Rise of Christianity in the Roman Empire

Roman Rule of Israel Begins

64 BCE

The Romans were ruling over Israel in 64 BC. Then the Jewish started a revolt in 66 AD. The revolt was squashed by the Romans, and in 70 AD the Siege of the Temple of Jerusalem took place and the Romans destroyed many artifacts.

Jesus of Nazareth

6 BCE

Jesus of Nazareth

5 BCE

Jesus of Nazareth was born somewhere between 6 BC and 4 BC and died in 30 AD. He was a religious leader that revered in Christianity, one of the worlds most common religions. Most Christians regarded Jesus and the incarnation of God.

Paul of Tarsus

4 BCE

St. Paul the apostle was born in 4 BC in Cilicia or modern day Turkey and died in between 62 and 64 CE in Rome. He taught the gospel of Christ to the first-century world. Paul is the one that changed Christianity from a small sect of Judaism into a world wide faith.

The Great Fire of Rome

64

The fire burned for 6 days, destroying 65% of the city. The city could not put the fire out because gangs and thugs were keeping them from attempting to put it out. Many people believe Nero planned the fire so he could get passed the senate and build the Rome that he wanted to build.

The Great Persecution of 303 CE

303

It was the last and worse persecution of Christians in the Roman empire. They had the Diocletian which was an attempt to blame Christians for the political and economic problems in Rome. The goal was to unify the empire and instill a shared belief in the old Roman Gods.

Constantine the Great

312

Constantine was a pagan monotheist, and before the Milvian Bridge battle, he and his army saw a cross of light in the sky that had the Greek words, In hoc signo vinces which means "in this sign conquer." And that night he had a dream where Christ came to him and told him to use the cross on his enemies. He then went on to win the battle.

Battle of Milvian Bridge

312

Took place between Roman emperors Constantine I and Maxentius, getting its name from the Milvian Bridge, an important and common used route over the Tiber river. Maxentius was said to fall into the Tiber river and his body was later found, and his head was decapitated and paraded through the city.

The Edict of Milan

313

This edict was created by Constantine I, who ruled the western parts of the Empire, and Licinius, who ruled the East parts of the Empire to establish tolerance for Christianity in the Roman Empire. Anyone that wanted to be of the Christian religion would not be punished.