Describe the changing attitudes of the Roman empire towards Christianity. What caused them to change their views?

Answer 1

In the early years of Christianity, the Roman empire was largely hostile towards the new religion. Christians were seen as subversive and potentially dangerous to the social order, and were often persecuted or executed for their beliefs.

However, over time, the empire's attitude towards Christianity began to shift. One of the main factors in this change was the conversion of Emperor Constantine to Christianity in the early 4th century. Under Constantine's rule, Christianity was granted legal recognition and protection, and many of the empire's elites began to convert to the new religion.

Additionally, the Christian church became increasingly institutionalized and hierarchical, which made it easier for the empire to deal with as a political entity. The church also became a major force in Roman society, with influential figures like St. Augustine weighing in on everything from philosophy to political theory.

Despite these changes, however, tensions between the empire and Christianity persisted. The empire struggled to reconcile its traditional pagan beliefs with the growing power of the Christian church, and many Christians continued to face persecution and discrimination. Nonetheless, by the end of the Roman empire, Christianity had become the dominant religion in the empire, and its influence would continue to shape the course of Western civilization for centuries to come.