Rise of Christianity in the Roman Empire

Roman Rule of Israel

200 BCE

Jews began living in Rome in the early 200th century BC and struggled to establish rights to worship God. The relations steadily declined, until Roman rule enveloped the Christians.

Jesus Of Nazareth

4 BCE

Jesus, referred as Jesus Christ, is the supposed Messiah of most Christian branches of religion. He was a peaceful preacher in Rome, who supposedly performed hundreds of miracles, and is regarded as the Son of God, and the central figure of Christianity.

Paul Of Tarsus

50

Paul of Tarsus is widely considered to be the most influential character in Christian history after Jesus of Nazareth, because of his work spreading the message of Christianity throughout Rome. 13 out of the books in the New Testament are attributed to Paul

The Great Fire Of Rome

64

The fire burned for six days. After it finally burned out, almost 70% of the city was destroyed. Gangs stopped citizens from putting out the fire, the reason it lasted so long. It is widely accepted that Nero started the fire in the middle of the Circus Maximus, and after the fire had burned 10 of the 14 districts, he blamed the Christians for starting the fire, because the Christian province hadn't been burned at all.

Perpetua

203

Perpetua was a woman who in her faith refused to admit to not being a Christian four times, and was martyred in her bravery. She's a representation of the fervent belief of the Christians and their bravery in the face of death.

Constantine the Great

280

Born February 27th, Constantine was the first Roman Emperor to embrace Christianity. Formerly a worshiper of the alleged sun god Sol Invictus, or the unconquered sun, Constantine began attributing his success to the Christian god, and began spreading these ideals throughout the empire.

Great Persecution of 303

303

The last great widespread persecution of the Christians, mainly started by the emperor Diocletian. The Christians rights were rescinded, they were forced to comply with common religious practices or die. Constantine's Edict of Milan is generally regarded as the end of the persecution, in 313 CE

The Battle of Milvian Bridge

312

The legend goes; as Constantine marched with his small army toward the imposing Maxentius's army, he saw a cross in the sky, and after his landslide victory over Maxentius, he decided that the God of the Christians was the one true God and began converting the empire to Christianity.

The Edict of Milan

313

A proclamation issued by Emperor Constantine, that permanently established tolerance of Christianity, and granted free worship of any religion in the Roman empire. It was the starting point in Christianity's reign in ancient Rome.

Emperor Theodosius

379

Theodosius took control in 379 CE, and was the last Emperor to control both the east and west halves of Rome. He was the first Emperor to force Orthodox Nicene Christianity as the official church of the Empire.