CONCLUSION
We have examined the violence towards the Christian religion during their life, and the importance of memory for their longevity and common narrative. By looking at a timeline and map of Christian Persecutions in the Roman Empire, combined with an analysis of architecture, artefacts and inscriptions, we have a clearer idea of what life was like for an early Christian. Now we can finally answer the myth: were Christians violently and constantly persecuted throughout the Roman Empire?
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YES!
Christians were violently persecuted for their beliefs in many forms, resulting in death or extreme torture/disfigurement. Sources agree Christians were violently punished for either their atheistic beliefs or failing to convert.
SOMEWHAT!
There were periods of constant persecutions (mainly towards the end), but most of the time was relatively peaceful or not aggressive. There was consistent persecution legislation present though, started by Emperor Trajan.
SOMEWHAT!
Our knowledge has been greatly affected by modern authors and beliefs, and several extent ancient sources were biasedly written by Christians. We can say that persecutions were violent but not constant though.