Rise of Christianity in the Roman Empire

The Roman Empire

Period: 27 BCE to 476

After the fall of the Roman Republic, the Roman Empire rose from its predecessors legacy. For the next five hundred years, the empire would conquer new lands and by the end of its time, it had controlled much of the Mediterranean area as well as northern Europe including Great Britain. It reached far into the east as well, reaching as far as the eastern reaches of southwest Asia. Surprisingly, after all of the persecution laid on Christians, Rome would soon become the leader of Christianity.

Jesus of Nazareth

1 CE

• Part of the Holy Trinity, Jesus Christ was born on December 25, 1 AD.
• He lived his life spreading the Word of God throughout the Roman Empire and Middle East.
• Jesus was crucified between years 30 and 33 AD.
• He then rose three days after his death. This day is known as Easter.
• After being reborn, he roamed the country for forty days continuing his preaching and spreading Christianity then ascending into Heaven.
• He was capable of many miracles. A famous was allowing a blind man to see.

Paul of Tarsus

4

• Born around 4 AD, Paul the Apostle, originally known as Saul of Tarsus, died sometime between 62 and 64 AD.
• Paul is considered to be the most important person in Christianity other than Jesus.
• Paul was originally a Jew at some point in his life, Jesus converted him to Christianity.
• He was one of the Twelve Disciples like Peter and John.
• Paul was incredibly effective at creating new Christian communities.

Great Fire of Rome

64

• A great fire broke out in Rome in late summer while Emperor Nero ruled.
• Ten out of the fourteen provinces in the city were destroyed along with valuables, goods and countless lives taken.
• Nero blamed the fires on the Christians leading the Roman citizens to want to have revenge.
• The Christians were persecuted in terrible ways from murder to rape to being fed to wild animals.
• A favorite of Nero's, many Christians were burned at the stake.

Roman Rule of Israel

64

• Rome took control of the area after a gruesome battle in 64 AD.
• Controlling Israel was critical for the Roman Empire because it allowed them to move more freely through Asia, Europe and Africa as well as the eastern part of the Mediterranean
• Jews were able to practice their faith however they wished so long as the followed the Roman law and served their emperor loyally.
• During Jesus' lifetime, Jews pleaded with his followers in Israel to stop referring to him as king, in fear of Rome.

Perpetua

182

• Born sometime in 182 AD, Vibia Perpetua was a Christian martyr who died on March 7, 203 in Carthage, a city of Northern Africa.
• She wrote "The Passion of Saints Perpetua and Felicity", a journal of her life, one of the few remaining historical texts written by a woman.
• She and her five companions were condemned to death in the arena after refusing to renounce their faith.
• The day of her death she handed off her journal to another Christian to continue on her story.

The Great Persecution

303

• The Great Persecution lasted from 303 AD to somewhere around 311 AD and 313 AD.
• Rome had entered a terrible time of poor economy and disastrous natural events including droughts and wild fires.
• In hopes of saving his seat in office, Emperor Diocletian blamed these catastrophes on the Christians.
• On a whole, this was a very bad time for Christians. They were persecuted in any number of ways. Their deaths and suffering were used to please the Romans.

Constantine the Great

312

• Born in 280 AD, died in 337 AD, Constantine became the Emperor of the West in 312 AD and then sole Roman emperor in 324 AD.
• He was the first Christian Emperor of Rome.
• After winning the Battle of Milvian Bridge at 312 under Christ's banner after seeing a holy vision, he made the Edict of Milan which allowed freedom of religion and protected Christians from persecution.
• He founded the city of Constantinople.
• He was responsible for much of the spread of Christianity in Rome.

Battle of Milvian Bridge

312

• On October 28, 312 AD, Constantine the Great, Emperor of the Western Roman Empire defeated the Eastern Roman Empire at the Battle of Milvian Bridge.
• The day before the battle, it is said that Constantine had seen a vision of him leading his troops to victory under Christ's banner with the angels watching over him in the heavens.
• Christ's banner was then painted on all the shields.
• The west won.
• Constantine then wrote the Edict of Milan, bringing freedom of worship to the Roman Empire.

Edict of Milan

313

• Issued in February of 313 AD, the Edict of Milan was signed by Constantine, Emperor of the West and Licinius, Emperor of the East.
• This edict declared religious tolerance in all of the Roman Empire and ended persecution for Christians in Rome.
• This edict was vital for Christianity's spread throughout the world. It allowed people to be less afraid to show their beliefs and religion. Also, with the Roman Empire being a huge superpower, the religion spread quickly throughout the land.

Emperor Theodosius

347

• Born on January 11, 347 AD, died on January 17, 395 AD, Emperor Theodosius was the Eastern Emperor from 379-392 AD and then Roman Emperor from 392-395 AD.
• Theodosius was a devote Christian and fully believed in the Nicene Creed.
• Emperor Theodosius declared that the Nicene Creed was the universal code for Christians.
• Theodosius was an excellent military leader as well as devote Christian. He had been able to make allies with the Goths and the Western Roman Empire as well as many others.