Download The Spread of Christianity throughout the Roman Empire

The Spread of Christianity
Entry # 7
The Spread of Christianity throughout the
Roman Empire
The Apostles on the Move
• Peter spreads the
news in Judea and
Rome
• Peter is killed for his
beliefs
– Martyrs-those willing
to die for their beliefs
Paul of Tarsus
• Was a persecutor of
Christianity
• Converted to
Christianity while on
the road hunting for
Christians
• Wrote letters to
Christian communities
across the Empire
Ex: Ephesians,
Corinthians
The Roman Response: One of fear
• Mass spread of Christian ideas led to mass
conversions
– Christians no longer worshipping Roman Gods
– Leads to massive persecutions, the seeking out
and punishment of Christians…many Christians
become martyrs
• Roman Emperor Nero torches
Rome…Christians
– Great fire breaks out in Rome…Nero blames
Christians
– Mass persecutions for a couple of centuries
Constantine
• Constantine the Great
– Battled with other generals for power
• The Battle of Milvian Bridge
– Before battle, Constantine believed he saw something
in the sky
• Greek words chi and rho (Christos)
• Constantine heard, “By this sign you will
conqueror”
• Constantine has shields painted with crosses
• Wins battle…believes the Christian God is
powerful
The big decisions that changes
history
• Issues the Edict of Milan in 313 CE
– Ends all persecution of Christians in the
Roman Empire
• Council of Nicea 325 CE
– Gathering of Bishops called by Constantine to
help organize and systemize Christian beliefs
The end of Constantine’ reign
• Dies a Christian on his death bed
• Constantine’s legacy
– Endorsed Christianity as a major religion in
the Roman Empire…ended persecutions
– Moved capital city from Rome to
Byzantium…begins of the Byzantine Empire
(Constantinople)
– Rome becomes even more vulnerable to
barbarian invasions
Christianity becomes official
• 392 CE, Theodosius I makes Christianity the
official religion of the Empire
– Makes worshipping Roman Gods illegal (mass
persecutions)
• Christianity becomes organized
– The New Testament (Paul’s letters and Gospels)
– Church hierarchy created
– Bishop of Rome becomes head of all Christendom
(Pope)
Question
• Describe the impact Constantine made
when he issued the Edict of Milan in 313
CE