Rise of Christianity in the Roman Empire

Roman Rule of Israel

63 BCE

The history of the Jews in the Roman Empire traces back to the times of Jews and Romans during the period of the Roman Empire 27 BC to AD 476. Their religion started to overlap before CE. The Roman general Pompey established the Roman province of Syria in 64 BC he then conquered Jerusalem in 63 BC. Julius Caesar conquered Alexandria in 47 BC and defeated Pompey in 45 BC. Due to Julius Caesar, Judaism was recognized as a legal religion.

Jesus of Nazareth

6 BCE

He was a first century Jewish preacher and religious leader. He was 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. Christians believe that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit. His mother was virgin Mary. He was founded by the Church.He died due to crucifixion as a sacrifice to achieve atonement. He rose from the dead and went to heaven from where he is to return

Paul of Tarsus

4 BCE

Commonly as known by his Jewish name Saul of Tarsus. He was an apostle though he was not one of the Twelve Apostles, who taught the gospel of Christ to people in the first century. Paul of Tarsus is considered one of the most important figures of the Apostolic Age. In the mid 30s to the mid 50s AD he founded several churches in Asia and Europe. He took advantage of the fact that he was both a Jew and a Roman citizen.

Great Fire of Rome

64

The fire got under control after six days of it straight burning houses and buildings. Everyone blames Nero for the fire saying he started it because he wanted Rome to burn down so he could redesign it the way he wanted. The fire burned about 60,000 different buildings. After the fire Nero killed himself because everyone hated him and blamed him for the fire. He then became the first emperor to commit suicide.

Perpetua

203

Perpetua was a married noblewoman. She died at the age of only 22 years old. Perpetua was a Christian martyrs of the 3rd century. She was put to death at Carthage in the Roman province of Africa. She was involved with most notable early Christian texts. Its in both Latin and Greek. It purports the actual prison diary of the young mother and martyr Perpetua. People believe that it is authentic although people assume it has been modified.

Great Persecution of 303 CE

303

The emperors Diocletian, Maximian, Galerius, and Constantine started to persecute Christians due to an issued series of edicts. The Christians were demanding some legal rights and have religious practices. They started to make sacrifices of the inhabitants to the gods. Shortly after many Christians got killed, slaughter, eaten or tortured Constantine then started to favor the religion of Christianity. Even though his death was due to that.

Constantine the Great

306

Constantine the Great ruled from 306 AD to 337 AD. Constantine was sent to the east where he gained a higher ranking for military. He soon became a military tribune. After his fathers death he started a series of wars becoming the ruler of both the east and the west by 324 AD. Constantine wanted to strengthen his empire. He was the first Roman emperor to convert to the religion of Christianity. He was nicknamed the "First Christian Emperor".

Battle of Milvian Bridge

312

The Battle of the Milvian Bridge took was between the Roman Emperors Constantine and Maxentius. Constantine won the battle which started made him start the end of Tetrarchy and become the main ruler of the Roman Empire. The battle started the beginning of Constantine's conversion toe Christianity. There were about 100,000 men from Constantine's army and 90,000 men in Mauritius's army. This all resorted to the death of Constantine shortly after.

Edict of Milan

313

It was a letter signed by the Roman emperors Constantine and Licinius. It proclaimed religious toleration in the Roman Empire. Quickly after Diocletian and stopped unfair treatment of Christians. After the Edict of Milan was signed there was a short time where Constantine granted favors to many Christian churches and its members. During the signing of the Edict of Milan the emperors were celebrating the wedding of Constantine's sister.

Emperor Theodosius

379

He was known as "Theodosius the Great". He was a Roman empire from 379 AD to 395 AD. He was also the last emperor to the East and the West also known as the "Last United Roman Empire". He would campaign against the Goths and any Barbarians who invaded his empire.