391 facts for kids
| Millennium: | 1st millennium |
|---|---|
| Centuries: | 3rd century – 4th century – 5th century |
| Decades: | 360s 370s 380s – 390s – 400s 410s 420s |
| Years: | 388 389 390 – 391 – 392 393 394 |
The year 391 AD was a very important time in the Roman Empire. During this year, a major change happened regarding religion. The Roman Emperor, Theodosius, made a new law that changed how people practiced their faith across the empire.
Contents
What Happened in 391 AD?
In 391 AD, Emperor Theodosius made a big decision. He declared that Christianity would be the only official religion allowed in the Roman Empire. This meant that other ancient Roman religions, which had been practiced for hundreds of years, were no longer allowed.
Why Was This Law Made?
Before this, the Roman Empire had many different religions. People worshipped various gods and goddesses. However, Christianity had been growing stronger for centuries. Emperor Theodosius was a Christian himself. He believed that making Christianity the only religion would help unite the empire.
How Did This Change Things?
This new law had a huge impact.
- Many old temples were closed down.
- Public worship of the old Roman gods stopped.
- Christian churches became more powerful.
- This event is seen as a key moment in the history of both Christianity and the Roman Empire. It helped shape the future of Europe.
Images for kids
-
The Temple of Vesta in Rome was one of the many ancient Roman temples affected by the new laws.
.jpg)
