Rise of Christianity in the Roman Empire

Roman Rule of Israel begins

64 BCE

Rome allowed Israel to practice their religion if they obeyed Roman laws and paid taxes. Israelis felt it was a privilege to worship their god but the privilege could be taken away. Hadrian became Emperor and resumed the conflict between the Jews and Rome. The first Jewish revolt started. The last Jewish resistance was in Bethar, the last stronghold under Jewish command. It was attacked by two Roman legions and wiped out. Jerusalem was also destroyed, but later rebuilt into a Pagan settlement.

Jesus of Nazareth

4 BCE

He told people not to cling to the past because God would create a new future. He taught about God's reign and kingdom. He told people of commandments from God, and taught people to pray. The night of the Great Supper, Jesus was taken to trial before the temple court. He was declared a blasphemer, and then crucified. On a Sunday morning, what is now Easter, it's said that Jesus rose from the grave to meet his disciples. He was a prominent influencer and teacher of Christianity.

Paul of Tarsus

34

Paul heard of a man named Jesus. Paul persecuted his followers. He wanted them to give up their faith. He traveled to Damascus, where belief of Jesus was growing. He was blinded by a light with a voice, the voice of Jesus. He told Paul to enter the city and await orders. Paul entered the city. A disciple came to him and said Jesus wanted Paul to be baptized. The disciple laid his hands on Paul and baptized him. Paul began to teach about Jesus, but later died under the orders of Nero as a martyr.

The Great Fire of Rome

64

The emperor Nero caused the fire of Rome so he was then able to rebuild the city like he wanted. ⅔ of the city burned down. Gangs of people were going around and preventing people from putting out the fire. It burned for six days, but the area where the Christians lived was untouched. Nero used them as a scapegoat to blame for the fire so he wouldn’t take the blame. That the Christians had started it and somehow protected themselves from the fire. Started on July 18th, and ended July 23rd 64.

Perpetua

203

She was arrested for refusing to worship the Roman Gods. Her dad visited her in prison and tried to change her faith. She refused. She dreamed of a ladder leading to heaven. She shared the vision with her brother. They agreed it meant she'd end her imprisonment as a martyr. On execution day, Perpetua was calm and prepared to meet death with dignity. She survived being thrown in with wild animals. Then she survived a gladiator stabbing her. She grabbed the gladiator's sword and slit her own neck.

The Great Persecution

303

Diocletian's goal was to wipe out all Christians. He wanted them to turn back to paganism or worship the emperor as god. Anyone he caught was offered the chance to be released by making a sacrifice to the gods or emperor. Later, an edict was passed that stated everyone had to sacrifice to the gods/emperor and show proof, otherwise they'd be killed. Diocletian also burnt down churches and scriptures. Christians were thrown to animals to be eaten alive, and were burned alive.17,000 died in total.

Constantine the Great

312

Before the battle of Milvian bridge, Constantine had a vision and a dream. His vision was of a cross in the clouds with the words In Hoc Signo Vinces which means, with this sign you will conquer. In his dream, he is told to put the cross onto all of his soldiers shields. After the victory of the battle, it's seen as a turning point in history. He fought the battle of Milvian in the name of the Christian God. His belief in Christianity is closely related to his rise in power.

Battle of Milvian Bridge

312

Between Constantine and Maxentius, the bridge was reduced so as not to allow Constantine's men to cross, but forced Maxentius to cross the river. Maxentius tried to make a strategic retreat to keep the main part of his army protected. With only a narrow piece of stone and wood letting them retreat, Constantine’s men attacked and many of Maxentius’s men were killed or drowned. Maxentius with them. Constantine was victorious, and became the sole ruler of the roman empire and Christianity.

Edict of Milan

313

The Edict of Milan was a proclamation that established permanent tolerance for Christianity in the Roman Empire. It was the outcome of a political agreement between Constantine and Licinius. It granted all people the freedom to worship whatever God they pleased, assured legal rights to Christians and gave property back to the Christians whom it had originally been confiscated from.

Emperor Theodosius

380

He was the sole ruler of the East and the West. He suppressed paganism and Arianism in favor for Christianity. He proclaimed himself as a Christian of Nicene Creed. One hundred and fifty bishops gathered to revise the Nicene Creed of A.D. 325 into the Creed that we have today.