Rise of Christianity in the Roman Empire

Paul of Tarsus

4 BCE

Paul was born in Cilicia in 4 BCE and died 62 AD. Paul was one Apostle and was originally named Saul of Tarsus. He was also one of the most important people after Jesus's second death in the history of Christianity. Paul went through a lot of struggle and some of his letters still survive today. Paul wrote eight books in the new testament; he wrote Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Colossians, Philippians, Philemon, and 1 Thessalonians.

The Great Fire of Rome

64

A fire started in the Circus Maximus and spread into Rome. It took six days for the fires to go out and out of the 14 Roman districts, 10 burned to the ground.

Roman Rule of Israel (begins)

79

The Romans when they took Isreal over in 70 AD and controlled their military, political and financial affairs. This was not the first time Isreal had been taken over. They also had gotten taken over by the Assyrians, Babylonians, and Persians, and then by the Ptole­mies and Seleucids. The Romans took all the artifacts in the temple and destroyed much of the temple.

Perpetua

203

Perpetua was a Christian who wrote The Passion of Saints Perpetua and Felicity is a journal telling about the challenges and imprisonment. This leads up to how she dies in the arena. This is a story that most Christians deeply respect today. Her writing is also one of the only writings made by a woman in history to survive to this day.

The Great Persecution

303

The great persecution started with the Roman emperor Diocletian, who had a goal to wipe out the Christian church and people in the Roman Empire. Most Christians were put to death, tortured or walked away from their faith. The persecution stopped when Constantine came to power in 30.

Constantine the Great

306

Constantine was born on February 27, 272 AD. Constantine defended the bridge that went across as Rhine River against different Roman enemies with Maxentius, Maximian's son during a period of civil war in the Roman empire. There he had a vision and he followed it. There he was successful in the Battle of the Milivan Bridge and after converted to being a Christian and most of the Empire started becoming Christians. Constantine then died on May 22, 337 AD.

The Battle of the Milvian Bridge

312

This battle was fought between the West and East Roman Empire because they both wanted control of all the Roman Empire. The battle was fought between Constantine The Great and Maxentius the son in law of Galerius. Constantine won the battle due to the death of the emperor Galerius in 311.

Edict of Milan

313

The Edict of Milan made it possible for Christians to be Christians without any punishment. This was made because of Constantine and Licinius making it possible for people in the Roman Empire to worship as they please like our first amendment in America.

Emperor Theodosius

379

Theodosius was born in Spain and his father was a great military commander. Theodosius went on his father's expeditions to Britain to learn from him and later in life became a leader himself and fought German tribes. When he became emperor in 379 he became very ill and became a Christian. Due to him becoming a Christian he was given the name "The Great".