Question

What role did the Roman Empire play in Christianity? Select all that apply.

O At first, the Roman Empire tried to squash Christianity by persecuting Christians.
O The Roman Empire supported Jesus Christ in spreading his message and provided him food and shelter.
O Eventually the Roman Empire became one of the largest groups of Christians known as the Roman Catholic Church.
O The Roman Empire helped make sure that Christianity would not spread, therefore, Christianity is a small religion today.

Answer 1

The Roman Empire played multiple roles in the development and spread of Christianity, including persecution, support, and influence on regional alliances. It initially tried to suppress Christianity through persecution, but this ultimately contributed to the symbol of martyrdom associated with the religion. The empire later supported the spread of Christianity and made it the state religion, and its decline led to the formation of the Byzantine Empire, which influenced the growth of the religion.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Roman Empire played several roles in the development and spread of Christianity. Firstly, the empire initially tried to suppress Christianity by persecuting its followers, considering their refusal to participate in state cults as treason. However, the empire's persecution actually contributed to the symbol of martyrdom, which became associated with Christianity.

Secondly, the Roman Empire supported the spread of Christianity to some extent, with emperors like Constantine financing the construction of large churches and eventually making Christianity the state religion. Lastly, the Roman Empire's decline and the rise of regional alliances led to the fragmentation of the empire and the formation of the Byzantine Empire, which advocated the worship of one God and influenced the growth of Christianity within its borders.