Christianity and the Decline of Rome

    Today in class we read from the textbooks while some students took their tests. I read about the start of Christianity and the decline of Rome. Jesus was a Jew born in Bethlehem and began his public ministry at age 30. His teachings are found in the four Gospels. Christianity began to spread throughout the empire. Jew's rebelled against Rome, but many were killed after the rebellion was shot down. The Christians were persecuted because they did not worship the Roman gods, but one God (monotheism). Christianity still became a powerful force despite the persecution of the Christians. In AD 312, the Roman emperor Constantine accepted Christianity and ended persecutions. The Christian faith developed a hierarchy including a bishop and pope. Peter became the rock of the church. When Marcus Aurelius ruled (AD 161-180), it marked the end of the Pax Romana. The Rome economy was weakened, taxes were raised, and the empire was suffering from inflation. Also, the soil was no longer fertile. The military was also declining. Soldiers were only in it for a battle of power as a commander. They had to recruit mercenaries. Also, loyalty to Rome declined.

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