A brief perspective on Early Christianity through the Edict of Milan.

1. The Evolution of
Christianity

2. The Evolution of
Christianity
Christianity from 0 - 400 A.D./C.E.

5. Before the year “zero”

6. Before the year “zero”
The Romans occupied
the area of the
province of Palestine
when they conquered
the area in 63B.C.

7. Before the year “zero”

8. Before the year “zero”
From the years
63B.C. to 19 A.D.
(C.E.), Rome was
ruled by the
Emperor
Augustus, the
adopted son of
Julius Caesar.

9. Before the year “zero”

10. Before the year “zero”
It was during the
reign of Augustus
that there was a
census held in
Palestine, to
understand the
size of the
Jewish community
there...

11. Before the year “zero”

12. Before the year “zero”
It was during this
census that Jesus
Christ, the son of
a Jewish carpenter
was born.
To the
Christians,he is
seen as the son of
god.

13. Jesus

14. Jesus
According to Jewish
scripture, a
‘messiah’ would come
to save human beings
from evil.
Christians believe
that Jesus Christ was
this savior.

15. Jesus

16. Jesus
There are many
primary sources of
Jesus’ life.
Christians adopted
four of them, called
Gospels.
These form the basis
of Jesus’ teachings
to his followers.

17. Jesus

18. Jesus
The main principle of
Christianity applies to
the holiday, Easter.
Easter represents the
day that Jesus rose from
the dead, after three
days.
To Christians, this was
proof that he was the
‘Messiah.’

19. Paul of Tarsus

20. Paul of Tarsus
Another key figure
of Early
Christianity was
Paul of Tarsus.
Paul wrote letters,
called epistles, to
various cities in
Greece and Italy.

21. Paul of Tarsus

22. Paul of Tarsus
These letters
helped to spread
the idea of
Christianity
outside Palestine.
Paul, later became
a martyr (someone
killed for a cause)
by the Romans.

23. Reaction by the Romans

24. Reaction by the Romans
Believers in early-
Christianity often
called Christ the
“King of Kings.”
Most Romans also were
polytheists,
believing in more-
than-one god.

25. Reaction by the Romans

26. Reaction by the Romans
These factors led
some emperors to grow
fearful of the
growing religion.
Caligula & Nero (right)
were some of the
worst emperors
concerning treatment
of the Christians.

27. Reaction by the Romans

28. Reaction by the Romans
The practice of
Christianity was
banned by the Romans.
From 0-300A.D.,
believers in
Christianity would be
guilty of a capital
offense.

29. The Spread...

30. The Spread...

31. Diocletian

32. Diocletian
Diocletian, who ruled
from 286-305A.D., was
the last emperor to
persecute Christians.
He destroyed churches,
cut tongues off of
priests, and put many
Christians to death.

33. Diocletian

34. Diocletian
Diocletian focused on
ending Christianity,
creating several “Edicts
against the Christians.”
If it weren’t for the
illness that killed him,
Christianity may have
been destroyed.

35. Constantine

36. Constantine
Luckily for the
Christians, the
followers of Diocletian
eased up on the
religion.
25 years after
Diocletian, one event
helped the spread of
Christianity like no
other.

37. Constantine

38. Constantine
In February 313A.D.,
the Edict of Milan
allowed the practice
of Christianity.
Constantine, himself
would become baptized
as a Christian before
his death.