5/9/14

• Christianity evolves from cult status to established, official structure
• priest, bishops, pope (Bishop of Rome)
• Christians and Jews were monotheistic
• conflicted with Roman beliefs
• persecution against both was common
• Christianity appealed to the poor, and since there were many poor, their numbers grew
• as it grew, even more Roman leaders embraced Christianity
• AD 313: Constantine has a battlefield conversion
• He issues the Edict of Milan
• Not only no persecution, but actual approval of Christianity, eventually making it the official religion of Rome
• The Roman Empire and Christianity are now linked in power influence