Page 30 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Rome

28  INTRODUCING ROME

Early Christian Rome

In the 1st century AD, during the reign of Tiberius, a rebellious
pacifist was crucified in a distant corner of the Empire.
This was nothing unusual, but within a few years Jesus Christ
and his teachings became notorious in Rome, his followers
were perceived as a threat to public order, and many were
executed. This was no deterrent, and the new religion spread
through all levels of Roman society. When the Apostles Peter
and Paul arrived in Rome there was already a small Christian Extent of the City
community, and in spite of continued persecution by AD 395 Today
the state, Christianity flourished. In AD 313 the Emperor
Constantine issued an edict granting freedom of worship Youthful, beardless
to Christians, and soon after founded a shrine on the site St. Paul representation of Christ
of St. Peter’s tomb. This secured Rome’s position as a
center of Christianity, but in the 5th century the political
importance of Rome declined and the city fell to
Goths and other invaders.

Classical-style border
decorated with fruit

4th-Century
Mosaic, Santa Costanza
Beautiful mosaics, often with palm trees
and other oriental motifs suggesting
Santo Stefano Rotondo Jerusalem, helped spread the message
This 17th-century engraving shows how of early Christianity.
a Roman temple (top) might have been
transformed (above) into the 5th-century The Good Shepherd
round church of Santo Stefano (see p187). The pagan image of a shepherd
sacrificing a lamb became a
Christian symbol.

356 Legendary 455 Rome
c.320 Building of founding of 410 Rome sacked
first St. Peter’s Santa Maria Gold sacked by again by
Maggiore solidus Alaric’s Goths Vandals
of Theodosius
300 350 400 450
312 Control of 380 Emperor Theodosius 422 Founding of
Empire won by makes Christianity the 395 Division of the Santa Sabina
Constantine official religion of the Empire between
after battle at Battle of the Roman Empire Ravenna and
Milvian Bridge Milvian Bridge Constantinople

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