What was the Roman empire's views on Christianity at various points in its history? What caused them to change over time? ( this is for a respond on a test)

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1 answer

The views of the Roman Empire on Christianity varied at different points in its history. Initially, Christians were persecuted for not worshiping the Roman gods and for refusing to acknowledge the divinity of the emperor. However, over time, the perception of Christianity shifted.

One of the key reasons for this change was the conversion of Emperor Constantine to Christianity in the early 4th century. This marked a turning point as Christianity began to gain more acceptance and support from the Roman government. Constantine's Edict of Milan in 313 AD legalized Christianity and granted religious freedom to all individuals in the empire.

Despite this newfound tolerance, there were still periods of persecution under certain emperors who viewed Christianity as a threat to traditional Roman religion and unity. However, with the conversion of subsequent emperors to Christianity and the eventual establishment of Christianity as the official religion of the Roman Empire under Emperor Theodosius in 380 AD, the views on Christianity became more favorable.

In conclusion, the views of the Roman Empire on Christianity evolved over time due to a combination of factors such as imperial conversions, changing political circumstances, and the increasing popularity of Christianity among the population.