Christianity in Rome: a summary of history that starts from the birth of Christianity and arrives at its diffusion in Rome in the first three centuries.
Christianity in Rome, the history
To the first Christian communities of Jewish origin that arose following the direct preaching of Jesus Christ and the Apostles were added those of pagan origin that arose from the apostolate of Paul of Tarsus , who inserted Christianity into a broader context, both geographically and culturally. Early Christianity had a marked urban physiognomy: the most important centers of its settlement were Antioch, Corinth, Ephesus, Alexandria and finally Rome . Initially, Christians were confused with Jews, only after the preaching of Saint Paul , who was addressed above all to non-Jews, did a deeper difference between the two doctrines begin to emerge, even at a popular level.
In the first 3 centuries of the Christian era, despite the emergence of internal crises due to doctrinal divergences, Christianity continued its penetration into the Roman Empire . Until 64 BC the political and cultural world remained almost indifferent to the preaching of this new doctrine, only the Jewish environments were hostile to it. The first clash with the political authority occurred around 64, when a great fire destroyed much of the city of Rome. The tragedy was caused by Nero who, however, accused the Christians of having organized the fire.
Spread of Christianity in Ancient Rome
Christianity was not stopped by the persecutions unleashed by the emperors of Rome , also motivated by the fact that Christianity refused to recognize the divinity of the emperor, while proclaiming its loyalty to civil laws. Among the main persecutions were those of Decius, Valerian and Domitian . Essentially the accusations that were brought against Christians were divided into “popular” and “cultured”: the former claimed that they, during their assemblies, committed infanticide, organized banquets of human flesh and incestuous orgies. The accusations that came from the aristocracy, claimed that Christians despised the world, thought only of the afterlife, did not worship the emperor as a divinity, and held impious banquets. After Nero there were periods of tolerance and periods of violent repression. From the second half of the second century, apologetics flourished, that is, the self-defense of Christianity on a cultural and moral level. Around 200 AD the number of “martyrs” multiplied, that is, disciples of Jesus who were condemned to death. With the Edict of Milan by Emperor Constantine and the Edict of Thessalonica by Emperor Theodosius, Christianity ended up becoming an element that was first tolerated, then constitutive of the Roman Empire.
