Christianity in Rome

Jesus of Nazareth

1 BCE

Jesus of Nazareth is Jesus's full name. He is the god of Christianity.
- Jesus was born to a family from a village called Nazareth, near the Sea of Galilee
- Tiberius was the ruler when Jesus was born
- In his lifetime Jesus was called Jesus son of Joseph but after his death he came to be called Jesus Christ
- Jesus was the god in the monotheistic religion of Christianity which was persecuted for a long time
- His disciples converted others to belief in him, which led to Christianity

Paul of Tarsus

33

Paul of Tarsus (St. Paul) or Paul the Apostle was an apostle who taught the gospel of Christ. He spread the word of Jesus
- He was born in Tarsus, Turkey which is obviously how he received part of his name
- Paul traveled thousands of miles around the Mediterranean just to spread the word of Jesus
- He opened a doctrine that turned Christianity worldwide
- Made it more comfortable for people to express their beliefs in Christianity
- He died in either 64 or 67 CE from decapitation, Nero's orders

Great Fire of Rome

64

This event was the most destructive part of Christianity persecution.
- Nero was under power at the time and might have fiddled while Rome burned and panicked
- Started in merchant shops of the Circus Maximus
- The fire burned for six days, burning two thirds of Rome
- Nero might have started the fire and used it for his good
- 10 of Romes 14 districts were burned

Roman Rule of Israel

66

This was the the first Roman Jewish war and it took place in 66 CE.
- There was a revolt because two of their emperors were banned from Jerusalem
- The two Roman emperors that were banned from Jerusalem were Vespasian and Titus
- After the Siege of Jerusalem there was always bad blood between Jerusalem and Rome
- They took over Jerusalem because it held most Jews at the time
- Ultimately a war was fought which resulting in Rome winning and destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple

Perpetua

181

Perpetua was a Christian martyr who wrote The Passion of Saints
- Perpetua was born in 181 CE and died in 203 CE
- Her diary was so influential that it was praised by orthodox Christians and heretical Montanists alike - She moved people to Christianity and once they were Christian made them passionate

Great Persecution of 303 CE

303

This was the biggest persecution against Christians. Diocletian started this persecution.
- Diocletian was the last emperor to heavily persecute Christians
- Diocletian and many others did not like the idea of monotheism or only believing in one god
- Many Christians were martyrs for their cause and hoped Christianity would eventually not be persecuted
- Ended in 311 CE when the edict of toleration was made
- Christians were burned and killed, just for their beliefs

Constantine the Great

306

Constantine the great was the first emperor to accept Christianity
- Changed the capital from Rome to Constantinople
- Constantinople was a place where Christianity was appreciated
- Constantine the Great ruled from 306 CE to 337 CE
- Soon after he stopped the persecution of Christianity, Christianity became the main religion of Rome
- He created the Edict of Milan and it said that Christians could believe what they wanted.

Battle of Milvian Bridge

312

The Battle of Milvian Bridge was a battle that lead Constantine to be Rome's main leader
- Took place on top of a bridge overlooking the Tiber River
- This war really helped prove that Christianity should be the main religion in Rome
- On 27 October, the night before the battle, it is said that Constantine had a dream
- His dream was the sun with and below it said in "hoc signo vince"
- Hoc signo vince means "In this sign, prevail" this persuaded him

Edict of Milan

313

This letter let Christians express their beliefs without being persecuted.
- The Edict of Milan was a letter signed by the Roman emperors that agreed to religious toleration.
- Without this who know where Christianity would be today
- This was the game changer for Christianity and where it really took off
- Constantine and Licinius were the two emperors that signed the Edict of Milan
- It was the outcome of a political agreement concluded in Mediolanum (modern Milan)

Emperor Theodosius

379

Theodosius the first made Christianity the main religion in Rome.
- He ruled sixteen years from 379 CE to 395 CE
- Theodosius was seen as Theodosius the Great since he started the Edict of Thessalonica
- The Edict of Thessalonica was basically the rule that allowed Christianity to be the main religion
- Theodosius really believed in Nicene Christianity so he specifically made it the main religion
- Theodosius was also the last ruler of east and west