世界史关键时刻·英语30篇（2）

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《米兰敕令》：基督教获得合法地位

In February 313 CE, Roman emperors Constantine and Licinius met in Milan and agreed on a new policy toward religion.
Their joint edict granted Christians—and all other faiths—the right to worship openly without fear of state punishment.
Before this, Christians had faced sporadic persecution for refusing to honor Roman gods or serve in the army.
Constantine himself claimed a vision before the Battle of Milvian Bridge, which he believed secured his victory and divine favor.
The edict did not make Christianity the official state religion—that happened later under Theodosius in 380—but removed legal barriers.
Churches could now build permanent structures, collect donations freely, and appoint bishops with imperial recognition.
Christian leaders quickly organized councils, like Nicaea in 325, to unify doctrine and resolve theological disputes.
Meanwhile, pagan temples lost state funding, though traditional worship continued peacefully for decades.
This shift marked the beginning of Christianity’s transformation from persecuted sect to cultural and political force.
Scholars note that the edict’s real power lay not in law alone, but in how rulers chose to enforce—or ignore—it locally.