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27 BCE
Roman Rule of Israel (begins)
Important because Jews and Romans interacted during the period of the Roman Empire
1. Migrated from Babylon, Asia Minor, Land of Israel, and Alexandria
2. In 66 CE, the first Jew-Roman War started because of a Jewish revolt
3. Cultures began to overlap centuries before the Christian Era
4. Under Caeser, Judisum became officially recognized as a religion
5. Roman and Jewish tensions resulted in several wars
Source: Wikipedia -
6 BCE
Jesus of Nazareth
Important because he was the religious leader of Christianity
1. Known as Jesus Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus of Galilee
2. Luke/Matthew reports that Mary she "was found to be with the child from the Holy Spirit".
3. Jesus became a carpenter like his father
4. Jesus was executed somewhere in CE 29-33, disciples had been convinced that Jesus still appears to them
5. Disciples converted others to believe in him, which eventually to a new religion, Christianity.
Source: Encyclopedia Britannica -
4 BCE
Paul of Tarsus
Important because he was often considered the most important person after Jesus
1. One of the leaders of the 1st generation of Christians
2. Surviving letters had enormous influence on subsequent Christianity
3. Secured his place as one of the greatest leaders of all time
4. Born around the same time as Jesus
5. Converted to faith in Jesus Christ in 33 CE
Source: Encyclopedia Britannica -
64
The Great Fire of Rome
Important because it burned 70% over 6 days
1. Started in the Circus Maximus stadium
2. It burned 10 of the 14 Roman districts
3. Ancient historians blamed Nero for the fire
4. Nero wanted to raze the city to build a palace but blamed the Christians
5. Modern historians don't blame Nero. Rome=2 million people. 1000s living in slums. Slums=poor constructed wooden apartment buildings Source: National Geographic -
182
Perpetua
Important because her text is one of rare surviving documents by a woman in the ancient world
1. Began diary with an account of imprisonment
2. Continued with descriptions of trial and father's plea to for her to renounce Christian identity
3. Most of text concerns were of prison dreames
4. On the evening of death, Perpetua gave her diary to another Christian, who continued the story of Perpetua
5. Perpetua voluntary accepted death by a sword
Source: Encyclopedia Britannica -
303
Great Persecution of 303 CE
Important because it was greatest persecution of Christians from 303 to 313 CE
1. Crucifixion of Christ, Christianity spread like wildfire in Rome
2. After, persecution of faith began by Roman authorities
3. Rome increasingly saw Christianity as a new religion and attitudes changed towards Christianity
4. Diocletian's first move was to purge Christians from the military
5. In 303, Diocletian overturned the law passed in 260 and issued edicts outlawing the faith
Source: HistoriaRex -
306
Constantine the Great
Important because Constantine was a Roman Emperor from 306-337 CE
1. Constantine rose and defeated challengers, reunited the split empire
2. Moved away from Old Rome and new capital is Constantinople
3. Fought Maxentius at Battle of Milvian Bridge in 312 CE
4. Constantine beat Maxentius, who fled to Rome and drowned in a river
5. Old banners were replaced by new banners bearing the cross
Source: Ancient History Encyclopedia -
312
The Battle of Milvan Bridge
Important because it made Constantine master of the Roman Empire
1. Constantine dreamed that Christ told him to use the cross to scare off his enemies
2. Galerius died in 311, Constantine invaded Italy and marched on Rome
3. Maxentius fought at Milvian Bridge and got destroyed, carried Via Flaminia over the Tiber
4. Constantine won, he attributed it to God of the Christians
5. Lead to the Edict of Milan
Source: History Today -
313
Edict of Milan
Important because it was an agreement which established religious tolerance in Rome
1. Persecution of Christians lasted 2 centries
2. Bestowed lenience/neutralism to all religions, especially Christianity in Rome
3. Everybody has a right to worship a deity of their choice
4. Proclamation was agreed upon after Edict of Tolerance
5. It didn't make Christianity official religion but legalized Christianity in Rome
Source: WorldAtlas -
379
Emperor Theodosius
Important because after his death in 395 CE, the Empire split permanently
1. Last emperor of both Eastern/Western Roman Empire
2. Known for making Christianity the official state religion of the Roman Empire
3. Criticized for imposing draconian measures against polytheism
4. In 391, Theodosius declared Christianity as the only legitimate imperial religion
5. Theodosius retired to family estates where he adopted the life of a provincial aristocrat
Source: New World Encyclopedia
