During the Great Fire of Rome, to whom is Nero said to have directed blame?

• A. Christians
• B. The Senate
• C. The Jews
• D. The philosophers

Answer: (A)

Rulers often use scapegoats to manage the political fallout after a disaster. After the Great Fire of Rome in 64 CE, Nero reportedly directed blame toward Christians. Christians were a small, unpopular minority in imperial Rome, and their refusal to participate in traditional Roman religious rites—especially emperor worship—made them convenient targets for accusations of disloyalty or arson. Ancient sources describe Nero presenting them as the culprits, which led to harsh persecutions and served his aim of deflecting responsibility away from himself and the city’s officials. This aligns with the pattern of rulers using minority groups as scapegoats during crises. The other groups mentioned—the Senate, Jews, or philosophers—do not fit the historical record of who was blamed in this specific event.