Christianity.

Great Persecution of 303 CE

303

The last persecution of Christians was in 303 CE and it was very large scale. The emperors basically passed some laws making Christianity illegal. The laws or edicts made it so everyone had to practice the same religion or they would be punished with death. During this time from 303-311, Diocletian had 3000-3500 Christians killed. This was finally resolved when Constantine became a ruler, converted to Christianity, and made the Edict of Milan to cancel out the other edicts.

Constantine the Great

306

Constantine ruled between 306 and 326 AD and was a huge factor for the rise of Christianity in Rome. He was previously devoted to the sun god Sol. But then he saw a cross in the sky one day and he heard God talk to him. He had a dream that night that told him to put crosses on the shields of his men and he ended up winning the battle. Because of this he converted to Christianity and made the Edict of Milan which made Christianity legal. Because he was the Emperor many people converted with him.

Battle of Milvian Bridge

312

Constantine invaded Italy, won the battles of Turin and Verona and headed to Rome. Maxentius (Constantine's brother in-law) tried to fight back against Constantine at the Battle of Milvian Bridge but was beaten badly. This battle was one of the successes that led to Constantine's overall rule of the empire. But this was also the battle where Constantine saw the cross in the sky and had the dream which converted him to Christianity. This battle led to many many people becoming Christians.

Edict of Milan

313

The Edict of Milan "permanently established religious toleration for Christianity". Constantine and Licinius made an agreement in February 313 that gave all people freedom to worship whatever god or deity they want, promised Christians legal rights, and gave Christians back their property which had been confiscated previously. This overtook the previous edicts which were very against Christians. Now people could be freely Christian and convert if they wanted to. The edict is still around today.

Emperor Theodosius

379

Emperor Theodosius participates in military campaigns with his dad when he was younger and then became a military general. He defeated the Sarmatians in 374. The emperor at the time, Emperor Valens, was defeated and killed. Theodosius had proved his skill and was made the new emperor in 379. He was the first emperor to believe in the Nicene Creed. He spread Christianity to his people and created the creed of the Council of Nicaea. The Nicene Creed is still very important to Christians today.