Constantine's conversion made him more tolerant of Christianity in Rome, allowing the Church to expand to other parts of his empire and to preach in public society. Constantine is hailed as the emperor who ensured that Christianity was no longer anti-Roman. If Constantine had not converted and reformed Rome, the Church would never have been able to gain such a foothold in Rome and the West. His conversion ended the widespread persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire and greatly increased the power and influence of Christians in Rome. Moreover, his conversion contributed Roman law to the Catholic heritage of the West, forming a basis of Western thought on law and justice. The significant period for Constantine and the Church dates back to the persecution of Nero in AD 64. 400 AD, when paganism in Rome finally fell. Before Constantine, the Roman Empire was a vast expanse covering all of Spain, Gaul, Asia Minor, Italy, the Balkan Peninsula, and the North African coast, giving Rome vast influence. in the Mediterranean world. This influence was a largely pagan culture, interspersed with a weak Christian presence (since Christianity had been legal for forty years, but not approved). In Diocletian's time, Christians were less persecuted than in the past. Despite this, Christian Roman officials prayed and worshiped in secret. If suspected of being Christian, officials would be subjected to a "Christian test" based on the principle that "no committed Christian would offer sacrifice." If the official failed the test, he would be expelled from his position. At that time, a council of the Church in Spain ruled that if some...... middle of paper ......—. “Profile of Nero.” Ancient/classical history website. sd http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/nero/p/Nero.htm (accessed March 1, 2014).—. “The Edict of Milan.” Classic/ancient history. sd http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/constantine/g/edictofmilan.htm (consulted on 3 17, 14). Hitchcock, James. History of the Catholic Church. San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2012. Jones, AHM Constantine and the Conversion of Europe. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1978. Potter, David. Constantine the Emperor. New York: Oxford University Press, 2013. Stepehnson, Paul. Constantine. New York: Overlook Press, 2009 “The Conversion of Constantine.” Religious facts. 5 17, 04. http://www.religionfacts.com/christianity/history/constantine.htm (accessed 12 11, 13). Wilkin, Robert. The First Thousand Years: A Global History of Christianity. London: Yale University Press, 2012.