In 324 CE, Emperor Constantine made Byzantium the capital of the new Eastern Roman Empire. The policy in favour of Christians marked a major shift in the empire and confirmed the edicts of tolerance towards Christianity made by Emperor Galeius (311 CE), and Emperor Constantine’s Edict of Milan in 313 CE. This decision contributed to the rapid development of Christian religious communities, bringing a vast wave of pilgrims to Palestine, which began to be known as the Holy Land of the Christians.

The large numbers of pilgrims boosted commerce and the development of handiwork by artisans (silk, leather, etc.) and agriculture, which was controlled by the religious foundations – churches and monasteries, the land owners of vast properties. However, pagan rites lasted until Emperor Justinian forbade freedom to those cults; finally, at the end of a long process, towards the middle of the sixth century, Christianity was imposed by imperial command when Justinian in 529 CE ordered all pagans to be baptized.