The First Epistle of Peter (background)

Peter wrote his first letter in Rome (according to 1 pet 5:5) around 60-64 a.d. This was written before some very dark days in major persecution after Nero burnt down Rome, blaming it on the Christians. This also preceded the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Temple by just a few years, which Jesus had predicted. Quite a radical period in the worlds history, let alone the apostles and early believers lives.

So read up on some of this, it's all pretty interesting. My research is based on teachings heard online, and nearly verified by seeing the claims posted in wikipedia... so sue me!

Nero

Early Christian tradition often held Nero as the first persecutor of Christians and the killer of Peter and Paul. There was also a belief among some early Christians that Nero was the Antichrist. The non-Christian historian Tacitus describes Nero extensively torturing and executing Christians after the fire of 64.

Great Fire of Rome

The Great Fire of Rome erupted on the night of July 18 to July 19, 64.

According to Tacitus, the population searched for a scapegoat and rumors held Nero responsible.^[115] To diffuse blame, Nero targeted a sect called the Christians.^[115] He ordered Christians to be thrown to dogs, while others were crucified and burned.^[115]

Tacitus described the event:

“

Consequently, to get rid of the report, Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace. Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus, and a most mischievous superstition, thus checked for the moment, again broke out not only in Judaea, the first source of the evil, but even in Rome, where all things hideous and shameful from every part of the world find their centre and become popular. Accordingly, an arrest was first made of all who pleaded guilty; then, upon their information, an immense multitude was convicted, not so much of the crime of firing the city, as of hatred against mankind. Mockery of every sort was added to their deaths. Covered with the skins of beasts, they were torn by dogs and perished, or were nailed to crosses, or were doomed to the flames and burnt, to serve as a nightly illumination, when daylight had expired.[115]

”

Nero then took some previously prime real estate... how convenient!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colosseum#Ancient
Before the Colisseum, that area was densely inhabited, and then was devastated by the Great Fire of Rome in AD 64, following which Nero seized much of the area to add to his personal domain. He built the grandiose Domus Aurea on the site, in front of which he created an artificial lake surrounded by pavillions, gardens and porticoes. The existing Aqua Claudia aqueduct was extended to supply water to the area and the gigantic bronze Colossus of Nero was set up nearby at the entrance to the Domus Aurea.


The death of Peter
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Peter#Death_of_Peter