The question of whether the Romans spread Christianity has been hotly debated for centuries. On the one hand, some argue that religious beliefs are spread only through conversion, a process of individuals deciding to join a religion due to their own beliefs and reasons. On the other, it is argued that the spread of Christianity in the empire was more due to the Romans’ political and military achievements.
The early Roman period (280-88 BC) was one of expansion and conquest. As the religion became more widespread, it was adopted by the leadership of the Empire, who saw it as a means of controlling the population (Mackay and Gordon 2005). By 150 AD, the Roman emperor Constantine declared Christianity the official religion of the Empire, and perhaps it was this moment that sealed the fate of Christianity in the region.
At the same time, however, the religion was also experiencing a period of growth due to its own successes. Its teachings resonated with those of Stoicism, a popular philosophy of the time, and it quickly became a source of spiritual and ethical enlightenment for many, particularly the poor and oppressed (Foster 1995). Even beyond Rome, the message of Christianity was reaching far and wide, with missionary work and conversions in parts of Asia, Africa and Europe (Brenkmann 2018).
It is likely, however, that without the backing of the Roman Empire, Christianity would not have attained the same level of success. The Romans provided the religious message with an aura of legitimacy and authority, aided by their military and political dominance of the region. This gave the religion scope to expand, as new communities were exposed to its teaching and practices.
In addition, the Roman Empire has been credited as creating the conditions necessary for the successful spread of Christianity. The safety and stability provided by the Empire allowed the message to travel more freely and without obstruction. Furthermore, their infrastructure made Christianity more accessible, as it connected people from disparate parts of the empire and permitted the circulation of ideas and movement of followers.
There is no definitive answer as to whether the Romans were ultimately responsible for the successful spread of Christianity. It is clear, however, that the religion would not have become so prominent or influential within the Empire without the Romans’ established political and military presence. The support and infrastructure provided by the Roman Empire, in addition to the spiritual power of Christianity itself, are likely to have combined to create the spark that allowed the religion to spread to other parts of the world.
The Persecution and Suppression of Christians
Although the Roman Empire was a major force in the spread of Christianity, it is also remembered for its brutal suppression of the religion. As the Emperors gained further control and centralised power, they also sought to assert their authority by persecuting Christians.
From 117-30 AD, Trajan and Hadrian are said to have instigated some of the earliest forms of persecution of Christians in the Empire. This included Emperors seizing and confiscating Christian property, along with public displays of torture and executions of Christian preachers and evangelists (Frend 1984).
Towards the end of the second century, Decius instituted a policy of enforcing pagan religious practices, again punishing any Christians who did not comply. In addition, Valerian’s reign from 253-60 was even more brutal as he ordered the systematic persecution of Christians, leading to the death of many during this period (Frend 1984).
These recurring waves of persecution stymied the growth of Christianity within the Roman Empire. Despite the support of some emperors, the religion was still a target for those in power that sought to control and suppress its spread. Christianity, however, managed to survive and by the fifth century, it was well-established as the official religion of the Roman Empire.
The Influence of Political Power on Religion
Regardless of the persecution of Christians by the Roman Empire, it is clear that the politics of the state had a major influence on religion. By becoming the official religion of the Empire, Christianity was granted a certain level of legitimacy, which helped propagate its message and teachings further.
In addition, the Roman Empire’s attitude towards religion was much more tolerant than in other societies of the time (e.g. Greece). The religious pluralism it allowed meant that different faiths could peacefully co-exist, providing a fertile ground for Christianity to gain adherents. This was in contrast to other religious movements of the time, which were suppressed and no doubt ultimately led to the decline of some of them (Mackay and Gordon 2005).
In conclusion, the Roman Empire played a major role in the spread of Christianity. While it is likely that the religion would have achieved some level of success regardless of the Empire’s influence, it is not difficult to see how much farther it would have come had it not been for the support of the Roman political structure and the backing of the state.
The Role of The Roman Catholic Church
As Christianity began to gain traction, the Roman Catholic Church emerged as the dominant faith of the Empire, ushering in the period known as the Middle Ages. The Church exercised considerable influence in the lives of citizens, from dominating the religious scene and providing guidance on lifestyle choices to possessing a strong political voice.
The Church sought to expand and strengthen its power base, and adopted a policy of tackling the challenging and diverse beliefs of people throughout the Empire. It aimed to unify the population by teaching a single dogma and doctrine, whilst actively suppressing alternative interpretations of faith (Weber 1997). By doing so, the Church had remarkable success in promoting Christianity in the region.
The Church also actively and aggressively evangelised the region. Led by infamous preachers such as St. Augustine of Hippo and St. Boniface of Mainz, they worked tirelessly to convert people in remote parts of the empire and beyond (Jones 2016). They achieved great success, particularly with the Barbarians, who converted to Christianity en mass, following the fall of the Empire.
The Roman Catholic Church is also credited as introducing a unified system of ecclesiastical law. By introducing rules and laws regarding faith, it was able to ensure that Christianity was well regulated and unified. This had the practical result of unifying belief and practice amongst the global Christian population.
The Decline of The Roman Empire
The decline of the Roman Empire had a decisive impact on the spread of Christianity. The gradual decline of Rome saw it become more fragmented, as nations and tribes increasingly broke away from its control (Herlihy 2012). This process undermined the political support that Christianity had relied on and threatened its spread.
However, in this period of decline, Christianity was still able to spread. This was mainly due to the conversion of ‘Barbarians’, many of whom had come into contact with Christianity during their raids on the Roman Empire. By converting to Christianity, the ‘Barbarians’ were able to make a clear break from the legacy of Rome and gain a sense of identity and autonomy as newly christened citizens (Herlihy 2012).
This state of affairs did not last long, however. The decline of the Roman political infrastructure meant that many regions were left in disarray, resulting in conflicts and instability (Herlihy 2012). In such an environment, it would have been difficult for Christianity to continue to spread and be successfully adopted.
The Age of Enlightenment
By thetime of the Age of Enlightenment (16th-18th centuries), Christianity had become the established religion of Europe. This period saw the Church adopt a policy of proselytisation, aimed at converting other religions and spreading the faith to new regions.
Educational reforms also helped to spread Christianity. By introducing religious education and Bible classes in schools and universities, the Church was able to create a more influential and educated Christian population (Blom and Osterhammel 2015). This was aided by the increased availability and access to print media, which allowed religious texts to be disseminated more freely.
The Age of Enlightenment also saw an increased emphasis on human rights, and many Christians saw this as an opportunity to promote the religion’s teachings. This period also saw a rise in missionary activities and outreaches to share the message of Christianity. This, combined with the movement of peoples and increasing levels of trade, helped to spread the religion further.
The Reformation
The Reformation of the 16th and 17th centuries saw a dramatic shift in the power of the Church, as it began to lose its hold over the population. This period saw the emergence of new denominations and a challenge to the Church’s teachings, with some choosing to reject its authority.
At the same time, however, the Reformation also saw the spread of Christianity. Many of these new movements aggressively sought to convert and spread their message, often relying on the power of the printed word and missionary work to do so. The spread of religion became a major source of contention during this period, as different denominations competed for converts.
Other political developments also contributed to the spread of Christianity. The emergence of mercantilism and the rise of Europe’s colonial powers saw the faith spread further afield. In some cases, Christian mission work was conducted through military conquest, as the European powers sought to expand their control and influence in the Americas and the Caribbean.
Conclusion
Did the Romans spread Christianity? It is difficult to accurately answer this question. The Roman Empire undoubtedly provided considerable support and legitimacy to the religion, allowing it to spread more rapidly and further. At the same time, Christianity also experienced great success due to its own merits, resonating powerfully with people throughout the region and beyond.
In addition, later periods in history saw the religion spread further. From the Middle Ages to the Age of Enlightenment and the Reformation, Christianity was able to gain more adherents and propagate its teachings. Ultimately, however, it is difficult to pinpoint one determining factor to the rise of Christianity as a major faith today.
