Why the Romans Convert to Christianity
Q: Why did the Romans convert to Christianity?
Rome: Thought of as one of the most majestic and powerful places in the world. It’s composed of seven hills along the lush Tiber river and the Vatican City, St. Peters
Cathedral, and the Pope all call this place home. To know more about present day Rome and its
traditions we must first look into the past at its people.
One of the most important events in Rome was the Late Antiquity. This was the period
between the 3rd and 7th Century and was known as the beginning of Christianity in the Roman
Empire. Christianity had been present before in Rome, but was not accepted until the Late
Antiquity. One of the reasons why it was not accepted before was because Christianity
is the belief in Jesus Christ, who is the trinity (the father, the son, and the holy spirit.) This
ideology went against the principles of Rome and thus was believed to be a “subversive force”
which led to the persecution of Christians. Though the Late Antiquity seemed drastic, this was
exactly what Rome needed. The Roman people were in desperate need of a nurturing religion
that was set up on stable morals and did not believe in self sacrifice and mutilation. They needed
and wanted a basic religion for Rome for numerous reasons.
During the Fall of the Roman Empire the corrupt Caesars in control were pagan and
believed that they were a divine power and practiced intolerable acts such as self mutilation,
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sacrifices, and persecution of those who would not grovel at the feet of the Roman Empire. Late
Antiquity was an extremely unstable era where many religions were transplanted from other
countries at the time religious cults were very prolific. One of the most prominent cults
worshiped Mithras, who was very popular with men in the military. Mithras was a strong
dominating character who believed in sacrifices. Another popular cult was based off the
Rome: Thought of as one of the most majestic and powerful places in the world. It’s composed of seven hills along the lush Tiber river and the Vatican City, St. Peters
Cathedral, and the Pope all call this place home. To know more about present day Rome and its
traditions we must first look into the past at its people.
One of the most important events in Rome was the Late Antiquity. This was the period
between the 3rd and 7th Century and was known as the beginning of Christianity in the Roman
Empire. Christianity had been present before in Rome, but was not accepted until the Late
Antiquity. One of the reasons why it was not accepted before was because Christianity
is the belief in Jesus Christ, who is the trinity (the father, the son, and the holy spirit.) This
ideology went against the principles of Rome and thus was believed to be a “subversive force”
which led to the persecution of Christians. Though the Late Antiquity seemed drastic, this was
exactly what Rome needed. The Roman people were in desperate need of a nurturing religion
that was set up on stable morals and did not believe in self sacrifice and mutilation. They needed
and wanted a basic religion for Rome for numerous reasons.
During the Fall of the Roman Empire the corrupt Caesars in control were pagan and
believed that they were a divine power and practiced intolerable acts such as self mutilation,
Page 1
sacrifices, and persecution of those who would not grovel at the feet of the Roman Empire. Late
Antiquity was an extremely unstable era where many religions were transplanted from other
countries at the time religious cults were very prolific. One of the most prominent cults
worshiped Mithras, who was very popular with men in the military. Mithras was a strong
dominating character who believed in sacrifices. Another popular cult was based off the