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64 BCE
The Beginning of the roman rule over Israel
The Romans had been there for a while. They ruled the area starting in about 64. The Pharisees and the Romans ruled much of today's Isreal, but all changed after the death of Christ. In 66 AD, the First Jewish–Roman War began. The revolt was put down by the future Roman emperors Vespasian and Titus. In the Siege of Jerusalem in 70 AD, the Romans destroyed much of the Temple in Jerusalem and, according to some accounts, plundered artifacts from the Temple, such as the Menorah. -
4 BCE
Paul of Tartus
St. Paul is often considered to be the most important person after Jesus in the history of Christianity. His epistles (letters) have had enormous influence on Christian theology, especially on the relationship between God the Father and Jesus, and on the mystical human relationship with the divine. -
1 CE
Jesus of Nazareth
He was born in Bethlehem to humble parents. He was the beginning of Christianity. He started his ministry when he was 30 and died when he was thirty-three. He contradicted the early Jewish religious leaders and put in place a gospel of love that was spread through his twelve apostles. He was put to death by the Romans that were occupying Jerusalem during his life. Modern-day calendars begin at his birth with the year 0. -
64
The Great Fire of Rome
The Great Fire of Rome started in the market place in the Circus Maximus. Summer winds quickly spread the fire to dry, wooden structures in the Imperial city. Soon, the fire became unstoppable. Consuming everything in its path as the fire kept growing. The fire burned for a total of six days and seven nights. The emperor at the time was Nero. Some say he hired thugs to stop people from putting the fire out. This event is significant because it gave him something to blame the Christians for. -
64
The Great Persecution of 303 CE
The Great Persecution was the last and most severe persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire. The Christians were persecuted because Nero blamed the Great Fire of Rome on them. The Christians were thrown into the Coliseum and Circus Maximus to battle starving lions and tigers with no weapons. This mass genocide was another form of entertainment in Rome. -
182
Perpetua
Perpetua was a Christian who was martyred. She wrote The Passion of Saints Perpetua and Felicity, a journal recounting her trial and imprisonment that was continued by a contemporary who described Perpetua’s death in the arena. Both her martyrdom and its account have been highly revered by ancient and modern Christians. Her text is one of the rare surviving documents written by a woman in the ancient world -
312
The Battle of Milvian Bridge
The Battle of the Milvian Bridge took place between the Roman Emperors Constantine I and Maxentius on 28 October 312. It takes its name from the Milvian Bridge, an important route over the Tiber. Constantine and his troops were confronted with a symbol from God, saying if they put the first two letters of Christ's name on there shields and armor they would win. They won the battle and were converted to Christianity. -
313
The Edict of Milan
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 and stopped the persecution of Christians. -
337
Constantine the Great
The Roman Emperor Constantine was one of the most influential personages in ancient history. By adopting Christianity as the religion of the vast Roman Empire, he elevated a once illegal cult to the law of the land. He made the persecution of Christians illegal and caused the Edict of Mulan. -
378
Emperor Theodisius
He was co-emperor with Gratianus in 378. He solved the Gothic threat in the Balkans by fostering dissension among them and making the Visigoths allies rather than subjects. He allowed barbarian tribes to settle on Roman territory and gave their leaders responsible positions.
