Christianization of the Roman Empire

E19368

cultural transformation historical process political transformation religious transformation

The Christianization of the Roman Empire was the historical process by which Christianity transformed from a persecuted sect into the dominant state religion, reshaping the empire’s religious, cultural, and political landscape.

Aliases (4)

Christianity in the Roman Empire ×2
Christian Roman Empire ×1
Christianization of festivals and calendar ×1
Roman–Christian relations ×1

Statements (54)

Predicate	Object
instanceOf	cultural transformation → historical process → political transformation → religious transformation →
appliesToJurisdiction	Roman Empire →
describedBySource	Eusebius of Caesarea → church historians of Late Antiquity →
endTime	late 4th century →
followedBy	Christianization of Europe → Christianization of Germanic kingdoms →
hasCause	imperial conversion to Christianity → imperial support for the Christian Church → legalization of Christianity → spread of early Christian communities →
hasEffect	Christianization of Roman law and imperial ideology → Christianization of urban spaces → codification of Christian orthodoxy → construction of churches and basilicas → decline of traditional Roman polytheism → establishment of Christianity as state religion → growth of ecclesiastical hierarchy → increased power of bishops → integration of Church and imperial administration → persecution of some non-Christian religious groups → redefinition of Roman identity → rise of Christian art and architecture → suppression of some pagan cults → transformation of Roman religious institutions →
hasMainSubject	Christianity → Roman Empire →
hasPart	Christianization of cities → Christianization of festivals and calendar → Christianization of imperial law → Christianization of rural areas → Christianization of the army → Christianization of the imperial court → imperial conversion → legalization of Christianity →
location	Eastern Roman Empire → Mediterranean Basin → Western Roman Empire →
mainParticipant	Christian bishops → Christian communities → Roman emperors → pagan elites →
significantEvent	Constantine’s conversion to Christianity → Council of Nicaea → Edict of Milan → Edict of Thessalonica → Theodosius I’s anti-pagan legislation → closure of pagan temples → imperial patronage of the Church →
startTime	1st century →
timePeriod	Late Antiquity →

Referenced by (15)

Subject (surface form when different)	Predicate
Eleusis → Hellenistic Jews → Sanctuary of Olympia → Serapis →	declineCause
Christianization of Europe → Christianization of the Roman Empire ("Christianization of festivals and calendar") →	hasPart
Constantinus Magnus →	associatedWith
Edict of Milan ("Christianity in the Roman Empire") →	category
Late Antiquity →	characterizedBy
Ancient Greek religion →	declinedUnder
Constantinian dynasty →	knownFor
Constantinus Magnus ("Christianity in the Roman Empire") →	legalized
Diocletianic Persecution ("Roman–Christian relations") →	partOf
Theodosian Code ("Christian Roman Empire") →	religiousContext
Helena →	roleIn