ID: 76061 Paper Type: Unknown

ID: 76061 Paper Type: Unknown Pages: 1 Copies of Sources: No Class/Subject: History - Ancient Topic: Rome Level of School: Unknown Citation Style: MLA Bibliography: 2 Due: 2007-04-19 05:00:00 Worth: $13.00

Info: Explain the spread of Christianity in Rome in the period down to 337 AD. Reference primary sources if possible. The Spread of Christianity in Rome

The spread of Christianity in Rome began in 33 when Jesus died. He came to be noticed as a problem under the emperor Tiberius, but Roman authorities did not know what to make of Jesus. Christianity was originally seen as a sect of Judaism that was at odds with polytheism and the cult of the Emperor in Rome. In fact, Nero blamed the great fire of 64 on the Christians. Between 50 and 70 the Gospels were written and in the 100s there was less persecution of the Christians. The Christian religion had a different ideology than the collective and civil Roman notions, however between 120 and 220 the Christians struggled in developing their own hierarchy. They lived mainly in large cities in the East of the empire, but became a more popular religion among Senators and Equestrians. This resulted in increased persecution in the mid 3rd and early 4th centuries culminating in the great persecutions of 249 and 253. However these persecutions were different as the clergy and upper class would not renounce their faith. These persecutions created the notion of martyrs and helped strengthen Christianity in the empire. The 3rd persecution in 303 tried to force Christians to worship Roman gods, but was unsuccessful in quelling the rising popularity of Christianity. Christianity grew as it help marginalized people within society by promising good things after death. Christianity had an egalitarian notion that led to its popularity, and by the early 4th century 5-10% of the Empire was Christian. With the Edict of Milan, Constantine announced toleration of Christianity, but there was no evidence that Constantine converted to Christianity at this time. However it is noted within Christian sources that in 312 Constantine won a battle to become emperor and saw a cross of light in the sun before victory. As Constantine ascended to power, so did Christianity's popularity in Rome and this culminated in 337 AD with his deathbed conversion to the Christian faith and thus Constantine was a major factor in the spread of Christianity in the Roman Empire.