Constantine the Great:

Where was Constantine the Great born, and who were his parents?

• Rome; Julius Caesar and Cleopatra

• Naissus; Constantius Chlorus and Helena

• Athens; Augustus and Livia

• Carthage; Marcus Aurelius and Faustina

What significant event led to Constantine being proclaimed emperor?

• The assassination of Julius Caesar

• The fall of the Western Roman Empire

• The death of his father in 306 CE

• The founding of Constantinople

Analyze how Constantine’s early life and family background may have influenced his rise to power.

• His father’s position as a Roman officer and his mother’s sainthood provided him with both military and religious legitimacy.

• He was born into poverty and had no connections to the Roman elite.

• He was raised in a foreign land and had little influence in Rome.

• His parents were unknown, making his rise purely accidental.

Explain the political situation that allowed Constantine to consolidate power after being proclaimed emperor.

• The Roman Empire was experiencing a period of political chaos, which allowed him to gain support and authority.

• The empire was at peace and there was no opposition.

• He inherited a stable and unified empire from his father.

• He was immediately opposed by all Roman troops.

Explain the significance of the Edict of Milan issued in 313 CE by Constantine and Licinius.

• It granted religious tolerance throughout the empire, effectively legalizing Christianity.

• It banned all non-Christian religions in the empire.

• It established a new capital for the Roman Empire.

• It declared war on neighboring kingdoms.

Analyze how Constantine’s victory over Licinius in 324 CE impacted the Roman Empire.

• It led to the unification of the empire under Constantine as the sole ruler.

• It resulted in the division of the empire into eastern and western halves.

• It caused the collapse of the Roman Empire.

• It led to the immediate adoption of Christianity as the state religion.

Why was the Council of Nicaea (325 CE) convened by Constantine?

• To address divisions in Christian doctrine and create a more unified Church.

• To expand the Roman Empire into Asia.

• To establish a new capital city for the empire.

• To create a new form of government for Rome.

What was the significance of Constantine moving the capital from Rome to Byzantium and renaming it Constantinople?

• It established a powerful Christian center in the East.

• It ended the Roman Empire.

• It caused the fall of Christianity in Rome.

• It led to the creation of the Nicene Creed.

Explain how the Council of Nicaea contributed to the unification of the Christian Church. Use evidence from the historical context.

• By creating the Nicene Creed, which addressed divisions in Christian doctrine.

• By moving the capital to Constantinople.

• By ending the Roman Empire.

• By establishing a new form of government.

Analyze the impact of renaming Byzantium to Constantinople on the spread of Christianity in the Roman Empire.

• It helped make Constantinople a powerful Christian center, promoting the spread of Christianity.

• It caused Christianity to decline in the region.

• It led to the abandonment of the city.

• It resulted in the destruction of Christian churches.