World History I · 9th Grade · Classical Civilizations & Belief Systems · Weeks 1-9

The Rise of Christianity in the Roman Empire

Students will explore the life of Jesus, the spread of Christian teachings, and its transformation into the Roman state religion.

• Common Core State Standards
• CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.9-10.3
• CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.9-10.9

About This Topic

Early Christianity emerged in a Roman-controlled Judea and spread rapidly through the empire's road networks, urban centers, and diaspora Jewish communities. Jesus of Nazareth's teachings on salvation and equality before God resonated with enslaved people, women, and the urban poor who found little comfort in traditional Roman religion. The apostle Paul's missionary journeys carried Christian communities from Jerusalem to Rome within a generation, establishing organizational structures and written letters that became foundational texts.

In the 9th-grade curriculum, this topic connects to CCSS standards requiring students to analyze how authors develop a series of ideas. Students trace the evolution from sporadic persecution under emperors like Nero and Diocletian to legalization under Constantine (Edict of Milan, 313 CE) and eventually the state religion under Theodosius I in 380 CE. This political arc illustrates how religious movements interact with state power.

Active learning works especially well here because students can examine primary sources , excerpts from Paul's letters, Roman imperial edicts, and early church accounts , and evaluate competing perspectives on why Christianity succeeded where many mystery cults did not.

Key Questions

1. Analyze why Christianity appealed to a broad range of people within the Roman Empire.
2. Explain how the Roman government's policies towards Christianity evolved over time.
3. Evaluate the pivotal role of figures like Paul in the rapid spread and organization of the early Christian church.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze the social and economic factors that made early Christian teachings appealing to diverse groups within the Roman Empire.
• Explain the chronological progression of Roman policies toward Christianity, from persecution to official state religion.
• Evaluate the specific contributions of key figures, such as the Apostle Paul, to the organizational structure and dissemination of early Christianity.
• Compare the growth patterns of Christianity with those of other mystery religions prevalent in the Roman Empire.

Before You Start

Introduction to the Roman Empire

Why: Students need a foundational understanding of Roman geography, government structure, and social hierarchy to grasp the context in which Christianity emerged and spread.

Major Religions of the Ancient World

Why: Familiarity with polytheistic Roman religion and other ancient belief systems provides a comparative framework for understanding Christianity's unique appeal and development.

Key Vocabulary

Pax Romana	A long period of relative peace and minimal expansion by military force experienced by the Roman Empire. This stability facilitated the spread of ideas and religions.
Diaspora	The dispersion of people from their original homeland, specifically referring to Jewish communities scattered throughout the Roman Empire before and during the time of Jesus.
Edict of Milan	A proclamation issued by Roman Emperors Constantine and Licinius in 313 CE that granted religious tolerance throughout the Roman Empire, effectively ending the persecution of Christians.
Martyr	A person who is killed because of their religious or other beliefs. Early Christians often faced martyrdom, which sometimes inspired further conversions.
Apostle	One of the original twelve disciples of Jesus Christ, or a key early follower sent out to spread the Christian message. Paul is considered a pivotal apostle.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

Christianity immediately became the official Roman religion when Constantine converted.

What to Teach Instead

Constantine legalized and favored Christianity via the Edict of Milan in 313 CE, but it became the official state religion under Theodosius I in 380 CE , nearly 70 years later. Document analysis activities tracking specific imperial edicts help students see this as a gradual political process, not a single dramatic conversion moment.

Common Misconception

All Romans violently persecuted Christians throughout the entire empire.

What to Teach Instead

Persecution was sporadic, localized, and often driven by specific political crises rather than empire-wide policy. When students map persecution events chronologically and geographically, they see that it was neither constant nor universal , a nuance that challenges oversimplified narratives and builds more accurate historical understanding.

Active Learning Ideas

Socratic Seminar: Why Did Christianity Spread?

Students read excerpts from Paul's letters, Tacitus's account of the Neronian persecution, and a Roman citizen's perspective. In a structured seminar, they debate which factors , social, political, economic, or theological , most explain Christianity's growth across the empire.

50 min·Whole Class

Timeline Analysis: From Persecution to State Religion

Pairs create an annotated timeline of key events (crucifixion ~30 CE, Paul's letters 50s CE, Neronian persecution 64 CE, Edict of Milan 313 CE, Council of Nicaea 325 CE, Theodosius 380 CE). Students identify turning points and explain the significance of each policy shift.

35 min·Pairs

Document Analysis: Competing Views on Early Christians

Small groups each receive a different primary source , Pliny the Younger's letter to Trajan about Christians, a passage from Acts, or a Roman critic's perspective. Groups summarize their source's viewpoint, then share out to compare how different communities understood early Christianity.

40 min·Small Groups

Real-World Connections

• Historians studying the sociology of religion examine how movements like early Christianity gain traction in diverse populations, a process still relevant when analyzing the growth of new social or political groups today.
• International relations scholars analyze historical instances of religious tolerance and persecution, such as the shift from Roman imperial policy to the Edict of Milan, to understand patterns of state-sponsored religious freedom or suppression in contemporary nations.

Assessment Ideas

Discussion Prompt

Pose the question: 'Imagine you are a Roman citizen in the 2nd century CE. Based on what you've learned, would you be more likely to join a traditional Roman cult, a mystery religion, or an early Christian community? Justify your choice by referencing at least two specific aspects of Roman society or Christian teachings.'

Quick Check

Provide students with a timeline of key events and policies related to Christianity in the Roman Empire (e.g., Great Fire of Rome, Edict of Milan, Council of Nicaea). Ask them to place these events in chronological order and write one sentence explaining the significance of each event for Christianity's rise.

Exit Ticket

On an index card, students should write: 1) One reason Christianity appealed to the poor or enslaved. 2) One way the Roman government's view of Christianity changed. 3) The name of one key figure in early Christianity and their role.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Christianity appeal to so many different groups in the Roman Empire?

Christianity offered a universal message of salvation regardless of social class, ethnicity, or gender. Its community structures provided practical social support networks, and its promise of afterlife held particular appeal for enslaved people and the poor who had little stake in Roman social hierarchies. It offered dignity to those the empire marginalized.

How did Paul's missionary journeys help spread Christianity?

Paul traveled through the eastern Mediterranean, establishing communities in major Roman cities like Corinth, Ephesus, and Philippi. His letters, which pre-date the Gospels, created a consistent theological framework and organizational model that allowed communities to function and grow even in his absence, making the church reproducible across the empire.

When did Rome change its policy toward Christianity?

The major shift came in 313 CE when Constantine issued the Edict of Milan, ending persecution and granting religious tolerance to all groups. Christianity became the state religion in 380 CE under Emperor Theodosius I, completing the transformation from persecuted sect to official imperial faith over roughly 70 years.

How does active learning help students understand the rise of Christianity?

Primary source analysis and structured debates help students move beyond memorizing dates to grasping the human motivations behind religious change. When students examine Roman perspectives alongside Christian ones, they understand that the spread of Christianity was a complex social and political process , exactly the kind of multi-causal reasoning CCSS standards require.