What was the Roman Empire's views on Christianity at various points in its history? And what caused them to change over time?
The Roman Empire's views on Christianity evolved over time. Initially, Christianity was seen as a threat to the traditional Roman religion and social order because Christians refused to worship the Roman gods and were considered to be atheists. This led to sporadic persecutions of Christians in the early days of the Empire.
However, over time, the Roman view of Christianity began to change. One key factor that influenced this change was the conversion of Emperor Constantine to Christianity in the early 4th century. Constantine's Edict of Milan in 313 AD granted religious toleration to Christians and paved the way for Christianity to become a legally recognized religion in the empire.
Furthermore, the spread of Christianity throughout the empire and the conversion of other emperors and prominent figures increased the acceptance of Christianity in Roman society. Eventually, Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire under Emperor Theodosius in 380 AD.
Overall, the changing views of the Roman Empire towards Christianity were influenced by a combination of political decisions, social factors, and the growing popularity of Christianity among the population.