How did rome help the preservation and spread of christianality?

Answer 1

Christianity originated from Judea, which was part of the Roman Empire. The Christian apostles and other preachers travelled around the empire to spread their religion and to make converts. Therefore, Christianity developed in the Roman Empire. It could be said that it was a Roman development.

Two main forms of Christianity developed in the Roman Empire: Greek or Eastern Christianity and Latin or Western Christianity. The former was the main form of Christianity in the eastern part of the empire. The latter was the main form of Christianity in the western part of the empire. Later they came to be called Orthodox and Catholic respectively. Together, they constituted mainstream Christianity. These were also dissident Christian doctrines, the main one of which was Arian Christianity.

Although Christianity suffered periods of persecution in its first 300 years, it was endorsed by the Roman Emperors from Constantine the Great onwards. Mainstream Christianity was made the state religion of the Roman Empire in 380 by the Edict of Thessalonica signed by co-emperors Theodosius I (or the Great) and Gratian. Greek and Latin Christianity were made the sole legitimate religion of the Roman Empire. The purpose of the edict was to ban dissident Christian doctrines, which were branded as heretic. Theodosius started their persecution soon afterwards. His main target was Arian Christianity.

Theodosius I also persecuted Roman religion and all paganism. He reiterated a previous ban on former customs of Roman religion, established capital punishment for divination (which was a centrepiece of Roman religion) pioneered the criminalization of officials who did not enforce laws against polytheism and tolerated the destruction of Roman temples. Through further decrees he eliminated the remnants of Roman religion by tuning its holidays into working days, banning blood sacrifices (another centrepiece of Roman religion) and disbanding the very important priesthood of the Vestal Virgins and closing Roman temples. When he became sole emperor in 392 he continued to ignore pleas of toleration by pagans. In 393 he persecuted all pagan religions. He promulgated a set of laws which forbade any public pagan customs. This diminished the influence of pagan religion and strengthened that of Christianity.

Therefore, it can be said that the Romans have given us Catholic and Orthodox Christianity.

Answer 2

Christianity originated from Judea, which was part of the Roman Empire. The Christian apostles and other preachers travelled around the empire to spread their religion and to make converts. Therefore, Christianity developed in the Roman Empire. It could be said that it was a Roman development.

Two main forms of Christianity developed in the Roman Empire: Greek or Eastern Christianity and Latin or Western Christianity. The former was the main form of Christianity in the eastern part of the empire. The latter was the main form of Christianity in the western part of the empire. Later they came to be called Orthodox and Catholic respectively. Together, they constituted mainstream Christianity. These were also dissident Christian doctrines, the main one of which was Arian Christianity.

Although Christianity suffered periods of persecution in its first 300 years, it was endorsed by the Roman Emperors from Constantine the Great onwards. Mainstream Christianity was made the state religion of the Roman Empire in 380 by the Edict of Thessalonica signed by co-emperors Theodosius I (or the Great) and Gratian. Greek and Latin Christianity were made the sole legitimate religion of the Roman Empire. The purpose of the edict was to ban dissident Christian doctrines, which were branded as heretic. Theodosius started their persecution soon afterwards. His main target was Arian Christianity.

Theodosius I also persecuted Roman religion and all paganism. He reiterated a previous ban on former customs of Roman religion, established capital punishment for divination (which was a centrepiece of Roman religion) pioneered the criminalization of officials who did not enforce laws against polytheism and tolerated the destruction of Roman temples. Through further decrees he eliminated the remnants of Roman religion by tuning its holidays into working days, banning blood sacrifices (another centrepiece of Roman religion) and disbanding the very important priesthood of the Vestal Virgins and closing Roman temples. When he became sole emperor in 392 he continued to ignore pleas of toleration by pagans. In 393 he persecuted all pagan religions. He promulgated a set of laws which forbade any public pagan customs. This diminished the influence of pagan religion and strengthened that of Christianity.

Therefore, it can be said that the Romans have given us Catholic and Orthodox Christianity.