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Constantine was a Mithraist and had the imperial cult of Sol Invictus (Invincible Sun). He harnessed Christianity to use the bishops as a tool to augment his secular power. His deathbed conversion to Christianity is doubtful story.

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Winona O'Kon

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There is no real evidence that Constantine converted - he harnessed the Christian bishops to use their control as an addition to his secular control. The official religion was Sol Invictus (Invincible Sun) and the sun's disc features in Christian depictions of Jesus and saints for many centuries, demonstrating the union of the wo cults. Much later, an embarrassed Christianity shrank the disc into a halo.

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Q: Why was constantines conversion to Christianity important to the future of the roman empire?
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What was the first European country to convert to Christianity?

In its early years, Christianity spread slowly from Judea to other parts of the Roman Empire. By the time of Emperor Constantine, at the beginning of the fourth century, it is estimated that around ten percent of the population of the empire were Christians. Final conversion of the citizens of the empire to Christianity resulted from imperial decree, rather than 'conversion' as we normally use the term. Towards the end of the fourth century, Christianity was decreed to be the state religion. The orthodox-catholic Christian Church was given the power to confiscate the temples and all temple property belonging to pagans and Mithraists, and to enforce conversion to orthodox-catholic Christianity. So conversion to Christianity should be seen in empire-wide terms, rather than a country by country mission.


Why was the conversion of Constantine one of the most important turning points in Christian history?

AnswerWithout the conversion of Constantine, Christianity may have remained a minor sect within the Roman Empire. Certainly, it would never have achieved the ability to totally suppress other religions without imperial backing. The fact that Europe is seen today in terms of being Christian, is a legacy of Constantine and of his conversion to Christianity.


What was significant about Constantine's conversion to Christianity?

AnswerHistorians and scholars continue to debate how genuine Constantine's conversion to Christianity really was, with some saying that he merely saw Christianity as a useful tool for unifying and governing the empire. Whatever reasons Constantine had, his conversion to Christianity was one of the key events in world history. He gave state patronage to what had until then been very much a minority religion, began the persecution of the pagan temples, as well as persecution of the Jews, and ultimately ensured that Christianity dominated the empire and eventually spread throughout much of the world. Some may argue that the resultant spread of Christianity led to the rise of Islam in its present form.His close involvement in Church affairs ensured relative unity of Christianity for the short-term and helped change some of the doctrine and practices of the Church. Not only did Constantine begin to change the empire from pagan to Christian, he changed Christianity as well.


Why was the pope so important in the roman society?

The Bishop of Rome was the head of Latin or western Christianity in the last few centuries of the Roman Empire, in the the days when Christianity became the state religion of this empire. Latin Christianity was the main form of Christianity in the western part of the Roman Empire. Greek or Eastern Christianity was the main form of Christianity in the eastern part of the empire. Later they came to be called Catholic and Orthodox respectively. Therefore, the Bishop of Rome was the spiritual leader of the Christians in the western part of the empire. Later the bishop of Rome also took on the title of Pope.


Which areas had become mostly Christian between 200 ad and 476 ad?

Christianity had spread around the Roman Empire. It had became state religion and paganism had been persecuted. The peoples outside the empire who had become Chirstianised, the Vandals, Sueves Alans and Burgundians invaded the western part of the empire. Therefore, by 476 the spread of Christianity remained confined withing the Roman Empire. The conversion of Clovis I, the King of the Franks, to Catholicism in 506 then led to Christianity reaching beyond the Roman Empire

Related questions

What are the Constantines two achievements?

Constantine's accomplishments were making Christianity the official religion of the empire & founding Constantinople (Istanbul).


Christianity began to spread throughout the empire after the conversion of the emperor?

Constantine


What was Constantines religious faith?

apon founding it was roman traditional, it converted to Christianity with the rest of the roman empire. it was then captured by Turks and Arabs sucesivley, both being Muslim. it is today Muslim.


Why was Constantine's conversation to Christianity important to the future of the roman empire?

Constantine's conversion to Christianity was important to the future of the Roman Empire because you're probably some idiot that's making up World History credits in summer school, and being too lazy to read your packet and find the answer yourself..


Why should Christianity be considered a major world religion?

A:More than anything, the spread of Christianity can be attributed to the success of the Roman Empire, with the enforced conversion of pagans to Christianity throughout the empire, then the success of the Holy Roman Empire under Charlemagne, the forced conversion of Russia to Christianity and finally the spread of colonialism to the New World.


Whose conversation to Christianity helped make Christianity acceptable in rome?

Emperor Constantine, who moved the capital of the Empire to Constantinople, ALLOWED Christianity in Roman Empire and converted on his death bed through the Edict of Milan. His tolerance accepted Christianity in Rome, NOT his CONVERSION.


What was the first European country to convert to Christianity?

In its early years, Christianity spread slowly from Judea to other parts of the Roman Empire. By the time of Emperor Constantine, at the beginning of the fourth century, it is estimated that around ten percent of the population of the empire were Christians. Final conversion of the citizens of the empire to Christianity resulted from imperial decree, rather than 'conversion' as we normally use the term. Towards the end of the fourth century, Christianity was decreed to be the state religion. The orthodox-catholic Christian Church was given the power to confiscate the temples and all temple property belonging to pagans and Mithraists, and to enforce conversion to orthodox-catholic Christianity. So conversion to Christianity should be seen in empire-wide terms, rather than a country by country mission.


Whose conversion to Christianity helped make Christianity acceptable to Rome?

Emperor Constantine, who moved the capital of the Empire to Constantinople, ALLOWED Christianity in Roman Empire and converted on his death bed through the Edict of Milan. His tolerance accepted Christianity in Rome, NOT his CONVERSION.


Was Constantines accomlishment hard?

Yes. Constantine kept the Roman empire together, and established many history-changing things, like changing the religion to Christianity. Every emperor has a hard time, whether or not he accomplishes a lot.


Whose conversation to Christianity helped make it acceptable in Rome?

Emperor Constantine, who moved the capital of the Empire to Constantinople, ALLOWED Christianity in Roman Empire and converted on his death bed through the Edict of Milan. His tolerance accepted Christianity in Rome, NOT his CONVERSION.


Why was the conversion of Constantine one of the most important turning points in Christian history?

AnswerWithout the conversion of Constantine, Christianity may have remained a minor sect within the Roman Empire. Certainly, it would never have achieved the ability to totally suppress other religions without imperial backing. The fact that Europe is seen today in terms of being Christian, is a legacy of Constantine and of his conversion to Christianity.


What is the one constant from the Roman Empire through the Dark Ages?

Christianity was certainly a constant. Christianity was also spread beyond the area of the former western part of the Roman Empire with the conversion of previously pagan peoples.