Constantine: The Great Persecution Of The Christian

In 313 Constantine I, also known as Flavius Valerius Constantinus, implemented the Edict of Milan; in which it established tolerance of Christianity as a religion, but did not place it above all other religions. Before the Edict of Milan came to effect the people of Rome did not tolerate Christianity let alone practice it. People in Ancient Rome persecuted the Christians for their beliefs often with Christians ending up dead or betraying their wait to escape the persecutions. Christians were persecuted because they were seclusive with their rituals. The people did not understand and thought that religion was supposed to be public.

From the third to the fourth century, the Roman Empire witnessed a widespread attempt to stop the spread of Christianity. Initially, leaders of the church were predominately targeted, but later anyone admitting to Christianity became a target. The persecutions hit a climax during Diocletian’s reign. These persecutions actually helped the spread of Christianity by glorifying Christians and beginning a tradition of martyrdom that shaped the Church, and the strength that Christians displayed shows that the persecutions could not have possible stopped the spread of Christianity.

Constantine I is credited with adapting Christianity to the Roman Empire, ending persecution of Christians, and eventually converting to the religion himself. However, historians have debated over his motives; some consider them to be politically fueled, while others argue that they were based on personal beliefs. After considering the various changes that were brought upon following the conversion, it is clear that while Constantine’s efforts were primarily strategically rooted, personal beliefs did play a subsidiary role.

The rise of universal religions across the continents was greatly influenced by commerce, politics and the political leaders at the time. Political leaders were accepting the teachings and foundations of various faiths, and this allowed for these regions to thrive. In the Roman Empire, the conversion of Emperor Constantine played a key role in the spread of Christianity. Constantine and the people who succeeded him were pleased with the teachings of Christianity, and this allowed for the religion to spread beyond the cities into hinterlands. In addition, the collapse of the Roman Empire further led to the spread of Christianity since the church was the only source of unity around which people coalesced. Also, trade and commerce further facilitated

Constantine I, also known as Constantine the Great, was a Roman Emperor who reigned between 306 and 337. He was the son of Constantius I, who was appointed Augustus of the western regions of the Roman Empire, under Diocletian’s tetrarchy, and his first wife Helena. He was acclaimed emperor of the Roman army following the death of his father in 306. Following the defeat of his co-emperor Maxentius in 312 at the Battle of Milvian Bridge, Constantine became the sole emperor of the Western Roman Empire. His victory at the Battle of Milvian Bridge has been credited as the catalyst for his conversion to Christianity and subsequent legislation such as the edict of Milan which allowed Christians the freedom to worship and facilitated

Christians have been persecuted around the world for their faith during varying periods of time since the birth of the religion. Even today there are stories of Christians being killed or beaten severely at the hands of Hindu extremists in India or in places like China and North Korea. Yet Christianity thrives as the world’s largest religion. Persecution of Christians was especially brutal and widespread during the fourth century in the Roman Empire. Christians were tortured until they denied Christ or killed if they refused, their possessions, houses and buildings were confiscated and they were forced to observe pagan sacrificial traditions. Constantine the Great’s rise to power brought about tremendous change in Roman attitudes and laws from absolutely destroying Christians to accepting, protecting and even supporting the furthering of Christianity.

In 312 AD, he led his troops into a battle that would later be known as the Battle of the Milvian Bridge, where he would dedicate his battle to Christianity.

One of the most crucial times in our history was in the era of Emperor Constantine. Prior to Constantine’s rule, Christianity was opposed by the Roman Empire. This occurred because Christians were on a different agenda. The Roman authorities were tolerant of the religions within its territories. The various religions throughout the land gave the emperor respect and honor in their rituals and ceremonies.

Looking back over the entire CWC course this year, the two most influential figures in Christianity and Western Culture to me were Constantine and Isaac Newton. I believe that Constantine’s impact on Christianity and Western Culture in the mid-300s AD is undeniable because he legalized Christianity within the Roman Empire, started the Christian Roman Empire, and brought “popularity” to the religion of Christianity. This was the first time in history that the emperor of the Roman Empire, which was the biggest and most powerful empire at the time, showed favor towards Christianity. Constantine's belief in Christianity was influenced by the Battle at the Milvian Bridge in 312 AD, where he had a vision of a symbol that meant ‘In this you shall conquer’ before the battle

Civil War broke out in Rome and Licinius renewed persecution of Christians. Licinius ordered burning of Christian churches and holy books. The persecution of Christians gave Constantine the provocation that he needed to commence an attack on Licinius. Constantine’s son, Crispus, was at his father’s side in battle as Licinius made his last stand in Chrysopolis.

In 313 CE, Constantine passed the Edict of Milan. This edict declared the freedom of everyone in the Roman Empire to choose their own religion. He neither made polytheism illegal nor did he make Christianity the official religion of Rome. Instead, to placate both pagans and Christians, both were acceptable to be practiced. This edict also stated that the emperor was protected by the “highest divinity,” whether that was God, Jupiter or any other god in the Roman pantheon. Constantine continued his work to bring pagans and Christians into peaceful coexistence. He gave the Christians their property confiscated during Diocletian’s Great Persecution, but he had the Roman treasury reimburse the people who had bought the stolen goods. He also declared the Lord’s Day to be called “Sunday” in honor of the day the Christian’s God rested and in honor of the sun, an aspect of pagan worship. He even kept the traditional title of “Pontifex Maximus” or chief priest. After decades of persecution the Christians finally had an emperor on their

Beginning in the first century C.E., Christianity, a religion started by the followers of Jesus of Nazareth, extended across the Roman empire. Christianity provided Roman citizens with the prospect of forgiveness, ideal of achievement, and sense of community; however, along with this growing recognition followed the opposition of Christianity, which was initiated by Roman officials and sometimes emperors. Gradually the animosity directed towards Christianity declined and in 313 C.E. Constantine, emperor of Rome at the time, issued the Edict of Milan, demanding the toleration and acceptance of all religions. Eusebius of Caesarea, a Greek historian of Christianity, records Constantine’s reign and his eventual

I met with nineteen individuals (listed below) and one group during my three-day visit. I was not able to meet with two people due to a schedule a conflict and vacation. I met with three new people due to promotions or new leadership assignments.

If I could travel back in time to the days of the Roman empire, I would try and prevent Constantine from moving the capital to a new location, Constantinople. And instead suggest that he either keeps it in place, or builds the capital but keeps Rome as it capital as well.

Do you belong to any religion and adhere to the practices of the religion? People need to ask themselves whether they belong to any religion and whether they adhere to the practices of the particular religion in order to establish their spiritual ascription. There exist different religions in the world that follow different religious practices and beliefs. The difference occurs in the sense that what might appear to be correct or right in one religion might actually be wrong in another religion. Some of the major religions in the world include Christianity, Islam, Hindu, Jewish, and Judaism among other religions. Each member of these religions follows what the religion requires and people in each religion have a