How did Christianity change in the Roman Empire?
Emperor Constantine saw the Church as a potential unifying force in the Empire, but knew that the Church could not unify the Empire unless it was, itself, united. He set out to impose order, creating a stable hierarchy under his leadership, and obtained consensus on important issues facing the Church. His support made membership of the Christian Church socially and politically desirable for some, thus leading to the surge in Church membership that enabled Christianity to become the state religion later in the fourth century.
