Rise of Christianity in the Roman Empire

Jesus of Nazareth

4 BCE

• Prophet who claimed to be the Messiah
• Rose from the dead
• Could work miracles
• Believed to be sent by God

Paul of Tarsus

4 BCE

• Saul was born in Tarsus
• Persecuted Jesus' followers
• Confronted by Jesus and became a Christian on his way to Damascus
• Renamed Paul to symbolise his change

Roman Rule of Israel

63

• Rome took control of Israel
• Jews were hostile to Romans
• Romans required tax from Israel in addition to the Jewish tax (tithes)

Great Fire of Rome

64

• Started at the Circus Maximus stadium
• Fire was put out 6 days later
• Only 4 of Romes 14 districts remain
• Belived Emperor Nero started the fire
• Nero blamed the Christians for the fire

Perpetua

172

• Christian noblewoman
• Put in prison for being a pagan
• Refused to lie about her religion to get out of prison

Constantine the Great

280

• Marched on Rome
• Saw "In this sign you will conquer" in the sky
• Had a dream about Christianity
• Put Christian symbols on his men's shields
• Won the Battle of Milvian Bridge

Great Persecution of 303 CE

303

• Christian churches burned
• Christian houses burned
• Christians killed and tortured
• Considered a threat to Roman religion
• Christians blamed for economical problems

Battle of Milvian Bridge

312

• Constantine marched on Rome to fight Maxentius
• Constantine forced Maxentius's men to retreat to try to defend Rome
• Maxentius's men drowned when crossing a bridge back to Rome
• Constantine won the Battle of Milvian Bridge

Edict of Milan

313

• Established religios rights
• Allowed people to worship whoever the wanted
• Prevented killing for being Christian
• Permanent

Emperor Theodosius

347

• Last emperor to rule entire Roman empire
• Was exiled but called back when previous emperor of Constantinople was killed
• Tolerated pagans until 391 CE when he destroyed the Serapeum (church) at Alexandria and banned pagans and the Olympics