Final answer:
Rome began to persecute Christians because they were seen as a threat to Roman social and political order. Their monotheism, refusal to worship the emperors, and evangelical mission disrupted the status quo, leading to various periods of persecution until Christianity was legalized and made the state religion in the 4th century.
Step-by-step explanation:
Early in the first century, persecution of Christians came from Jews and not Rome. However, late in the first century, Rome became the primary source of persecution against Christians. One significant early recorded instance of this was in AD 64 when Emperor Nero blamed Christians for the Great Fire of Rome, leading to the martyrdom of prominent figures such as Peter and Paul. This marked a shift wherein Christians became distinguished from Jews, especially after the Fiscus Judaicus was modified by Emperor Nerva in 96 AD.
Roman authorities viewed Christianity not just as a religious threat due to its inherent monotheism and refusal to worship the emperors, but also as a social and political challenge. This was compounded by the fact that Christianity was evangelical and actively sought to convert others, disrupting the traditional hierarchical order of Roman society. Accordingly, the most fitting answer is that Rome began to persecute Christians primarily because Christians were seen as a threat to the Roman social and political order (B).
Over time, the stance of Rome towards Christians fluctuated, with periods of intense persecution, such as under Emperors Decius and Diocletian, who sought to reinforce pagan practices and punished Christians as a means to protect the state and its traditions. By the 4th century, Emperor Constantine legalized Christianity, which eventually led to it becoming the official state religion under Emperor Theodosius.