64 CE
A catastrophic year for Rome as a massive fire devastated the city, after which Emperor Nero infamously blamed and persecuted Christians, marking one of the earliest known Roman campaigns against the new religion.
Disaster & Crisis
- The Great Fire of Rome broke out on July 18 and burned for six days before being brought under control, only to reignite for another three days, destroying or severely damaging ten of the city's fourteen districts.
- Hundreds of thousands of Romans were left homeless by the fire, which consumed densely packed residential neighborhoods, temples, public buildings, and irreplaceable records and works of art.
- Emperor Nero organized relief efforts in the aftermath, opening his own gardens to shelter the displaced and arranging food supplies, though rumors persisted that he had started the fire himself.
Religion & Persecution
- Nero blamed the fire on Christians and launched a brutal persecution against them, subjecting adherents to public execution by methods including burning alive and being torn apart by animals in the arena.
- Early Christian tradition holds that the apostles Peter and Paul were both martyred in Rome during the Neronian persecution, though the exact dates are uncertain.
Climate & Environment
- Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration was approximately 278 parts per million, as later confirmed by ice core analysis.
Society & Population
- The city of Rome before the fire had an estimated population of approximately one million, making it the largest city in the Western world.
- The global population is estimated to have been approximately 252 million.