NAME ______________________________________ DATE _______________ CLASS _________
Primary and Secondary Sources
Activity
netw rks
The Byzantine Empire and Emerging Europe
Religious Tolerance and the Edict of Milan
Background
With the spread of Christianity in the first three centuries A.D., Christians began to be
viewed as a threat. Romans were suspicious of the “foreign cult” and Roman emperors
feared rebellion. The Christians believed in only one God and refused to respect pagan
customs. As a result, they were persecuted off and on for years. The last great
persecution, beginning in A.D. 303, took place under the rule of Diocletian and Galerius.
After Galerius’s death, the overall attitude shifted. Instead of persecuting the Christians,
new leaders Constantine and Licinius pursued a course of tolerance through the Edict of
Milan, which was enacted in 313. An edict is an official decree or proclamation issued by
the government. Constantine and Licinius’s goal was to establish peace within the
empire and reduce friction among the inhabitants. The Edict of Milan legalized
Christianity, returned property that had been confiscated, and allowed all people to
worship whatever god or deities they chose.
We, Constantinus and Licinius the Emperors, having met in concord at Milan
and having set in order everything which pertains to the common good and
public security, are of the opinion that among the various things which we
perceived would profit men, or which should be set in order first, was to
found the cultivation of religion; we should therefore give both to Christians
and to all others free facility to follow the religion which each may desire, so
that by this means whatever divinity is enthroned in heaven may be gracious
and favourable to us and to all who have been placed under our authority.
—from the Edict of Milan, enacted A.D. 313
Now that you perceive what we have granted to them, your Excellency must
also learn that for the sake of peace in our time a similar public and free
right to practice their religion or cult is granted to others, so that every man
may have free opportunity to worship according to his own wish. This has
been done by us to avoid any appearance of disfavour to any one religion.
We have decided furthermore to decree the following in respect of the
Christians: if those places at which they were accustomed in former times to
hold their meetings . . . have been at any previous time acquired from our
continued on next page
Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission is granted to reproduce for classroom use.
Directions: The following excerpts are selections from the Edict of Milan on
the tolerance of the Christian religion. Read the excerpts and then answer
the questions that follow.
NAME ______________________________________ DATE _______________ CLASS _________
Primary and Secondary Sources
Activity Cont.
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The Byzantine Empire and Emerging Europe
continued from previous page
treasury or from any other person, let the persons concerned be willing and
swift to restore them to the Christians without financial recompense and
without trying to ask a price. Let those who have received such property as a
gift restore whatever they have acquired to the Christians in similar manner.
. . . You are to consider it your duty that all these things shall be handed
over to the Christian body immediately and without delay by your
intervention. . . [Y]ou are to order in accordance with the law which we have
described above the return of all those possessions to the aforesaid
Christians, that is to their bodies and assemblies without any further
hesitation or argument.
—from the Edict of Milan, enacted A.D. 313
1.
Analyzing Primary Sources What reasons are given for the issuing of this edict?
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2.
Drawing Conclusions Why do you think property was to be restored to
Christians and to their churches?
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Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission is granted to reproduce for classroom use.
Let all this be done, so that as we stated above, the divine favour, of which
we have experienced so many instances, may continue with us to bless our
successors through all time with public wellbeing. In order that the character
of this our perpetual benevolence [continuous kindness] can reach the
knowledge of all, it will be well for you to circulate everywhere, and to bring
to the awareness of all, these points which have been written to you as
above, so that the enactment of this our benevolence may not be hidden.
—from the Edict of Milan, enacted A.D. 313
NAME ______________________________________ DATE _______________ CLASS _________
Primary and Secondary Sources
Activity Cont.
netw rks
The Byzantine Empire and Emerging Europe
3.
Identifying Perspectives The Edict of Milan only guarantees tolerance of
Christianity, not recognition by the state. Why did Constantine and Licinius take
this position?
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4.
Comparing How does the edict’s position on religion compare with a political ideal
or contemporary event?
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Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission is granted to reproduce for classroom use.
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