Roman Empire and Christianity | World History | Khan Academy

Khan Academy
13 Jan 201706:09
EducationalLearning
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TLDRThe video script traces the rise of Christianity from its humble beginnings as a Jewish sect in Judea and Galilee to its eventual status as the official religion of the Roman Empire. It starts with Jesus's crucifixion around 30 C.E., where he had only a few hundred followers. The apostles spread the faith to Jews and gentiles, leading to early persecutions under Emperor Nero, including the infamous Roman Fire of 64 C.E. The destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 70 C.E. under Vespasian further dispersed Jews and Christians, leading to new centers of Christianity like Antioch. Despite ongoing discomfort and persecutions for not adhering to Roman rituals and gods, Christianity's missionary zeal saw it grow in prominence. The most extreme purges occurred under Diocletian, but this was followed by a dramatic shift with Constantine's vision of the Christian cross before the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in 312 C.E., leading to his conversion and the Edict of Milan in 313, which legalized Christianity. The Council of Nicea in 325, convened by Constantine, established a unified belief system through the Nicene Creed. Constantine's deathbed baptism marked him as the first Christian Roman Emperor. The momentum continued into the end of the fourth century with Emperor Theodosius, who declared Christianity the official religion, a remarkable transformation from its earlier illegal status and persecution.

Takeaways
  • 📜 Christianity originated as a Jewish sect in Judea and Galilee, with teachings from Jesus and his early ministry.
  • ✝️ At the time of Jesus's crucifixion around 30 C.E., Christianity had only a few hundred followers.
  • 🌐 The apostles spread Christianity beyond Jewish communities to gentiles, significantly expanding the faith.
  • 🔥 Emperor Nero infamously blamed the Great Fire of Rome in 64 C.E. on Christians, leading to severe persecutions.
  • ⛪️ The destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 70 C.E. under Vespasian dispersed Jews and early Christians, affecting the geographic center of Christianity.
  • 📚 With the dispersion post-Second Temple, centers of Christianity emerged in various parts of the Roman Empire, including Antioch.
  • 🚫 Christians faced ongoing discomfort and persecution due to their refusal to worship Roman gods and participate in emperor worship.
  • 📉 As Christianity grew, it caused social divisions within families and the broader Roman society.
  • 💥 The most extreme state-sponsored purges of Christians occurred under Emperor Diocletian.
  • ☀️ Constantine's vision of the Christian cross before the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in 312 C.E. marked a turning point for Christianity in the empire.
  • 🕊️ The Edict of Milan in 313 legalized Christianity, ending the period of persecution.
  • 🏛️ The Council of Nicea in 325, convened by Constantine, established a unified belief system and the Nicene Creed, affirming the divinity of Jesus.
  • 👑 Constantine became the first Christian emperor, symbolizing a major shift in the empire's religious landscape.
  • 🌟 By the end of the 4th century under Emperor Theodosius, Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire.
Q & A

  • What was the origin of Christianity?

    -Christianity originated as a Jewish sect in Judea and Galilee, with the teachings of Jesus and his early ministry.

  • How many followers did Jesus have at the time of his crucifixion?

    -At the time of Jesus's crucifixion around 30 C.E., he had at most a few hundred followers.

  • Who were the apostles and what did they do to spread Christianity?

    -The apostles were early followers of Jesus who started spreading the Christian faith not only to other Jews but also to non-Jews, known as gentiles.

  • What significant event did Emperor Nero use to purge Christians in Rome?

    -Emperor Nero used the Great Fire of Rome in 64 C.E. as a pretext to blame Christians and conducted significant purges in Rome.

  • Which apostles are believed to have been killed during Emperor Nero's purges?

    -Many historians believe that the apostles Peter and Paul were killed during Emperor Nero's purges.

  • What was the impact of the destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem on Christianity?

    -The destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 70 C.E. under Vespasian's reign led to the dispersion of Jews and early Christians from Jerusalem, causing the centers of Christianity to spread throughout the Roman Empire, such as in Antioch.

  • Why were Christians persecuted in the Roman Empire?

    -Christians were persecuted because they refused to worship the Roman gods, perform rituals, and participate in emperor worship, which was against the Roman societal norms.

  • How did the Roman Empire's stance on Christianity change under Emperor Diocletian?

    -Under Emperor Diocletian, the Roman Empire conducted the most extreme state-sponsored purges of Christians, marking a significant period of persecution.

  • What significant event is associated with Emperor Constantine's conversion to Christianity?

    -Emperor Constantine's conversion to Christianity is associated with the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in 312 C.E., where he saw a vision of the Christian cross centered on the sun, which he took as a sign to fight under the cross.

  • What was the Edict of Milan and why was it significant?

    -The Edict of Milan, issued in 313 by the Roman Empire, officially legalized Christianity, ending the period of persecution and allowing Christians to practice their faith openly.

  • What was the Council of Nicea and what was its purpose?

    -The Council of Nicea, convened by Emperor Constantine in 325, brought bishops from across Christendom to establish a more unified belief system and to develop the Nicene Creed, which clarified the relationship between Jesus and God.

  • How did Emperor Theodosius contribute to the status of Christianity in the Roman Empire?

    -Emperor Theodosius, a Christian himself, made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire by the end of the fourth century, marking a complete reversal from its previous illegal status and persecution.

Outlines
00:00
📜 Early Christianity and Roman Persecution

This paragraph outlines the origins of Christianity as a Jewish sect within the Roman Empire, its growth following the teachings of Jesus, and the subsequent persecution it faced. It highlights the limited number of followers at the time of Jesus's crucifixion, the role of the apostles in spreading the faith, and the infamous purges under Emperor Nero, particularly after the Fire of Rome in 64 C.E. The destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 70 C.E. under Vespasian is noted for its impact on the Jewish people and the dispersion of Christians, leading to new centers of Christianity like Antioch. The paragraph also discusses the ongoing discomfort and persecution of Christians due to their refusal to worship Roman gods, the missionary nature of Christianity causing societal rifts, and the escalating purges under Diocletian, marking the most extreme state-sponsored persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire.

05:00
🏺 The Rise of Christianity to State Religion

The second paragraph details the transformation of Christianity from an illegal and persecuted faith to the official religion of the Roman Empire. It begins with the conversion of Emperor Constantine to Christianity after a vision before the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in 312 C.E., which he took as a sign to fight under the Christian cross. Following his victory, the Edict of Milan was issued in 313, legalizing Christianity. Constantine further consolidated Christianity's status by convening the Council of Nicaea in 325, where the Nicene Creed was established, affirming the divinity of Jesus. Constantine's deathbed baptism marked him as the first Christian emperor. The narrative culminates with Emperor Theodosius in the late 4th century, under whom Christianity became the official state religion, a dramatic shift from its previous status as an outlawed faith. Theodosius is also noted as the last emperor to rule over both the Eastern and Western Roman Empires, symbolizing the empire's transition to a Christian state.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. It originated as a Jewish sect in Judea and Galilee, with Jesus's teachings and early ministry as its foundation. In the video, Christianity is portrayed as a religion that grew from a small group of followers to a major world religion, despite early persecution and challenges.
💡Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was a powerful civilization that controlled a vast territory around the Mediterranean Sea from 27 BCE to 476 CE. In the context of the video, it is significant as the geographical and political backdrop against which Christianity emerged and faced persecution, before eventually becoming the state religion.
💡Apostles
The apostles were the primary disciples of Jesus, who spread his teachings after his death. In the video, the apostles are mentioned as key figures who began to propagate the Christian faith not only among Jews but also to non-Jews, or gentiles, which was crucial for the religion's growth.
💡Emperor Nero
Emperor Nero was a Roman ruler known for his persecution of Christians, particularly following the Great Fire of Rome in 64 CE, which he blamed on them. The video describes his infamous acts as a pivotal moment of persecution that significantly impacted the early Christian community.
💡The Fire of Rome
The Fire of Rome in 64 CE was a devastating conflagration that led to widespread destruction within the city. The video highlights how Emperor Nero accused Christians of starting the fire, using it as a pretext for a major purge against them, which resulted in the martyrdom of figures like Peter and Paul.
💡Diocletian
Diocletian was a Roman emperor who is infamous for his persecution of Christians, which represented one of the most extreme state-sponsored purges in the history of the Roman Empire. The video notes that his reign marked a period of significant hardship for Christians.
💡Constantine the Great
Constantine the Great was a Roman emperor who played a critical role in the Christianization of the Roman Empire. The video describes his vision of the Christian cross before the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in 312 CE as a turning point, leading to his conversion and the subsequent legalization of Christianity through the Edict of Milan in 313.
💡Edict of Milan
The Edict of Milan was a decree issued in 313 by the Roman Empire that granted religious tolerance to Christians, effectively legalizing the religion. The video emphasizes its significance as a major shift from the previous persecution, allowing Christians to practice their faith openly.
💡Council of Nicaea
The Council of Nicaea, convened by Constantine in 325, was a significant early Christian council that aimed to address various theological issues and unify the faith. The video notes the creation of the Nicene Creed, which established key tenets of the Christian doctrine, including the divinity of Jesus Christ.
💡Nicene Creed
The Nicene Creed is a statement of faith that was formulated during the First Council of Nicaea. It is a concise summary of Christian belief and is used in various Christian liturgies. The video explains that it was instrumental in defining the relationship between Jesus and God, asserting their unity.
💡Emperor Theodosius
Emperor Theodosius was a Roman emperor who played a pivotal role in making Christianity the state religion of the Roman Empire by the end of the 4th century. The video mentions him as the last emperor to rule over both the Eastern and Western Roman Empires and highlights his influence in establishing Christianity as the dominant religion.
Highlights

Christianity originated as a Jewish sect in Judea and Galilee with the teachings of Jesus.

At the time of Jesus's crucifixion around 30 C.E., Christianity had only a few hundred followers.

The apostles spread Christianity to non-Jews, or gentiles, after Jesus's death.

Emperor Nero is known for his purges of Christians, blaming them for the Great Fire of Rome in 64 C.E.

Many historians believe that Apostles Peter and Paul were killed during Nero's purges.

The destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 70 C.E. under Vespasian significantly affected early Christians.

With the temple's destruction, early Christians dispersed, leading to new centers of Christianity like Antioch.

Christians faced discomfort and persecution for refusing to worship Roman gods and participate in rituals.

Christian missionaries spread their faith among Roman citizens, causing social divisions within families.

Theodosius made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire in the late 4th century.

Emperor Diocletian is known for the most extreme state-sponsored purges of Christians.

Constantine's vision of the Christian cross before the Battle at the Milvian Bridge in 312 C.E. marked a turning point.

The Edict of Milan in 313 legalized Christianity, ending the period of persecution.

The Council of Nicea in 325, convened by Constantine, aimed to unify Christian beliefs and resulted in the Nicene Creed.

The Nicene Creed established that Jesus, as the Son of God, is considered equal to God.

Constantine became the first Christian emperor of the Roman Empire upon his baptism on his deathbed.

Christianity's growth gained momentum when it became the official religion under Emperor Theodosius.

The Roman Empire, once opposed to Christianity, transformed into a Christian empire within a few hundred years.

Transcripts

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ChristianityRoman EmpireReligious PersecutionEmperor NeroFire of RomeApostlesJudeaGalileeTemple DestructionAntiochDiocletianConstantineMilvian BridgeEdict of MilanCouncil of NiceaTheodosiusReligious ConversionHistorical Shift