Rise of Christianity in the roman empire

Jesus of Nazareth

1 CE

Jesus was a Jewish preacher and religious leader. He is the central figure of Christianity. Christians believe he is the incarnation of God the Son and the awaited Messiah prophesied in the Old Testament. Jesus was born in Bethlehem and traveled to Nazareth where he grew up. Nazareth is the cradle of Christianity, the city where, according to tradition, the angel Gabriel told Mary that she would conceive by the power of the Holy Spirit, and the place where Jesus spent his childhood and youth.

Paul of Tarsus

4

St. Paul is often considered to be the most important person after Jesus in the history of Christianity.Famously converted on the road to Damascus, he traveled tens of thousands of miles around the Mediterranean spreading the word of Jesus and it was Paul who came up with the doctrine that would turn Christianity from a small sect of Judaism into a worldwide faith that was open to all. He had a big influence on Christian theology, especially on the relationship between God the Father and Jesus

The Great Fire of Rome

64

The great fire of Rome was a big fire that started in the city. History blamed Nero for starting the fire so that he could bypass the senate. After, the fact two thirds of Rome was destroyed and 60,000 buildings were destroyed. It started in one of the shops of the circus maximums and burned for 6 days straight.

Roman Rule of Israel

70

The Roman army, led by the future Emperor Titus, with Tiberius Julius Alexander as his second-in-command, besieged and conquered the city of Jerusalem, which had been controlled by Judean rebel factions since 66 CE, following the Jerusalem riots of 66, when the Judean provisional government was formed in Jerusalem.In April 70 ce, about the time of Passover, the Roman general Titus besieged Jerusalem.

Perpetua

181

Perpetua is a woman who disobeyed the roman government. Christians were seen as a threat to the delicate pax deorum. Those who had been accused of being Christians were brought before officials and asked to offer a pinch of incense to the gods of Rome. If they refused, as Christians did, then they would be sentenced to death in the arena against wild animals. She was a determined and intense woman who meant what she said.

Constantine the great

272

Constantine was a roman emperor that ruled between 306 and 337 AD. He was the son of Flavius Valerius Constantine, a Roman Army officer of Illyrian origins and his mother, Helena. Constantine was best know for being the first christian empire. In February 313, Constantine met with Licinius in Milan where they made the Edict of Milan that changed Christians forever.

Great Persecution of 303 CE

303

The Diocletianic or Great Persecution was the last and most severe persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire. In 303, some Emperors issued a series of edicts rescinding Christians' legal rights and demanding that they comply with traditional religious practices. This event was the biggest slaughter of Christians during this time. Between 3000 and 3500 died during the event. Although this was very scary for Christians they were bold in there faith and did not let death scare them.

Battle of Milvian Bridge

312

The Battle of the Milvian Bridge took place between the Roman Emperors Constantine and Maxentius on 28 October 312. Constantine won the battle and started on the path that led him to end the Tetrarchy and become the sole ruler of the Roman Empire. Maxentius's forces attempted to retreat across the Tiber by way of the Milvian Bridge, but the bridge quickly became overcrowded and they were defeated.

Edict of Milan

313

The Edict of Milan was a letter signed by the Roman emperors Constantine and Licinius, that proclaimed religious toleration in the Roman Empire. The letter was issued in February, 313 AD and stopped the persecution of Christians. This was an agreement that all Christians should be able to live freely and express there faith in the ways they want.

Emperor Theodosius

347

Theodosius, was a Roman Emperor from 379 to 395, and the last emperor to rule over both the Eastern and the Western halves of the Roman Empire. On accepting his elevation, he campaigned against Goths and other barbarians who had invaded the Empire. Theodosius issued the Edict of Thessalonica, which made Christianity, specifically Nicene Christianity, the official religion of the Roman Empire. This was the last major step in spreading Christianity in Rome.