The Roman Empire's views on Christianity varied throughout its history. Here is a general overview of their perspectives and the factors that led to changes over time:
1. Early Persecution (30-313 AD): Initially, the Roman Empire regarded Christianity as a sect of Judaism and subjected its followers to sporadic persecution. Christians were often seen as a threat to the stability of the empire, refusing to partake in traditional practices and worshiping only one God.
2. Edict of Milan (313 AD): Emperor Constantine's Edict of Milan legalized Christianity and ended the persecution. This significant change occurred primarily due to Constantine's conversion to Christianity, as well as his desire to unify the empire under one religion for political reasons.
3. Official Religion (380 AD): Emperor Theodosius declared Christianity as the official religion of the Roman Empire. This decision aimed to solidify control over the population and centralize authority within the empire.
4. Intolerance and Persecutions: While Christianity became the state religion, there were still periods of intolerance towards other religious practices, such as pagan and heretical beliefs. The emperors saw themselves as the protectors of orthodoxy and often enacted laws against dissenters.
5. Divisions and Controversies: Over time, the Christian church faced internal divisions and controversies, such as disputes over doctrines and differences between the Eastern and Western branches. These divisions, like the Great Schism in 1054, impacted the perception of Christianity within the empire.
6. Fall of the Western Roman Empire (476 AD): The western part of the Roman Empire fell due to numerous factors, including invasions by barbarian tribes. With the decline and weakening of Roman authority, the influence of the empire's views on Christianity declined as well.
It is important to note that while the Roman Empire experienced shifts in its overall attitudes toward Christianity, these changes were driven by a variety of political, social, and religious factors that shaped the empire's policies and perspectives over time.
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What was the Roman empire's views on Christianity at various points in its history? What caused them to change over time?
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Initially, the Roman Empire persecuted Christianity as a threat. It later became more tolerant, legalizing and eventually adopting it as the state religion. Internal divisions, controversies, and the fall of the Western Roman Empire contributed to changing views over time.
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