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 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.