Rise of Christianity in the Roman empire

Roman Rule of Israel (begins)

57 BCE

Judea was ruled by a Roman procurator who managed its political, military, and fiscal affairs. Its governmental structure was reorganized by Gabinius, the Roman governor of Syria from 57 to 55 B.C.E., who divided the country into five synhedroi, or administrative dis­tricts. This arrangement was clearly intended to eliminate the age‑old system of toparchies

Jesus of Nazareth

4 BCE

was a first-century Jewish preacher and religious leader. He is the central figure of Christianity. Most Christians believe he is the incarnation of God the Son and the awaited Messiah prophesied in the Old Testament.

Paul of Tarsus

30

Paul is generally considered one of the most important figures of the Apostolic Age and in the mid-30s to the mid-50s AD he founded several churches in Asia Minor and Europe. He took advantage of his status as both a Jew and a Roman citizen to minister to both Jewish and Roman audiences.

Great fire of Rome

64

On July 19 64 CE a fire started in the Circus Maximus. When the fire was finally extinguished six days later, 10 of Rome’s 14 districts were burned. Ancient historians blamed Rome’s infamous emperor, Nero, for the fire. nero blamed the Christians for this fire

Perpetua

181

Vibia Perpetua was a married noblewoman, said to have been 22 years old at the time of her death, and mother of an infant she was nursing. Felicity, a slave imprisoned with her and pregnant at the time, was martyred with her. They were put to death along with others at Carthage in the Roman province of Africa.

Great Persecution

303

Great Persecution was a severe persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire. In 303, the Emperors Diocletian, Maximian, Galerius, and Constantius issued a series of edicts rescinding Christians' legal rights and demanding that they comply with traditional religious practices.

Constantine the Great

306

During the reign of the Roman Emperor Constantine the Great, Christianity began to transition to the dominant religion of the Roman Empire. Historians remain uncertain about Constantine's reasons for favoring Christianity. They also have no idea as to whether he adopted his mother Helena's Christianity in his youth, or, as claimed by Eusebius, encouraged her to convert to the faith himself.

Battle of Milvian Bridge

312

The Battle of the Milvian Bridge took place between the Roman Emperors Constantine I and Maxentius. It takes its name from the Milvian Bridge, an important route over the Tiber. 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.

Edict of Milan

313

The Edict of Milan was a letter signed by the Roman emperors Constantine and Licinius, that proclaimed religious toleration in the Roman Empire. The letter was issued in February, 313 AD, shortly after the emperor Diocletian and stopped the unfair treatment of Christians.

Emperor Theodosius

379

Emperor Theodosius a Roman Emperor from AD 379 to AD 395, and the last emperor to rule over both the Eastern and the Western halves of the Roman Empire.On accepting his elevation, he campaigned against Goths and other barbarians who had invaded the Empire. His resources were not sufficient to destroy them or drive them out which had been Roman policy for centuries in dealing with invaders.