Rise of Christianity in the Roman Empire

Jesus of Nazareth

30

Jesus Nazareth or Jesus Christ was the religious leader and began Christianity. Christians believe that he was an incarnation of God, so many followed him. He was born in Bethlehem, from the virgin Mary. He lived his life deeply involved in religion, and with his blessings and baptisms, he was believed to be the son of God. Because of this, many people followed him, and Christianity was born. He went Jerusalem in 30, to observe Passover, where he was arrested, and executed.

Paul of Tarsus

45

Paul was an apostle who taught the gospel of Christianity in the 1st century. He founded several churches in Europe, and Asia Minor. He wrote much of the new testament, and was also the author of the Hebrews. He saw the resurrected Jesus in a great light on his way to Damascus, where he was blinded for 3 days. He was incredibly influential to the spread of Christianity and had a profound effect on those he knew. He tried to persuade the Jewish community that Jesus was the son of God.

The Great Fire of Rome

64

The Great Fire of Rome started in the Circus Maximus, burning for 6 days, and burning 10 districts in Rome. In ancient times, the emperor of the time, Nero, was blamed. It was said he was playing the fiddle while watching his city burn. Other thought that Nero wanted to burn the city in order to build a new palace. Nero blamed the Christians, because at the time their religion was illegal. However others think that the fire was caused by the poorly constructed wooden apartments.

The Roman Rule of Israel Begins

66

The Romans had controlled Israel for many years, because of its high trade placement and fertile land. The Romans had believed in Christianity, however many Jewish believers lived in Israel. The Romans did not approve of Judaism, and tried to limit Jews, taking away rights. The Jewish-Roman war would begin, with the eventual demise of Jewish right in Judea. Once Rome infiltrated the walls of Jerusalem, they began a dictatorship, removing the rebellion, with up to 1 million Jewish casualties.

Perpetua

203

Perpetua was a christian writer who wrote The Passion of Saints Perpetua. Her book was one of the few books written by a women in that time period. She was imprisoned after Christianity was outlawed, and refusing to renounce her faith, she was sentenced to death. Her father begged to renounce her faith, unsuccessfully, and during her imprisonment she had visions of heaven. She gave her book to another Christian before she was killed, where it could be passed on. She showed bravery in the arena.

The Great Persecution of 303 CE

303

In 303 CE, the emperor Diocletian wanted to terminate Christians from Roman society. His first edict ordered the destruction of Christian churches and scriptures. Legal rights were taken away from those who were Christians. Diocletian's persecutions would continue for years, stopping fully by 313. No one was safe from the persecution, and a few years later, another edict required ritual offering in public, or they would be tortured. Once he retired the next emperor stopped persecutions in 311.

Battle of Milvian Bridge

312

In 312, Constantine defeated his rival Maxentius at the Milvian Bridge, that crossed the Tiber river. Constantine felt that he deserved all of Rome, instead of only one side. Once he became emperor, he marched his army toward Rome, outnumbered 40,000 to 100,000. He believed he was blessed by the Christian Gods, because he received a vision that told him to put Christ on shields. He believed that he was destined to succeed, and chosen. He in fact won the battle and ruled east and west Rome.

Constantine the Great

313

In 313, Constantine declared the Edict of Milan, legalizing Christianity in Rome. Constantine had visions and signs from the Christian God, and he put overlapping XP on shields of soldiers. He won his next battle, and his belief in Christianity was cemented. After his victory, Constantine started building Constantinople, the new capital of Rome. Before battles Constantine put the symbol of the cross on flags during battle. Constantinople was dedicated to the Christian God and decorated greatly.

The Edict of Milan

313

In 313, Constantine and Licinius declared the Edict of Milan, legalizing Christianity in Rome. This gave Christians more freedom, and protected them from the terror they had in previous years. Constantine declared this after his victory at the Battle of Milvian Bridge, where he had visions of the Christian God. The victory gave Constantine a deep faith in Christianity, which drove him to announce the Edict of Milan. He wanted to establish justice with the Christian after what happened to them.

Emperor Theodosius

379

Emperor Theodosius ruled the Roman empire from 379-395. He reunited east and west Rome until his death in 395. He transformed the empire into a Christian empire, and greatly liked Christianity. He was baptized in 380, when a severe illness threatened his life. Theodosius had a set of laws that denied polytheists the right to worship. He declared that temples in Alexandria dedicated to the Roman Gods. He made the empire's religion Christianity.