Rise of Christianity in the Roman Empire

Great Persecution of 303 CE

303 BCE

1) Last and most severe persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire.
2) A series of edicts rescinding Christians rights and demanding that they comply with traditional religious practices.
3) Roman subjects including Christians were compelled to sacrifice to Roman gods or face imprisonment and execution.
4) Christianity had become his favored religion.
5) cause many churches to split between those who had complied with imperial authority, and those who had remained "pure".

Jesus of Nazareth

30

1) Referred to as Jesus of Nazareth and Jesus Christ.
2) Was a first-century Jewish preacher and religious leader.
3) Christian doctrines include the beliefs that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit.
4) Was born of a virgin named Mary, performed miracles.
5) Turned over to the Roman government.

Great Fire of Rome

64

1) Great Fire of Rome was an urban fire that started on July 64 AD.
2) The fire began in the merchant shops around Rome's chariot stadium.
3)After six days the fire was brought under control.
4) Two thirds of Rome had been destroyed.
5)Emperor Nero blamed the devastation on the Christian community.

Paul of Tarsus

64

1) Commonly known as Saint Paul and also known by his Jewish name Saul of Tarsus.
2) Was an apostle who taught the gospel of Christ to the first-century world.
3) Paul is generally considered one of the most important figures of the Apostolic Age.
4) He took advantage of his status as both a Jew and a Roman citizen to minister to both Jewish and Roman audiences.
5) Paul was dedicated to persecuting the early disciples of Jesus in the area of Jerusalem prior to his conversion.

Roman Rule of Israel (begins)

66

1) First Jewish–Roman War began.
2) Revolt was put down by the future Roman emperors Vespasian and Titus.
3) Traces the interaction of Jews and Romans during the period of the Roman Empire.
4) Their cultures began to overlap in the centuries just before the Christian Era. Jews, as part of the Jewish diaspora.
5) Jewish communities enjoyed privileges and thrived economically, becoming a significant part of the Empire's population.

Perpetua

203

1) Died in 203 AD.
2) Were Christian martyrs of the 3rd century.
3) Perpetua was a married noblewoman.
4) Perpetua was 22 years old at the time of her death.
5) She was a mother of an infant she was nursing.

Constant The Great

306

1)A Roman Emperor who ruled between 306 and 337 AD.
2)As emperor, Constantine enacted administrative, financial, social, and military reforms to strengthen the empire.
3)Constantine was the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity.
4) To combat inflation he introduced the solidus, a new gold coin that became the standard for Byzantine and European currencies for more than a thousand years.
5)He built a new imperial residence at Byzantium and renamed the city Constantinople

Battle of Milvian Bridge

312

1) Took place between the Roman Emperors Constantine I and Maxentius.
2) 28 October 312.
3) Constantine won the battle and started on the path that led him to end the Tetrarchy and become the sole ruler of the Roman Empire.
3) Maxentius drowned in the Tiber during the battle.
4) It takes its name from the Milvian Bridge.
5) Battle marked the beginning of Constantine's conversion to Christianity.

Edict of Milan

313

1) Was a letter signed by the Roman emperors Constantine and Licinius
2) Proclaimed religious toleration in the Roman Empire.
3) Edict of Milan there began a period when Constantine granted favors to the Christian Church and its members.
4) Edict of Milan was issued in 313 AD, in the names of the Roman Emperors Constantine I.
5) But by the Edict of Milan the meeting places and other properties which had been taken from the Christians were to be returned.

Emperor Theodosius

379

1) Was a Roman Emperor from 379 to 395.
2) Last emperor to rule over both the Eastern and the Western halves of the Roman Empire.
3) He issued decrees that effectively made Nicene Christianity the official state church of the Roman Empire.
4)He neither prevented nor punished the destruction of prominent Hellenistic temples.
5) Banned the pagan rituals of the Olympics in Ancient Greece.