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Early Christian Persecution in the Roman Empire
Christianity is the world’s most prominent religion, with more than six billion people practicing worldwide. Although Christianity has come to dominate the world of religion, it began as a small and mysterious cult in Ancient Rome. Small, and poorly understood, Christianity soon became an enemy of Rome, marked with persecution, martyrdom, and murder. By the end of the third century CE, tens of thousands of Christians had been arrested and killed for their beliefs.
Early Christian persecution, 30-250 CE, was not a universal event throughout the Roman Empire, but rather sporadic and local. In 64 CE, a massive fire destroyed almost the entirety of Rome, and in order to escape blame, Emperor Nero
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In his letter, Pliny asks for advice from Emperor Trajan on how to prosecute Christians who have emerged in Bithynia. “I have never attended hearings concerning Christians, so I am unaware what is usually punished or investigated, and to what extent” (Pliny, 278). Unaware of the proper prosecution for Christians, Pliny executes several Christians, largely out of their obstinance and on the terrifying rumours surrounding Christianity. “ In the meantime, this is the procedure I followed, in the cases of those brought before me as Christians. I asked them whether they were Christians. If they admitted it, I asked them a second and third time, threatening them with execution. Those who remained obdurate I ordered to be executed, for I was in no doubt, whatever it was which they were confessing, that their obstinacy and their inflexible stubbornness should at any rate be punished” (Pliny, 278). Not knowing of the proper procedure, Pliny both executes and employs torture. In 10.97, Emperor Trajan replies back to Pliny stating, “You have followed the appropriate procedure, my Secundus, in examining the cases before you as Christians, for no general rule can be laid down which would establish a definite routine. Christians are not to be sought out” (Pliny, 279). Trajan’s response illustrates that politicians largely ignored Christians throughout the Early Roman Empire. …show more content…
When Christianity emerged in the Roman Empire, it was immediately marked as a superstitious and mysterious cult composed of revolutionaries, adulterers, cannibals, atheists, and sexual perverts. Fueled by these rumours, local governors such as Pliny the Younger, began the first wave of Christian persecution lasting from 30 CE - 250 CE. Though violent, resulting in the execution and torture of tens of thousands of Christians, the second phase of Christian persecution was far more violent, with its varying imperial edicts. Diocletian, a common man, launched the bloodiest attack against Christians in 303 CE resulting in the destruction of Christian meeting houses, Christian scripture, and the deaths of thousands of Christians. However, as much as Diocletian tried to squash Christianity, Christians refused to yield. Though much of his reign he wanted to destroy the Christian faith, his reign eventually led to the succession of Emperor Constantine and birthing Christianity as the main religion of the Roman
PBS, "The Roman empire in the first century." Last modified 2006. Accessed February 2, 2014. http://www.pbs.org/empires/romans/empire/christians.html.
The rise of Christianity in Rome did not come easily. It came with much destruction and death. The spark of Christianity in Rome came from an appearance of Martyrs in Rome. Martyrs were people that were executed for going against the common beliefs of pagan (polytheistic) ways. (Tignor, 2011, p. 286) Because of these awful executions, Christianity is said to be based off of “the blood of martyrs.” One of their main ways of spreading Christianity was through the sharing of their writings and by 300 CE there was an exceptional amount of book production throughout Rome. (Tignor, 2011, p. 289) “Christianity operated as one among many minority religions in the Roman Empire, and on several occasions experienced widespread persecution, especially under the emperors Nero (r. 54–68), Decius (r. 249–251), and Diocletian (r. 284–305). However, the situation changed radically under the emperor Constantine (r. 306–337), who in 313 issued the Edict of Milan that made Christianity a legitimate religion in the empire.” (Melton, 2010, p. 634)
By the fourth century C.E., the Roman Empire was declining. After so many years of perseverance the Roman Empire began to give into the changes that were happening all around them. One change in particular was the spread of Christianity. This new religion went against the traditions of the Romans, it was monotheistic and focused on the will of God. A religion that began small and under persecution became the official religion of the Roman Empire.
The single most important aspect of European empires, beginning just prior to the fall of Rome, is the spread of Christianity to all areas of the continent in as little as a few hundred years. Many theologians state that Christianities spread is the indirect influence of God and the adoration of people to one true faith. Though it is true that Christianity has brought about people that even atheists could call saints, it is unquestionable that Christianity was so monumental because it united larger groups of people and its spread is contributed to adherence to local customs and its lack of new ideas in comparison to other religions of the day.
... Trajan was a codependent one, a worker and his supervisor. I am not shocked by Emperor Trajan's orders to kill Christians, however I do believe they were unnecessary and sadistic spurred from sheer trepidation of losing control of those he ruled. However, I am surprised that Trajan told Pliny not to seek them out or to bring anonymously posted allegations into the prosecutions. Nonetheless, Trajan's actions towards the Christians were unjust and immoral, no matter how accurate his fear might have been.
Christianity took hold on the ancient world because it was spread exceptionally fast. Missionary journeys were made every set of to three years and teach people Christianity (Document F). Roman judges held trials for reported Christians, and executed them because they admitted that they were Christian. The trials were held to execute Christians so the Roman religion would continue to flourish and so Christian citizens won’t be more powerful than the government (Documents F and G). This shows that Christianity was gaining a lot of members, really fast, in comparison to the government.
In conclusion, Christianity spread throughout the Roman Empire despite the barriers of Judaism, the Empire itself, and problems within the church. Ironically, the Jews rejection of Jesus as Messiah was the catalyst for the leaders of the church to take the message to the Gentiles. This growing movement threatened the foundation of the Roman Empire. Although controversial, the Bible is used as a primary source document to understand the beliefs and customs of Judaism and Christianity. For the majority of Christians, the Bible is seen as historically accurate and is fundamental to their faith. The difficulties that the early church faced such as racism, tradition, and immorality are the same struggles we face today. For many throughout the world, the Bible is used as a “how to guide” for human behavior, has stood the test of time, and continues to be relevant.
To the Christians, Constantine was the first emperor to not only stop state led Christian persecutions altogether
The rise of Christianity in western civilization is arguably among the most important memories in history. There is no denying what the spread of Christianity has done for the world, for better or worse. Its impact on western civilizations is unrivaled and unprecedented. Christianity slowly became something for many individuals to turn to; in times of hurt its provided comfort, in times of pleasure it has given thanks. The will and belief for salvation has driven individuals to be better, and to have a reference while in need. The rise of Christianity more than 2000 years ago provided necessary building blocks for the future. Without Christianity there would be no cathedrals, no monasteries, no music from one Johann Sebastian Bach, no paintings from Michelangelo, nor no philosophy from Saint Augustine (Backman 205). There are countless times in history, whether good or bad, that can be credited to
Christianity is now in our modern world one of the five major religions. The other major religions include Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Judaism from which Christianity descended. Christianity was practiced before Christ, During his life, and after his life. After Christ¹s life Christianity spread to become a main world religion.
In the closing years of the 1st century, Roman authorities executed a sufficient number of Christians. In general, the provincial governors had wide discretionary powers of jurisdiction, but knowledge of Nero’s actions may have set a precedent in regards to the handling of Christians and may have also encouraged local enemies of Christians to try to persuade a governor to accept their accusations and proceed against the accused on the assumption that they were guilty of conduct detrimental to the interest of the Roman State.
This can be interpreted early on in the Apologia, Tertullian exposes the Magistrates of Rome, "If you are not allowed to conduct an open examination, face to face, into the truth regarding the Christians, if in this case… by the secret pathway of literature." (1, 1) Tertullian openly expresses how Magistrates fail to exercise their authority to conduct a just public investigation because, of the hatred shown to Christians, which inhibits their defense in court. On top of that, Emperor Trajan, proclaimed that Christians were not meant to be hunted down, however, they were to be punished when brought to court. “To the contrary, we find that it is forbidden to hunt… but when brought to court, they should be punished." (2, 4) Tertullian responds to the emperor’s statement by saying, “What a decision! How inevitably self-contradictory! He declares that they should not be… forbidden to be look for, when he was found!" (2-1, 5) In this quotation, Tertullian calls to attention the hypocrisy of Trajan and the cowardliness of Pliny the Younger. By reiterating, how Christians are punished as if they are bandits, traitors, or public enemies. "A person shouts out, 'I am a Christian.' He says what he is. You want to hear he is not. You preside to extort the truth yet in our case alone you take infinite pains to hear a lie." (1, 5) Tertullian emphasizes how Christians are treated differently from all other
Bryan Byerly Mrs. Wagner Western World 10 Seminar- 4 4 December, 2013 Christianity in Rome Essay Christianity became more prevalent in Roman society as time went on because it appealed to Rome and what Roman ideals were. In the beginning Romans were skeptical of changing religion, but as the years went by, the Romans adopted and changed. Christianity appealed to the Roman ideals, as it gave certain perks that their current polytheistic religion did not offer to them. The emperors of Rome had many different views on Christianity; some emperors encouraged change, and others were more traditional and wanted to stick to their current, polytheistic religion. Roman views on Christianity have changed drastically from the early years of the Roman
Christianity soon became the greater part of the empire. Between 284 and 476, Roman civilization went through two stages. One stage involved Diocletian's reforms -- paganisms last pinnacle, and the second part, when the empire began to fall after Constantine's reign -- the vibrant Christian age. (Matthews, 174) After this last stage, both secular and Christian writers competed for the attention of educated Romans. Christian writers deemed Rome worth saving; they looked towards a new future and new hopes. Secular writers on the other hand, did not experiment with new styles and consequently, Christian literature dominated the era.
In the time before Constantine, the Roman Empire was a vast expanse covering all of Spain, Gaul, Asia Minor, Italy, the Balkan Peninsula, and the North African coastline, giving Rome a vast influence in the Mediterranean world. This influence was a largely pagan culture, interspersed with a faint Christian presence (since Christianity had been legal for forty years, but not endorsed). By the time of Diocletian, Christians were persecuted to a lesser extent than in times past. Even so, Roman officials that were Christian prayed and worshipped in secret. If they were suspected to be Christian, the officials would be put through a “Christian test” based on the principle that “no committed Christian would offer a sacrifice.” If the official failed the test, he would be expelled from his position. At this time, a Church Council in Spain ruled that if some...