Houghton Mifflin Social Studies
Chapter 15, Lesson 2: Rome and the Christians (pp. 463-469)
I. Rome's Early Response
B. Some Romans were quite suspicious of Christians, and Nero blamed them for starting a major fire which destroyed much of Rome.
C. Although by A.D. 100 there was a law condemning admitted Christians to death, it was seldom enforced.
II. The Attack on Christianity
B. Up until A.D. 311, Christians suffered two more waves of persecution under two different emperors.
C. Roman mobs destroyed Christian churches and sacred books. Christians were fired from jobs, forced to leave the army, attacked, and killed.
III. The Rise of Christianity
B. Constantine gave Christianity the support of the Roman authorities, but also combined religion and government, and persecuted Jews.
C. Christianity gained power as the Roman Empire was declining.
Lesson at a Glance Outline
A. At first the Romans paid little attention to the Christians.
A. In A.D. 250 Emperor Decius ordered the execution of all Christians who refused to worship the Roman gods.
A. Emperor Constantine made it legal for Christians to worship, gave money to the church, and became involved with church decision-making.
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