Final answer:
The Edict of Milan legalized Christianity in the Roman Empire, ceased its persecution, and allowed the recovery of confiscated property, leading to the church's increase in influence, its integration into Roman society, and the construction of grand worship buildings.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Edict of Milan was a pivotal decree issued by Emperor Constantine in 313 that effectively ended the persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire and legalized Christianity. This led to several profound changes in the Christian Church. After the Edict, Christians could freely worship and build churches, which embarked on the development of iconic Early Christian architecture. The Church also began to grow substantially in numbers, attracting both commoners and the elite, as Roman officials now viewed being Christian as advantageous for social and political progression. The Church's newly gained legal status allowed it to recover previously seized properties and further established itself owing to the imperial patronage.
As a result, Christianity gradually moved from being a religion of marginalized groups to a cornerstone of the empire's culture and society, eventually influencing the very structure of Roman government and public life. Moreover, this shift laid the groundwork for Christianity to become the state religion by the end of the fourth century.