What was the Roman empire's views on Christianity at various points in its history? What caused them to change over time?
I need help no offense but that didn’t help I tried but I couldn’t find any answers
The Roman Empire's views on Christianity varied over time. At first, Christianity was seen as a minor sect within Judaism, and therefore generally tolerated. However, as Christianity began to spread and gain popularity, it was viewed with suspicion and eventually outright hostility by the Roman state.
Emperor Nero was the first to persecute Christians, blaming them for the Great Fire of Rome in 64 AD. This was followed by sporadic persecution throughout the 2nd and 3rd centuries, with some emperors being more tolerant and others more hostile.
In 312 AD, the Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity and declared it a legal religion with the Edict of Milan. This marked a turning point in Roman attitudes towards Christianity, as it was now seen as an acceptable and even desirable religion. Christianity continued to grow in influence and power, and by the 4th and 5th centuries some emperors were even Christian themselves.
However, not all emperors were supportive of Christianity, and there were occasional periods of persecution even after the Edict of Milan. In the 5th century, the Empire began to decline and Christianity became increasingly influential in the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine Empire).
Overall, the Roman Empire's views on Christianity shifted over time due to a variety of factors including political power struggles, changing religious beliefs of the emperors, and the influence of Christian leaders and communities.
Sources:
- The Roman Empire and the Rise of Christianity by Dr. Eric M. Orlin, The Great Courses Plus
- The Cambridge Ancient History (Volume 12), edited by Alan K. Bowman, Peter Garnsey, and Dominic Rathbone
- "Persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire" on history.com
- "Christianity and the Roman Empire" on ancient.eu
What was the Roman empire's views on Christianity at various points in its history? What caused them to change over time?
The Roman Empire's views on Christianity underwent significant changes throughout its history. To understand these shifts, it is crucial to examine the empire's general attitude towards religion and the specific circumstances that influenced their perspective on Christianity.
1. Early Persecution (64-313 CE): Initially, the Roman Empire saw Christianity as a threat to its authority and stability. Christians were viewed as contravening the imperial cult, which required citizens to worship the Emperor as a divine figure. As a result, early Christians faced sporadic persecution. One notable example is the Great Fire of Rome in 64 CE, where Christians were blamed and persecuted by Emperor Nero.
2. Tolerance and Edict of Milan (313 CE): The perception of Christianity began to change under Emperor Constantine I. In 313 CE, Constantine issued the Edict of Milan, granting religious freedom and recognizing Christianity as a legitimate religion within the empire. This tolerance primarily stemmed from Constantine's personal conversion to Christianity, political considerations, and a desire for unity within the empire.
3. Official Religion and Byzantine Empire (380-476 CE): The view on Christianity shifted further under Emperor Theodosius I. In 380 CE, Theodosius issued the Edict of Thessalonica, declaring Christianity the official state religion and making paganism illegal. This marked a significant change, as Christianity went from being persecuted to being privileged within the empire. Theodosius' action played a role in cementing the power of the Christian Church and establishing its influence over society.
4. Decline and Fall (476-1453 CE): With the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 CE, the political landscape changed. Christianity remained strong in the Eastern Roman Empire, also known as the Byzantine Empire, but Christianity's relationship with the state shifted in response to various external factors. These included political changes, invasions by barbarian tribes, the rise of Islam, and the iconoclastic controversies during the Byzantine period. These events influenced how Christianity was perceived and practiced within the empire.
In summary, the Roman Empire's views on Christianity evolved from early persecution to eventual acceptance and establishment as the state religion. Factors such as political ambitions, conversion of emperors, religious tolerance, and the changing geopolitical landscape played crucial roles in shaping these perspectives over time.
Read lots and take good notes, including where you got each piece of information you choose to note.
https://www.google.com/search?q=Roman+empire%27s+views+on+Christianity&oq=Roman+empire%27s+views+on+Christianity&aqs=chrome..69i57j69i60.1488j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8