Summary of How Christianity Divided the Roman Empire | Colosseum

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  Emperor Trajan celebrates grand games in 107 AD as the Roman Empire reaches its peak under his leadership. The rise of Christianity poses a challenge to Roman authority, resulting in Christians being executed, such as the case of Ignatius of Antioch who is brought to Rome to be fed to lions in the Colosseum. Ignatius willingly faces his fate to emulate Christ's sacrifice, leaving behind powerful first-person accounts in his letters. The brutal public execution serves as a warning to Christians who defy Roman rule, highlighting the clash between Roman power and Christian beliefs.

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  In ancient Rome, the judicial system was class-driven, where high-status individuals faced quick and painless deaths, while lower class and slaves endured brutal executions, such as being thrown to lions in the arena. Christian martyrdom, as seen in the case of Ignatius, perplexed the Roman Empire, as these individuals willingly faced torture and death for their faith, which ultimately helped spread Christianity. Despite Roman attempts to make an example of Ignatius by feeding him to the lions, he was miraculously unharmed, leading to admiration and astonishment among onlookers witnessing his faith and belief.