Christianity Rises in the Roman Empire
This Grade 6 history skill from History Alive! The Ancient World traces Christianity's transformation from a persecuted sect to the official religion of Rome. Early Christians faced persecution because they refused to worship Roman gods — leading to arrests and executions for hundreds of years. Emperor Constantine changed this in 313 C.E. with the Edict of Milan, granting religious freedom to Christians. By 380 C.E., Christianity had become the official religion of the Roman Empire, completing a remarkable reversal from a punished movement to the empire's sanctioned faith.
Key Concepts
As Christianity spread, Roman leaders grew worried because Christians refused to worship the Roman gods. The government began to persecute them, leading to many arrests and executions. This difficult period lasted for hundreds of years.
The situation changed dramatically with Emperor Constantine. In 313 C.E., he issued the Edict of Milan , a new law that granted religious freedom to Christians and ended the persecutions.
Common Questions
Why were early Christians persecuted in the Roman Empire?
Roman authorities persecuted Christians because they refused to worship Roman gods. This refusal was seen as a threat to Roman religious and social order, leading to arrests, executions, and centuries of intermittent persecution.
What was the Edict of Milan?
The Edict of Milan was a law issued by Emperor Constantine in 313 C.E. that granted religious freedom to Christians throughout the Roman Empire, ending official persecution of Christianity.
When did Christianity become the official religion of Rome?
In 380 C.E., Emperor Theodosius declared Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire, completing the transformation from a persecuted faith to the state religion in less than 70 years after the Edict of Milan.
How did Emperor Constantine change Christianity's status?
Constantine issued the Edict of Milan in 313 C.E., granting legal protection to Christians. He also personally supported Christianity and moved toward it himself, beginning the shift that would make it Rome's dominant religion.
Which chapter covers Christianity's rise in the Roman Empire in History Alive?
Chapter 6: Ancient Rome in History Alive! The Ancient World covers the persecution of early Christians and their eventual rise to official status within the Roman Empire.