practice their Jewish religion, this resulted in further tensions and demonstrations.
The Jews were often rioting and causing trouble because of their laws and religion which then resulted in action taken by the Roman state and the regular conflict between the Roman state and the Jews. There were three major wars and revolts between the Romans and the Jews that Josephus records, the final resulting in all Jews being banned from the city of Jerusalem.
The Christians came into conflict with the Roman state for various reasons but the most prominent reason was the Christian teaching not to sacrifice to idols, this resulted in serious conflict with the Roman state because the state was thought to have been protected by various state gods and rituals. Since the Christians refused to acknowledge the states gods, then they were atheists and were seen as unpatriotic and to have a disregard for the welfare of the state. The state went to great lengths to ensure everyone sacrificed to the gods, many Christians refused and this resulted in many years of persecution and conflict under various emperors. The Christians believed the state gods were not gods but demons and refused to sacrifice, this caused the state to inflict various punishments on the Christians.
During the reign of Emperor Nero a large portion of the city of Rome was burnt down, and Nero needed a scapegoat. Nero knew that the pagans of Rome were not all that tolerant of the Christians so he blamed them as the cause of the fire and the first state legislated persecution broke out in the city of Rome against the Christians. Tacitus records that the Christians were not so much persecuted by Nero because of the burning of the city but because of hate for the human race. The