Rise of Christianity in the Roman Empire

Roman Rule of Israel

63 BCE

Lasted for about 400 years
Granted Hyrcanus II limited rule over the area
Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed
Judaism survived the encounter with Rome
Priests were replaced by rabbis
The synagogue essentially replaced the Temple
Romans oppressed the Jews

Jesus of Nazareth

4 BCE

Jesus was born in Nazareth sometime between 6 and 4 BCE
He was not born in Bethlehem, as commonly thought
He was a Jewish preacher
He is supposedly the son of God and a large Christian religious figure
He lived between 33 and 36 years
He was the son of Mary and Joseph
He may have been born in a cave and not a stable as is thought in the bible

Jesus of Nazareth

4 BCE

Jesus may have been born in a cave
He was from Nazareth and not Bethlehem
He is the central figure of the Christian religion
He is thought to be the son of God
He was a Jewish preacher during his lifetime
He died aged 33-36 due to crucifixion

Paul of Tarsus

4 BCE

Died between 62-64 CE
The most important person in the Christian religion after Jesus
Paul eliminated the circumcision requirement
Paul wrote about salivation and divine grace
He set the tone for Christianity
He wrote passages of the new testament

Great Fire of Rome

64

2/3 of Rome burned
Lasted 5 days
The Christians were blamed
The fire started in the Circus Maximus
Modern Historians don't blame anyone for the fire because one small fire could have burned most of the city because of the poor constructions
Hundreds of Christians were arrested, tortured, or killed because of the fire
Nero used the disaster to help him politically

Perpetua

181

She died March 7, 203
Perpetua is a Christian martyr
She and 4 other Christians were caught and sentenced to death in the arena
She wrote "The Passion of Saints Perpetua and Felicity"
Her book is one of the only surviving texts written by a female from the ancient times

Constantine the Great

272

Emperor of Rome from 306-337
Died in 337
Son of Constantinus Chlorus and Helena
First Christian emperor of Rome
Made Christianity legal
Passed the Edict of Milan
Died of terminal illness

Great Persecution of 303 CE

303

2500-3500 Christians were killed
Diocletian passed an edict saying Christianity was illegal
It lasted 8 years
Bibles were burned
All Christians were required to sacrifice pain of death
Destruction of Christian places of worship was also ordered

Battle of Milvian Bridge

312

Constantine Led the Romans to battle on Milvian Bridge, a bridge across the Tiber
A key moment in the civil war that resulted in Constantine ruling Rome
The Superior force in Maxentius was defeated
Maxentius drowned
His body was later decapitated and his head was paraded around on a pole

Edict of Milan

313

Signed by Constantine and Licinius
Permanently stopped the persecution of Christians
Established religious toleration for Christianity
People had to treat all Christian benevolently inside the empire
Came out of a 2 man summit in Milan

Edict of Milan

313

Everyone had to treat Christians benevolently when in the empire
Ended persecution of Christians
Came out of a 2 man summit in Milan
Signed by Constantine and Licinius
Made Christianity the official religion of the empire

Emperor Theodosius

347

Lived until 395
Last emperor to rule over both the East and West halves of Rome
Campaigned against Goths and other Barbarians that invaded the empire
Christianity became the official religion of the empire during his reign
He successfully rebuilt the army after significant losses in campaigns by his father
He canceled the Olympic Games