Rise of Christianity in the Roman Empire

Jesus of Nazareth

33

Jesus of Nazareth or also known as Jesus Christ, was a Jewish preacher and religious leader. Most Christians believe he is the incarnation of God the Son and the awaited Messiah (the Christ) prophesied in the Old Testament.

Roman Rule of Israel (begins)

64

Roman Rule of Israel (begins) Rome took control of Israel from Syria in 64 BC. - Rome ruled Israel during the book of Acts. Ruling Israel gave Rome more opportunities to move between different locations.

Great Fire of Rome

64

The Emperor of Rome at the time was Nero. Nero was the emperor for almost two decades. One night on July 19 64 A.D. a fire broke out in the shops near Circus Maximus, Rome's Chariot Stadium. The flames raged for six days before coming under control and then they reignited for another three days. When the smoke cleared, 10 of Rome’s 14 districts where destroyed.Two Thirds of Rome had been destroyed. Nero ended up blaming the Christians and would feed them to lions during the gladiator matches.

Paul of Tarsus

64

Paul the Apostle, was an apostle who taught the gospel of Christ to the first-century world. Paul is generally considered one of the most important people 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.

Perpetua

203

Carthage in the 2nd century AD had a Christian community that included the Church Father Tertullian. The people that went to the growing church was a young mother, Perpetua. Sometime after 201, the Roman emperor Septimius Severus forbade conversion to Christianity or Judaism, and in 203 the governor of Carthage, Hilarian, enforced this edict. Perpetua and four companions were arrested. She wrote in her diary everything of what had happened to her.

Constantine the Great

280

Constantine was the first Roman Christian Emperor to rule Rome. He was born in 280 in Naissus,Moesia. His father was the Western Roman Empire and when he died Constantine fought to come emperor. He was the first Roman emperor to profess Christianity. He later on died in 337 A.D., he died after a baptism and was buried in the Temple of Holy Apostles.

Great Persecution of 303 CE

303

The Great Persecution was the last and most severe persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire. Christians wanted God to be their king and not the Roman Emperor. Nero was the first Emperor to kill them, for the next couple of centenary the roman emperors would keep killing the Christians very harshly. Churches were destroyed and Christian Scriptures burned.

Battle of Milvian Bridge

312

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 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 the February 313 AD agreement to treat Christians benevolently within the Roman Empire. Western Roman Emperor Constantine I, and Licinius, who controlled the Balkans, met in Milan they agreed to change towards Christians following the Edict of Toleration by Galeries.

Emperor Theodosius

395

Theodosius the Great, was a Roman Emperor from 379 to 395, and the last emperor to rule over both the Eastern and the Western halves of the Roman Empire. He would campaign against the people who would take his land. He wasn't strong enough to end them or drive them out. He later on died in 395 A.D., Milan, Italy.