How Christianity Influenced Roman Empire History Essay
Books. Christianity and the Roman Empire: background texts. Ralph Martin Novak. Bloomsbury Publishing USA, - Religion - The rise of Christianity during the first four centuries of the Common Era was the crucial development in Western history and had a profound influence on the subsequent direction of all world history. The Germans continued to plunder the West, invading Italy and plundering Rome. Rome bought peace by giving the Germans most of Gaul and Spain. The Huns then marched into Rome and were defeated by Rome and its German allies. The west of the empire became a mess over which no one had any real control. As a result, to accept the longer-term impact of Christianity on the Roman Empire, we must shift our attention eastward, to the so-called Eastern Roman Empire ruled from Constantinople and the world of Byzantium. By the turn of the century, Emperor Constantine had adopted Christianity as his cult of choice. The Roman Empire established and spread many of the structures on which the civilization of modern Europe depends, and throughout history it has provided a continuing model to imitate. The early Christian martyrs were persecuted for their beliefs. Their deaths were seen as a testimony to the truth of Christianity. Rome had never faced such an enemy before. • By Kristoffer Uggerud, MA Area Studies, BA History. Three decades after Christ's crucifixion, Emperor Nero started the Roman Empire,