Rise of Christianity in the Roman Empire

Jesus of Nazareth

30

Jesus of Nazareth was born in the town of Bethlehem, as most of world knows from the story of “The Nativity,”. His birth is the basis for the celebration of Christmas. Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah prophesied in Hebrew Scripture, our Old Testament of the Bible. Jesus of Nazareth is the foundation of Christianity and by the Messianic Jewish people who proclaim him to be the Messiah.

Great Fire of Rome

64

In 64 CE, a fire started in the Circus Maximus stadium in Rome. When the fire was finally over six days later, 10 of Rome’s 14 districts were burned. Lots of ancient historians blamed the emperor, Nero, for the cause of the fire but most modern historians don't blame Nero.

Roman Rule of Israel (begins)

66

The First Jewish–Roman War began in 66 AD. The revolt was approached by the future Roman emperors Vespasian and Titus. In the Siege of Jerusalem in 70 AD, the Romans destroyed most of the Temple in Jerusalem and some say they plundered artifacts from the Temple, such as the Menorah.

Paul of Tarsus

67

Paul, who was named Saul, was born in Tarsus, which is now called Turkey. His family were faithful Jews. He is considered one of the most important figures of the Apostolic Age and in the mid-30s to the mid-50s AD he founded several churches in Asia and Europe. He also took advantage of his status as both a Jew and a Roman citizen to minister to both Jewish and Roman audiences.

Perpetua

203

Vibia Perpetua also known as Perpetua, was a Christian martyrs of the 3rd century. Perpetua was a married noblewoman, 22 years old at the time of her death, and mother of an child she was taking care of. She wrote the Passion of the Saint Perpetua and Felicity and it is one of the rare surviving texts in ancient Rome.

Constantine the Great

280

The first Roman empire to promote Christianity was Flavius Valerius Constantius. Constantine was named after his father Constantius. Constantine initiated the evolution of the empire into a Christian state and provided the impulse for a distinctively Christian culture that prepared the way for the growth of Byzantine and Western medieval culture.

Great Persecution

303

The Great Persecution was the last and most severe persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire. The Emperors Diocletian, Maximian, Galerius, and Constantius issued a series of edicts taking back Christians legal rights and demanding that they comply with traditional religious practices. Later edicts targeted the responsibilities and demanded sacrifice, ordering all citizens to sacrifice to the gods.

Battle of Milvian Bridge

312

The Battle of the Milvian Bridge took place between the Roman Emperors Constantine I and Maxentius in 312. It takes its name from the Milvian Bridge which is an important route over the Tiber. Constantine won the battle and started on the path that led him to the end of the Tetrarchy. Constantine also become the sole ruler of the Roman Empire.

Edict of Milan

313

The Edict of Milan was a letter signed by the Roman emperors Constantine and Licinius. It that proclaimed religious toleration in the Roman Empire. The letter was issued in 313 AD and stopped the persecution of Christians. Because of the Edict of Milan, there began a time when Constantine granted favors to the Christian Church and its members. The exact words of the edict are no longer known.

Emperor Theodosius

379

Theodosius I was also known as Theodosius the Great. He was a Roman Emperor from 379 to 395 and the last emperor to rule over both the Eastern and the Western parts of the Roman Empire. On accepting his elevation, he campaigned against Goths and other barbarians who had invaded the Empire.