In 312 AD, the Roman Emperor Constantine achieved a victory at the Milvian Bridge. The night before this battle, Constantine dreamed of a cross inscribed in hoc signo vinces, in this sign you will conquer. As trivial as this dream may seem, it ultimately signified the beginning of the rise of Christianity. With his victory, Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity and supported and encouraged it throughout the empire. In 313 AD another milestone occurred when the emperors, both Constantine I of the West and Licinius of the East, signed the Edict of Milan declaring that Diocletian's persecution would end and Christianity would be tolerated in the Roman Empire . This religion began to flourish when people quickly converted from pagan religions and joined those who followed Christianity. 391 AD consolidated the practice of Christianity as Theodosius declared it the state religion and outlawed paganism (Bennett). These pious advances offered people a new way of living alongside their religion. They practiced a religion that eternally saves them from damnation and works for salvation throughout their earthly lives. In addition to enriching the lives of Christians with a view to eternal salvation, one might ask whether the spread of Christianity only enriched the souls of practitioners or provided more to the people of the Middle Ages? The end of the 3rd century developed Christianity further, as it was the rise of the monastic movement. Starting in the Mediterranean, it quickly spread to Europe and beyond. This movement was based on the ideology of saiculum relinquere, of withdrawal from the world. The retreat allowed humans to become solitary people whose goal in life was to pursue the spiritual quality of life for people living in the medieval age. Works Cited Benedict and Justin McCann. The Rule of Saint Benedict. London: Burns and Oates, 1952. Print.Bennett, Judith M. Medieval Europe: A Brief History. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2011. Print.Buchholz, Peter. "Prospects for historical research in Germanic religion". History of religions. 2nd ed. vol. 8. E. J. Brill, 1965. 111-38. Print.Chesterton, GK "12: Paganism and Mr. Lowes Dickinson." Heretics. Kessinger, LLC., 2003. The literary network. Network. March 8, 2012. McColman, Carl. “Pagan afterlife and salvation.” Balanced views of religion and spirituality with faith. Patheos, Inc., 2011. Web. 08 March 2012. Robert, P. and N. Scott. A history of pagan Europe. New York: Barnes & Noble, 1995. Print.Thomas, Oliver. “Why do we need religion?” United States today. Gannett, August 8, 2010. Web. March 8. 2012.