Christian Persecution Gross History By: Kyle Rekart

Nero The first documented case of imperially- supervised persecution of the Christians in the Roman Empire begins with Nero (37–68 A.D.). In 64 A.D., a great fire broke out in Rome, destroying portions of the city and economically devastating the Roman population. Nero was rumored at the time of having intentionally started the fire himself

Blame In Annals, an imperial history book by Tacitus, he states that "to get rid of the report, Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians”

Hate to Christians By implicating the Christians for this massive act of arson, Nero successfully capitalized on the already-existing public suspicion of this religious sect It could also be argued that it increased the hostilities held toward the Christians throughout the Roman Empire

Executions and Torture Forms of execution used by the Romans included –Burning in the tunica molesta (shirt made with extremely flammable material), –Systematic murder –Crucifixion –Other forms of torture using special tools

Executions and Torture contd. –Beheading –Stoning –Confinement –Beating to death –The feeding of Christians to lions and other wild beasts

Torture for Fun "...a vast multitude, were convicted, not so much of the crime of incendiarism as of hatred of the human race. And in their deaths they were made the subjects of sport; for they were wrapped in the hides of wild beasts and torn to pieces by dogs, or nailed to crosses, or set on fire, and when day declined, were burned to serve for nocturnal lights." -Tacitus

It Goes On and On and On… Continued under the reigns of –Domitian –Trajan –Marcus Aurelius –Septimius Severus –Maximinus the Thracian –Decius –Valerian –Diocletian –Galerius –Julian the Apostate

It Ends This continued until 313 under the rule of Constantine who reversed the persecution to the pagans Up until then countless Christian lives were taken, and it is said to have included the lives of Saint Peter and Saint Paul

Works Cited Tacitus, Annals The tradition of martyrdom has entered deep into the Christian consciousness." Kenneth Scott Latourette, A History of Christianity, Volume I Robert L. Wilkin, "The Piety of the Persecutors."