Rise of Christianity in the Roman Empire

Jesus of Nazareth

1 CE

-Was born in the town of Bethlehem
-He was conceived from the Virgin Mary.
-Was claimed by Jewish people that he was the Messiah.
-The Ministry didn't start until Jesus was 12.
-He gave the idea of forgiveness and acceptance that caused people to follow. They named this religion Christianity.

Roman Rule of Israel

21

-After Seleucids, they gave Hasmonean limited power.
-During this Jews were hostile towards the new regime.
-While Judea was in power the Jews got more and more angry.
-Eventually, this called a revolt.
-So many Jews were killed during this revolt or thrown into slavery which caused catastrophe to the Jewish religion.

The Great Fire of Rome

64

It was common in Rome to have fires. However, the emperor Nero watched this fire destroyed 10/14 districts for days. After the fire ended the citizens blamed Nero saying he wanted Rome gone to build it his way. However, Nero blamed it on the new religion Christianity. Right after Nero blamed Christians for the fire he fell to his death. However, Christianity was hated and would be punished for the fire. However, Tacitus saw through Nero's intentions and wrote about whose fault it really was.

Paul of Tarsus

64

-He set the tone for Christianity and wrote about salvation.
-Wrote in the New Testament in the Bible.
-He was Jewish and a resident of Rome.
-Paul was imprisoned in Jerusalem and was sent to trial two years later.
-He was beheaded from Nero with Paul due to his part in Christianity.

Constantine the Great

208

-Constantine was a strong warrior that was crucial for the Roman military.
- During the battle of Milvian Bridge Constantine saw a vision that God was real and Christianity was good.
- They won the battle and his vision ended up being on all shields. XD.
- Constantine talked with Licinius and created Edict of Milan.
-The Edict of Milan made Christianity legal.
-Constantine even brought curches to Rome and other worshipping practices to Rome.

Perpetua

208

-Had a diary of her imprisonment.
-Perpetua wanted to convert to Christianity, but Emperor Severus said no.
-This led to her being arrested for being Christian.
-She refused to take back her faith in Christianity, so she was sent to death in the arena.
-Her diary's stories continued through Christians and her daughter was a slave named Felicity.
-She died by the blade of a sword.

Great Persecution of 303 CE

303

-2500 to 3500 people killed for being Christians.
-Christians forced out of social, political, and military institutions.
-Diocletian was the emperor giving the orders at the time.
-Terminus or god of boundaries was the symbol to Christians that they would be killed.
-There were orders for the military to burn scriptures, churches, and other symbols that were for Christianity.

Edict of Milan

313

-This was an agreement that allowed tolerance of religions, specifically Christianity.
-This agreement was between Licinius and Constantine.
-There was Edict of Tolerance two years prior, but it did not legalize Christianity.
-It allowed the right to people that they can worship without being harmed or discriminated against.
-Later on, Constantine stopped believing in Christianity.
-Also, it gave the people their property back that was for worshipping Christianity.

The Battle of Milvian Bridge

324

-Emperor Diocletian, Constantine the Great, and Maxentius were all leaders of this battle.
-This was the battle Constantine saw his vision, which allowed him to carry his troops.
-Constantine won against Maxentius.
-This made Constantine the emperor of the entire Roman Emperor.
-This is when Constantine made the shields symbolize Christianity.

Emperor Theodosius

347

-Established the Council of Nicaea.
-His close family was Christians so it was important that he created the council.
-Theodosius had to prove himself to the military multiple times.
-Theodosius had tp deal with the disciples of the Nicene Creed.
-Theodosius's goal was to carry out unity of his faith and continue spreading Christianity.