Transcript Slide 1
Constantine the Great and Christianity Christians and Jews faced many hardships for not worshipping Roman gods and goddesses. One example was in 64 A.D. when Emperor Nero placed the blame of a fire on the Christians. Then Constantine the Great ascended the throne, he had a different view on Christianity, to show his support he built many cathedrals for the Christians. In 313 A.D. Constantine and Licinius issued the Edict Milan which allowed toleration of all religions in the Roman Empire. For the first time in ancient Rome Christians could practice their religion without fear. Constantine was born Flavius Valerius Contantius around 274 A.D. Cantantius St. Helen Patron Of: Archeologists Constantine parents were Cantantius a ambitious army officer and Helena the possible daughter of an innkeeper Constantius, Constantine the Great’s father Constantine the Great Constantius worked hard on proving himself in the Western Roman Empire while Constantine the Great did the same in the Eastern Roman Empire. The young boy joined the military and served with honor. Constantine the Great moved to the Western Roman Empire to join his father on a military campaign in Britain. He engaged himself and his troops in a series is wars and managed to crush his opponents to become ruler of the Western Roman Empire. It is said that on the night before the Battle of the Milivian Bridge, Constantine the Great had a dream. In the dream, he received directions to paint the first 2 Greek letters of the word “Christ” – Chi (X) and Rho (P) – on his soldiers’ shields. When he woke up and did just that he won the war. Since then, he became a committed Christian and continued to have his armies bear this unique symbol of Christ, known as the labarum. Constantine the Great and Licinius, his coruler issued the Edict of Milan After several years Constantine the Great defeated Licinius and united both the Eastern and Western Roman Empires In 325 A.D., Constantine organized the first council of the Christian church at Nicaea. The council was to resolve the disagreement over whether Jesus was a divine or a created being. Constantine the great his personal life was a mess, his mom Helena left to Jerusalem he did not join her. He also destroyed Byzantium and made A new capital name after himself Constantinople this happen in 330 A.D Constantine did many things for Christianity. He died May 22,337 but he got baptized in his final days. Constantine spread Christianity to all corners of the Roman Empire, and it eventually became its sole religion in 380 A.D.