Rise of Christianity in the Roman Empire

Caesar Augustus

63 BCE

Caesar Augustus, the first emperor in the ancient Roman Empire, was ruling when Jesus Christ was born. He was the start of the Roman empire and had an impact on the rise of Christianity because things would've been different in Rome if he hadn't been the first ruler.

Paul of Tarsus

4 BCE

Paul of Tarsus is often considered to be the most important person after Jesus in the history of Christianity. His epistles have had an enormous influence on Christian theology, especially on the relationship between God the Father and Jesus.

Jesus of Nazareth

4 BCE

Jesus is the central figure of Christianity. He is the son of god and was parented by Joseph and Mary. He was crucified on a cross between 30 and 33 AD because Pontius Pilate thought he was being lied to. He was the man who was responsible for an awful death where Jesus sacrificed his life for us. He was later resurrected and became Son of God for Jesus has never sinned and has forgiveness for everyone.

Great Fire of Rome

64

The Great Fire of Rome broke out in the circus Maximus and quickly spread to the city taking 6 days to extinguish taking away 10 of Rome's districts. After all of it was done the Christians were blamed for all of it.

Perpetua

181

Perpetua was an Early Christian Martyr. She came from a wealthy family. Her father was a pagan and begged her to give up her faith. Perpetua told him that she would not lie about her belief in Jesus. Her father came and collected her infant son from prison before his mother was put to death. Felicity was a slave who worked in Perpetua’s house. She gave birth to a daughter shortly before she was killed, and the child was adopted by a Christian.

Constantine the Great

272

Constantine was a Roman Emperor from 306 to 337 AD. He was known for settling Christian doctrine. It all started on how on a day before a battle he saw a cross in the sky and decided to pledge himself to Christianity and he believed that led him to his victory. Because of the power he had he turning to be a Christian influenced many others. Rome had turned into a place of Christians and churches.

Great Persecution of 303 A.D

303

The Great Persecution was the last + most severe persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire. It started by a man named Diocletian who believed Christians were a threat to him and his throne. He would blame Christians for the economic and political problems in Rome. On February 24, he ordered an edict against Christians. Destroying churches and other religious Christian items. He would also throw Christians into the Circus Maximus with animals such as lions + deadly warriors. Ended in 311 A.D

Battle of Milvian Bridge

312

The Battle of the Milvian Bridge took place between the Roman Emperors Constantine the great and Maxentius. This was the battle where Constantine and his army pledged to be Christian before the battle and think it led them to their victory. The war had happened because of the rivalry between the two. Maxentius was drowned during that very battle and that was the end of him.

Edict of Milan

313

The Edict of Milan was a letter signed by the Roman emperors Constantine and Licinius, that announced religious toleration in the Roman Empire. The letter stopped the persecution of Christians.

Emperor Theodosius

347

Theodosius the Great was a Roman Emperor from 379 to 395 A.D, and the last emperor to rule over both the Eastern and the Western halves of the Roman Empire. He and his allies after a long fight won the Gothic War. He was also the first non-italian emperor. He passed away on January 17, 395 AD.