Date of Award
5-2024
Department
History
Advisor(s)
Hannah Ewing
Second Advisor
Claire Strom
Third Advisor
Joshua Savala
Abstract
The Christianization of the Roman Empire under Constantine I (306–337 C.E.) marked a turning point in Late Antiquity. It was an era defined by the legalization, expansion, and integration of Christianity into Roman life. After the Edict of Milan in 313 C.E., Constantine’s policies—including but not limited to his participation in church councils, alliances with bishops, and several administrative reforms—advanced Christianity’s political and social standing while preserving elements of traditional religion. Yet Christianization was not purely a imperial endeavor. Ascetic and monastic movements resisted state influence, and everyday believers adapted their faith within familiar cultural frameworks. Additionally, architecture revealed the same duality: Constantine’s church constructions in Rome, Constantinople, and the Holy Land projected imperial authority but local patrons also shaped Christian sacred spaces in their own ways. This thesis argues that the spread of Christianity during Late Antiquity emerged and was shaped by both the imperial power of Constantine I and the activities and needs of average people in the Roman Empire who engaged in popular devotion practices. Together these forces created the foundations for Christianity’s lasting role in the Roman world.
Recommended Citation
Connor, Peyton, "Christianization in the Roman Empire: Politics, Culture, and Architecture During the Reign of Emperor Constantine I" (2024). History. 1.
https://scholarship.rollins.edu/honors-in-the-major-history/1
