Rise of Christianity in the Roman Empire

Roman Rule of Israel (Begins)

63 BCE

In 64 BC general Pompey created a Roman territory in Syria cause Jerusalem to be defeated by the Romans a year later. Jesus of Nazareth was born and then killed by crucifixion. A long while later, Christianity was instituted as the Roman religion.

Jesus of Nazareth

4

Jesus was the center of Christianity itself. By executing Jesus in around 33 AD it only caused his religion to spread more throughout many different parts of Rome. This religion caused Roman leaders to fear Christianity because they thought that only worshiping one god was breaking their agreement with their multiple gods.

Paul of Tarsus

35

He is one of the second important founders of Christianity. Paul was raised in Greek culture, however he also practiced a Jewish religion. He emphasized that Christianity was a universal religion. He wanted people to understand that Christianity was for everyone not just the Jewish people. He used to go around capturing and imprisoning Christians but then he was touched by Jesus and went blind for three days and then his sight came back. Paul died in 67 CE.

Great Fire of Rome

64

A fire broke out surrounding the Circus Maximus. This fire was supposedly started by Emperor Nero because he wanted to rebuild Rome to his liking. The fire ended on July 25, 64 A.D. burning down 10/14 of Rome's districts. Nero blamed this fire on the new religious peoples called the Christians.

Perpetua

203

Perpetua was a 22 year old girl. She was imprisoned for being Christian. She was the mother of the infant she was nursing and she was a married noble woman. Her and many other dies at Carthage instead of relinquishing their religion. Her diary entries while she was in prison can be found in old Christian texts. She was born between 181-182 CE.

Great Persecution of 303 CE

303

Emperor Diocletian wanted to wipe out the Christians and their Church. This event continued on for 8 years ending in 311. This persecution was an empire wide captured, torture, and sometimes murder of Christians in Rome. The primary targets of these attacks were leader and priests in the Christian government.

Constantine the Great

312

Constantine fought in the Milvian Bridge Battle. His soldiers eventually won the war but only after he followed his vision to put a Christian Symbol on the shields of his soldiers. Constantine became the next Roman emperor and in 313 he created the Edict of Milan. He then went on to conquer the Eastern Emperor, and then founded the religious city of Constantinople.

Battle of Milvian Bridge

312

Constantine and his army fought against Maxentius beside the River Tiber. Constantine had a dream that he needed to put the Christian symbol on all of his soldiers shields. The next morning he then had all his soldiers paint it onto their shields and his army proceeded to win and conquer Maxentius. In his dream he saw the words "hoc signo vinces" which means "in this sign, prevail".

Edict of Milan

313

This proclamation gave every person throughout Rome, religious freedom. This proclamation came from a meeting between Constantine who ruled the west, and Licinius who ruled the east. This was the beginning movement to the transition from the martyrs to "Christian Empire". This statement also gave all rights that Roman citizens had, to the Christian people as well.

Emperor Theodosius

379

He was an emperor that ruled from 379 CE to 395 CE. He put the church before the Roman empire and almost sacrificed all his power. He helped the Christians relocate. He also defended the religion from two other religions and made a temple in Jerusalem. He was one of the emperors who helped make Christianity the official religion of Rome