History of christianity and the roman empire

Roman Rule of Israel (begins)

63 BCE

After Rome became a republic, they spread far from Rome reaching Israel. The Roman Occupation of Israel was a big reason why it didn't grow and eventually Christianity for a long time until the adoption by the Romans because of the constant oppression against the jews. By the time Rome took occupation of Israel, the Empire was large but spread thin. Israel could continue to practice their monotheistic religion so long as they obeyed the Roman rule, paid their taxes, and kept the peace.

Jesus of Nazareth

20

around this time Jesus develops a following and starts to do the things shown in the new testament. In 33 AD he was crucified developing the idea of rising to heaven and eternal life. People followed Jesus because of his kindness to all, his miracles including healing the blind, walking on water, and clearing leprosy. he was considered the Son of God, and one of the most important religious figures in Christianity.

Paul of Tarsus

33

Famously converted on the road to Damascus, he traveled many many miles around the Mediterranean region letting people know what Jesus was about and spreading his word. it was Paul who came up with the doctrine that would turn Christianity from a small little religion in Rome to the great big overpowering religion that we see today. He was the first systematic theologian and writer of the Christian Church and has been the most influential teacher in the history of Christianity.

Great Fire of Rome

64

This fire was one of the biggest perils of the Roman Empire because after it ended it had destroyed over 2/3 of Rome. It began around the Circus Maximus. According to Tacitus, Emperor Nero blamed the destruction of Rome on the Christians in the city making the start of the first prosecution of Christians and hurting their reputation. 10 of Rome's 14 districts were burned.

Perpetua

203

Vibia Perpetua was a young woman and a noble. She was 22 when she died for her religion. In the city of Carthage in North Africa on March 7 203, she was killed because for her religious convictions. She wrote a diary in her time in the prison called the passion of saints.

Constantine the Great

272

he was the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity and played one of the most important roles in the growth of Christianity. Constantine played an influential role in the proclamation of the Edict of Milan in 313, after the battle at the Milvian bridge, which allowed the practice of Christianity in the empire. He called the First Council of Nicaea in 325, at which the Nicene Creed was professed by Christians. His birth name was Flavius Valerius Constantinus.Died May 22 337.

Battle of Milvian Bridge

303

At the battle at Milvian Bridge Christianity was then after established as the empire's official religion because, at this battle, Constantine famously saw a vision before the battle which persuaded him to pursue Christianity as a religion, helping Christianity grow as a whole. It was this battle that Constantine won and then went to end the roman tetrarchy. He and his army to painted the symbols of Christianity on their shields because of the vision. The vision that he saw was a cross of light.

Great Persecution of 303 CE

303

In this time Emperor Diocletian ordered the Edict against Christian, and this edict ordered the destruction of Christian books and scripts, and places of worship across the Roman Empire and prohibited Christians from doing worship even in secrecy. This made Christianity very hard to use and prohibited growth until 311 bc when it ended. It was the last and most severe prosecution of Christians. Emperors Diocletian, Maximian, Galerius, and Constantius issued it.

Edict of Milan

313

Passed by the emperor Constantine, The Edict of Milan made Christianity legal and so forth put the religion in the limelight making people come out of the shadows and express their belief openly spreading faster than ever before. "...the same shall be restored to the Christians without payment or any claim of recompense and without any kind of fraud or deception...". one of the people that signed the edict was Licinius. The edict let the Romans last longer because it made the people happy

Emperor Theodosius

379

Emperor Theodosius was in terms of Christianity, the breaking point of when it was fully embraced by the roman empire and was now the official religion of Rome. All due to Theodosius. He was also called Theodosius the first or the great. He was the last emperor to rule the Roman empire before it split into East and West. He died in 395. He died to swelling.