Rise of Christianity in the Roman Empire

By yinkus
  • Roman Rule of Israel
    63 BCE

    Roman Rule of Israel

    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 of Nazareth

    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 of Nazareth

    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

    Paul of Tarsus

    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

    Great Fire of Rome

    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

    Perpetua

    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

    Constantine the Great

    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

    Great Persecution of 303 CE

    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

    Battle of Milvian Bridge

    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

    Edict of Milan

    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

    Edict of Milan

    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

    Emperor Theodosius

    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