The Ancients Rise of Christianity
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Jan 4, 2026 
Peter Heather, a historian specializing in late antiquity, dives into the fascinating rise of Christianity from a persecuted sect to a dominant force within the Roman Empire. He discusses how Christianity thrived amid diversity and doctrinal disputes, the impact of emperors like Constantine, and the controversial Edict of Milan that signaled the end of persecution. Heather also highlights the challenges of integrating various beliefs and the transition from toleration to enforcement under Theodosius, shaping Christianity's legacy in the ancient world.
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Rapid Rise From Minority To State Religion
- Christianity transformed from a small, fragmented minority in 300 AD into a state-aligned religion by 400 AD.
- This century-long shift ranks among the major revolutionary moments in European history.
Fourth Century Boosts Christian Sources
- The fourth century preserves a huge quantity of Christian writings that help us trace the religion's development.
- Removal of persecution allowed continuous transmission and expansion of Christian texts.
Christianity Was A Small Urban Minority
- Around 300 AD Christians likely formed only a small urban minority, not 10–20%.
- Organized Christian communities existed in about one-third of Roman cities, making overall numbers low.
