Rise of Christianity in the Roman Empire

Roman Rule of Israel

63 BCE

The Romans became the new great power in the region and the Jewish people didn't like the Romans regime. The Jews tried to Romans but ended up losing and they lost the entirety of Israel

Paul of Tarsus

4 BCE

Paul of Tarsus was the second most important person in Christianity after Jesus died. 13 of the books of the new testament out of 27 are attributed to him. He taught the gospel of Christ to the first century world. He founded many churches in Asia Minor and Europe and used his Jewish status and Roman status to persuade and teach them about Christ and Christianity.

Jesus of Nazareth

4 BCE

Jesus was born 4 BCE and when he was 30 he became baptized. He went around Judaea talking about his beliefs and messages. He later started talking about a place greater than Rome that god would provide which lots of people agreed with this idea. In 33 CE he went to Jerusalem and was outraged by their trading and he drove the moneylenders out of the temple. He was sentenced to treason and crucified. He was a martyr to the Christians and kick started Christianity in Rome

Great Fire of Rome

64

The great fire of Rome was a big event burning for 6 days and burning down 65% of Rome. What this has to do with Christians is that Nero blamed the Christians for starting because they were in a part that wasn't burned. Most people back then didn't agree with Christianity so they believed Nero and the Christians were punished but Christianity didn't go away.

Perpetua

203

Perpetua was a saint and a Martyr who believed in Christianity and was caught and imprisoned. While she was imprisoned her father visited and pleaded that she changed her faith so that she would be set free but she refused because of all the visions she had received. Later her and here slave Felicity were sent to be fed to the beasts. They managed to survive the beasts but then were later killed by sword. She was the most famous Martyr of the time.

Great Persecution of 303 CE

303

In 303 CE Diocletian blamed the Christians for all their economic and political problems within Rome. What he decided to do was destroy all their churches and scriptures and outlawed their assemblies. He also put a lot of Christians in the Colosseum without weapons or armor in order to fight beasts, be punished, and ultimately die. However, he didn't kill all the Christians and Christianity was still practiced after that.

Constantine

312

Constantine was a great emperor and leader in Rome. At first he was pagan monotheist like the Christians but he believed in the sun god instead of the Christians god. That later changed whenever he had a vision in the sky him and his soldiers saw a cross of light with the words In hoc signo vinces, In this sign conquer. That night he had a dream where Christ told him to use the symbol of the cross to defeat his enemies. At the battle of Milvian Bridge they won and he switched to Christianity.

Battle of Milvian Bridge

312

The battle of Milvian Bridge was a pretty big part of Christianity because that was the battle that Constantine had won. Constantine said to have won because he saw a cross of light in the sky telling him to conquer with the symbol of the cross then he had a dream where Christ told him to defeat his enemies with that symbol and ultimately he did. He put XP on the shields and they had an overwhelming victory.

Edict of Milan

313

The Edict of Milan was passed by Constantine and the Eastern Emperor. The edict helped Christians because it legalized the practice of Christianity as well as any other religion an individual believes in.

Emperor Theodosius

380

Theodosius was the last emperor to rule over the East and West and played a big role in Christianity. He was a bigger part of it than Constantine because Constantine only legalized it where as Theodosius made Nicene Christianity the imperial religion and withdrew state support from other religions.