Rise of Christianity in Roman Empire

Roman Rule Over Israel

63 BCE

In 63 BCE, after the Hasmonean Revolt and the end of the Hasmonean Era, the Roman General Pompey the Great intervened and captured Jerusalem for Rome. This increased the Roman Republic's influence over Judea (the area with the Israelite Tribe). Under Roman rule the Israelites tried to become independent with the First Jewish-Roman War and the Bar Kokhba Revolt, but both were suppressed by the Romans. Romans kept control of Israel through the Eastern Roman Empire and into the Byzantine Empire.

Jesus of Nazareth

4 BCE

Jesus' birth date is not confirmed but it is said to be near 0 CE, while most sources say 4 CE. Most Christians believe he was the incarnation of God (the Son of God) and that he was the Messiah (Christ) that the Christians waited for and was prophesied in the Old Testament. Many Christians followed him and this started the Christian faith to increase in numbers rapidly. Jesus claimed that he was part of the Holy Trinity. Around the age of 30 - 36 (unknown) Jesus had died by crucifixion.

Paul of Tarsus

5

Paul of Tarsus, eventually became Paul the Apostle, and was known as Saint Paul and also known by his Jewish name Saul of Tarsus, was an apostle who taught the gospel of Christ to the first-century world. He was born in 5 AD and died between 64 - 67 AD, and lived to the old age of 59 (or up to 62). Paul the Apostle considered himself a servant to Jesus Christ, and he was one of the most important people in spreading Christianity to what it is today.

The Great Fire of Rome

64

In 64 CE, a fire started that burned for six days and destroyed about 65% of the City of Rome. Many believed that Emperor Nero started the fire to bypass the Senate and build Rome the way he wanted. To stop people from thinking that Nero started the fire, he blamed the fire on the Christians (because the Christian section of the city was left not burnt). This started the first major persecution of Christians in which many Christians were killed.

Perpetua

203

Perpetua, also known as Perpetuate the Holy, was a young mother in Carthage during the Roman Empire that was killed as a martyr of the Christian faith. Perpetua was born in 181 and died on March 7, 203. She was born into a wealthy family, and Perpetua was given the chance to abandoned her faith and when she refused she was sentenced to death. After her death, Perpetua became a Saint in addition to her friend Felicity.

The Great Persecution

303

In 303 CE, the second persecution of Christians started and was called The Great Persecution. During this time, the Roman economy and Roman politics under preformed and the Emperor at the time,Diocletian, needed someone to blame, so he chose the Christians (like all other Emperors before him). The Great Persecution resulted in the death of several thousands of Christians in the most brutal way. Christian families were put to fight wild beasts (lion, tigers etc) with no weapons and other ways.

Constantine The Great

312

Constantine was born of February 27, 272. Many rumored that Constantine's mother, Helena, was Christian, and that she had taught Constantine the Christian religion and many of it's values. Then later in his life, Constantine came to power in Rome after winning a series of civil war. Just before a battle, Constantine "saw" a vision, and after winning a battle later he believed in Christianity. Constantine made many reforms to the Roman system, so that Christianity would be legal.

Battle of Milvian Bridge

312

The Battle of the Milvian Bridge took place between the Roman Emperors Constantine I and Maxentius on October 28, 312. Before the battle Emperor Constantine "saw" a vision and thought that it was sent from God. After Constantine's lesser army, defeated Maxentius' larger army with minimal casualties he truly started to believe in Christianity. This battle was the start of Christianity going from the most persecuted to the most followed.

Edict of Milan

313

Just before a battle against Maxentius (and his larger army) on October 28, 312, Constantine "saw" a vision that he though was from God. After he defeated the stronger army, he believed that God helped him win and immediately began believing in Christianity. Once he got back home to Rome, he began passing many reforms to make Christianity legal and the major reform was the Edict of Milan. The Edict of Milan made all religion legal in the empire and ended the persecution of Christianity forever.

Emperor Theodosius

379

Theodosius I, also known as Theodosius the Great, was Roman Emperor from AD 379 to AD 395. Also, he was the last emperor to rule over both the eastern and the western halves of the Roman Empire, until Rome split into the Eastern Roman Empire and the Western Roman Empire. Even though Emperor Theodosius campaigned against Goths and other barbarians who had invaded the empire, the empire ended up begin conquered by many of the barbaric tribes including the Goths.