Scope of Persecution of Christians in history

Some have argued persecution of Christians has been more sustained than that of others. Historical research suggests ¹:

2nd century: 80,000 Christian martyrs, mostly at the hand of Rome
3rd century: 400,000 Christian martyrs, mostly at the hand of Rome
4th century: 950,000 Christian martyrs, mostly at the hand of Rome
5th century: 575,000 Christian martyrs, mostly at the hand of Persians & barbarians
6th century: 75,000 Christian martyrs, mostly at the hand of Byzantines
7th century: 330,000 Christian martyrs, mostly at the hand of Persians
8th century: 110,000 Christian martyrs, mostly at the hand of Islam
9th century: 330,000 Christian martyrs, mostly at the hand of Byzantines
10th century: 80,000 Christian martyrs, mostly at the hand of Islam
11th century: 100,000 Christian martyrs, mostly at the hand of Islam
12th century: 170,000 Christian martyrs, mostly at the hand of Islam
13th century: 7.5 million Christian martyrs, mostly at the hand of Mongols
14th century: 5.5 million Christian martyrs, mostly at the hand of Islam
15th century: 600,000 Christian martyrs, mostly at the hand of Islam
16th century: 4 million Christian martyrs, mostly at the hand of Catholic inquisition
17th century: 360,000 Christian martyrs, mostly at the hand of Buddhists
18th century: 190,000 Christian martyrs, mostly at the hand of Islam
19th century: 2 million Christian martyrs, mostly at the hand of Buddhists
20th century 45 million Christian martyrs, mostly at the hand of Communists
21st century remains yet to be seen.

¹ From The Future of the Global Church (Digital Collection), currently available from www.TheFutureOfTheGlobalChurch.org

Christian Persecution by Century: perpetrators and victims

By century both the severity and source of persecution has varied greatly. Sometimes Christians even persecuted other Christians. Click on the image below for a more detailed breakdown of the source and target of persecution: ²

2nd cent	3rd cent	4th cent	5th cent	6th cent
7th cent	8th cent	9th cent	10th cent	11th cent
12th cent	13th cent	14th cent	15th cent	16th cent
17th cent	18th cent	19th cent	20th cent

    ² From The Future of the Global Church (Digital Collection), currently available from www.TheFutureOfTheGlobalChurch.org

Remember Jesus' question to Saul, one of the first and most vigorous persecutors of Christians:

"Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"

"Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked.

"I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. (Acts 9:4-5)