Religion was very important to the Romans. Within the Roman Empire, Christianity was banned and Christians were punished for many years.
A few decades before the revolt, a Jewish prophet named Jesus traveled and preached throughout Judaea and neigboring Galilee. Jesus believed that his mission was to complete the savation that the god had promised t Isreal throughout its history. He voiced the ethical concepts -- humility, charity, and love toward others -- that would later shape the value system of Western civilization.
The message of Christianity was spread around the Roman Empire by St. Paul who founded Christian churches in Asia Minor and Greece. Eventually, he took his teachings to Rome itself.
The early converts to Christianity in Ancient Rome faced many difficulties. The first converts were usually the poor and slaves as they had a great deal to gain from the Christians being successful. If they were caught, they faced death for failing to worship the emperor. It was not uncommon for emperors to turn the people against the Christians when Rome was faced with difficulties. In AD 64, part of Rome was burned down. The Emperor Nero blamed the Christians and the people turned on them. Arrests and executions followed.
| "Nero punished a race of men who were hated for their evil practices. These men were called Christians. He got a number of people to confess. On their evidence a number of Christians were convicted and put to death with dreadful cruelty. Some were covered with the skins of wild beasts and left to be eaten by dogs. Others were nailed to the cross. Many were burned alive and set on fire to serve as torches at night." Tacitus |
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