In 63 B.C., Romans conquered Judea, home to most Jews, who maintained religious freedom due to their monotheistic faith in Judaism. However, tensions simmered among some Jews, notably zealots advocating revolt against Roman rule. In 70 A.D., Romans crushed a major rebellion and destroyed Jerusalem’s Jewish temple, precipitating a period of Jewish dispersion and hardship. Amidst this backdrop, Jesus emerged as a Jewish figure preaching love for God and others, gaining followers despite opposition from Jewish priests and Romans, who saw him as a threat. Executed around 30 A.D., Jesus’ teachings flourished among Jews and gentiles alike, leading to Christianity’s emergence as a distinct faith. Early Christian communities, initially Jewish, spread across regions like Palestine and Syria, evolving hierarchical structures with bishops, archbishops, and patriarchs overseeing church governance. The Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D. affirmed orthodox beliefs, condemning heresies like Arianism. Christianity grew despite persecution, culminating in Emperor Constantine’s conversion in 313 A.D., granting Christians religious freedom with the Edict of Milan and establishing Christianity as Rome’s official religion by 380 A.D. The subsequent Great Schism of 1054 A.D. formalized the split between the Western Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church, shaping distinct Christian traditions that endure today.