Early Christian Persecution

Paper Summary:

The paper discusses some aspects of the persecution of Christians under the Roman Empire in the first through third centuries. The paper mainly focuses on the Martyrdom of Polycarp and other writings by Palestinian Bishop Eusebius who wrote in the early fourth century. The paper discusses the persecutions as desperate measures for a declining empire.

From the Paper:

"The history of the early Christian Church is complex and multinational, with key events taking place all around the world in the first three centuries of its existence. As is to be expected, one of the most important locations was Palestine, but there were also significant events in northern Africa, Rome and what is today parts of Turkey. The introduction of Christianity was often met with violence and persecution in these areas and this paper will examine some of the elements of the persecutions in the first through the third centuries. Through the Church history of Eusebius of Caesarea, and related secondary sources, we will investigate the changes in Christian persecution in these times and places. Eusebius was probably born in Palestine while it was under Roman rule, in approximately 260AD and wrote into the fourth century, assuming he died around 340."

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• Analytical Essay # 123829 : "The Early Church"

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