Rise of Christianity in the Roman Empire

Roman Rue of lsrael

753 BCE

Israel was under Roman rule, which had been the case since Rome wrested the region from Syria in 64 BC. During the New Testament era, the Roman Empire ruled most of the known world.

Jesus of Nazareth

4 BCE

Jesus of Nazareth and Jesus Christ, was a first-century Jewish preacher and religious leader.He is the central figure of Christianity. Most Christians believe he is the incarnation of God the Son and the awaited Messiah.

Paul of Tarsus

5

Even though he was a young contemporary of Jesus of Nazareth, never even met him. In fact, he spent part of his early career rooting out Jewish Christian communities and prosecuting them.

Great Fire of Rome

64

History has blamed Nero for the disaster, implying that he started the fire so that he could bypass the senate and rebuild Rome to his liking . Much of what is known about the great fire of Rome comes from the aristocrat and historian Tacitus, who claimed that Nero watched Rome burn while merrily playing his fiddle.

Perpetua

181

Perpetua was first interrupted and given a chance to abandon his faith. When he refused he was sentenced to death with his fellows. In prison they received baptism.

Great Persecution of 303 CE

303

Diocletian ended the period known as the Crisis of the Third Century (235–284). He worked to return Rome to its former glory by making changes in key areas. Religion: He persecuted Christians, crucifying more than any other emperor. He imposed the traditional polytheistic religion of the Romans.

Constantine the Great

306

Constantine is perhaps best known for being the first Christian Roman emperor. His rule changed the Church greatly. In February 313, Constantine met with Licinius in Milan where they made the Edict of Milan. The edict said that Christians could believe what they wanted.

Battle of Milvian Bridge

312

It takes its name from the Milvian Bridge, an important route over the Tiber. Constantine won the battle and started on the path that led him to end the Tetrarchy and become the sole ruler of the Roman Empire.Writing to Christians, Constantine made clear that he believed that he owed his successes to the protection of that High God alone.

Edict of Milan

313

It was a letter signed by the Roman emperors Constantine and Licinius, that proclaimed religious toleration in the Roman Empire. A proclamation that permanently established religious toleration for Christianity within the Roman Empire.

Emperor Theodosius

379

Theodosius the Great was the last Roman Emperor to rule a united Roman Empire. He established Christianity as the state religion and successfully defended it against paganism and Arianism.