Christianity: Origins & History

Introduction

In this lesson, you will discover how a new religion, Christianity, spread throughout the Roman Empire. Christianity is based on the life and teachings of Jesus, a man who lived from about 6 B.C.E. to about 30 C.E. The New Testament of the Christian Bible tells that Jesus was sentenced to death by crucifixion, a form of execution in which a person is tied or nailed to a cross. Christians believe that Jesus was the Son of God and refer to him as Jesus Christ.

As time passed and Christianity gained followers, many Romans perceived the faith as a threat to Roman order and tradition. Several emperors attempted to cease the spread of the new religion through violent persecutions. Then, in 312 C.E., the day before going into battle against a rival, the emperor Constantine reported having a vision of a cross hanging in the sky. Around the cross were the words “In this sign, you will conquer.” That night he had a dream about Jesus. The emperor interpreted the vision and dream as a sign that he would win the battle if he accepted Christian beliefs.

Constantine's soldiers went into battle with the first two letters of the word Christ on their shields. At the Battle of Milvian Bridge, near Rome, they won a great victory. From that moment on, Constantine favored the Christian God over all others. His mother became a leader in the faith. By 380 C.E., Christianity was the official religion of the Roman Empire.

How did this happen? Where did Christianity begin? How did it gradually spread throughout the Roman Empire? Read on to discover the answers to these questions.