The Rise of Christianity

Document A: Speech made by Cicero (45 BCE)

“If, moreover, we care to make a comparison between our own characteristics and those of foreign nations, while the latter will be found equal, or even superior to us in other respects, in religion, that is, in the worship of the gods, we shall be found to far excel them (other nations).”


Document B: 1 Corinthians 10:20 (The New Testament; c. 90 CE)

In 1 Corinthians, the apostle Paul explains the Christian view towards pagan beliefs in multiple gods.

"But I say, that the things which the Gentiles [Roman elites] sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils."


Document C: Testimony from Tacitus, a writer and philosopher (109 CE)

"Nero punished a race of men who were hated for their evil practices. These men were called Christians. He got a number of people to confess. On their evidence a number of Christians were convicted and put to death with dreadful cruelty. Some were covered with the skins of wild beasts and left to be eaten by dogs. Others were nailed to the cross. Many were burned alive and set on fire to serve as torches at night."


Document D: Tertullian, an early Christian (c. 220 CE)

“The blood of the Martyr (one who suffers for his or her beliefs) is the seed of the Church.”


Document E: Excerpt from the Edict of Milan (313 CE) as drafted by Emperor Constantine

“Therefore, your Worship should know that it has pleased us to remove all conditions whatsoever, which were in the rescripts formerly given to you officially, concerning the Christians and now any one of these who wishes to observe Christian religion may do so freely and openly, without molestation. We thought it fit to commend these things…we have given to those Christians free and unrestricted opportunity of religious worship…your Worship will know that we have also conceded (granted) to other religions the right of open and free observance of their worship for the sake of the peace of our times, that each one may have the free opportunity to worship as he pleases…”

Document F: A Map of the Roman Empire

Document G: Christian cross carved into Egyptian Hieroglyphics

Document H: The Burning of the Library of Alexandria by Christians (4th Century CE)