Rise of Christianity in the Roman Empire

Roman Rule of Israel

63 BCE

Jerusalem was conquered by the Roman Empire in 63 BC. Judaism was recognized as the legal religion by Julius Caesar. Herod the Great was made the King of the Jews, but there was a lot of tension between the Jews and Romans.

Jesus of Nazareth

30

Jesus was born in Bethlehem and baptised byJohn the Baptist, who called him the son of God. Jesus explained the prophecies and how the kingdom of God was near throughout villages. Jesus instituted the Eucharist, the covenent between God and humas. He was cricified for claiming to be the son of God and king of Jews

The Great Fire of Rome

64

The leader of Rome, Nero, blamed the Christians for the fire upon Rome. He arrested, tortured and executed hundreds of Christians in order to slow the influence or Christianity.

Paul of Tarsus

67

Paul of Tarsus became a missionary and spread the message of Christianity. He was an Apostle who taught the gospel of Christ, and wrote a part of the New Testament. He was eventually imprisoned and killed by Emperor Nero.

Perpetua

182

She was a Christian noblewoman from North Africa that was one of the first among Christians preparing for baptism. Perpetua refused to deny her Christianity and was killed with swords by the emperor who wanted to cripple Christianity.

The Great Persecution

303

Diocletian, the emperor of Rome at the time, decided to persecute Christians in order to unite the empire into the same beliefs and gods after a time of economic decline and crisis. This persecutions killed several thousand Christians, including many Christian leaders.

Constantine the Great

306

Constantine issued the Edict of Milan with Licinius, which removed all restrictions on Christianity. Constantine and Licinius battled over Roman rule, Constantine being victorious. He built Constantinople, a place full of churches and honored/legalized Christianity in the empire.

Battle of Milvian Bridge

312

The night before Constantine's battle for rule over Rome, he dreamed of the sun overlain by a cross and an inscription, hoc signo vinces, which translates "In this sign, you will conquer." Constantine then ordered his men to paint crosses on their shields, and eventually won the battle. This led to Constantine honoring Christianity and continuing the spread of the religion throughout the Roman Empire by writing the Edict of Milan, which made practicing Christianity legal.

Edict of Milan

313

Constantine met with Licinius and issued the Edict of Milan. This made Christianity legal, removed restrictions of Christian worship, and returned all property taken away from the Church during the Great Persecution. This document encouraged the spread of Christianity and abolished Christian persecution.

Emperor Theodosius

379

Theodosius used his power to enforce Christianity in the Roman Empire and made it the state religion, thus changing the course of Christianity. He also placed his power under the church, and all of this was fueled by political and religious motives.