History of Christianity: The Early Spread

Throughout this Lenten season I've decided to embark on an extensive study on the History of Christianity. It is an extremely intriguing topic; the world's most popular religion, that has endured for over 2000 years. Following the three year ministry of Jesus Christ, a new religious movement quickly began to spread throughout Europe. Based on his teachings, this movement established into an episcopal structure, that became the center of history for over a thousand years.

In this study I want to focus, on the long history of the Christian Church from 33 AD -1800. I will not focus so much on the inner history (biblical canon, councils, and the structure), yet more on it's outer influence. This series will span with the church's foundation, spread, persecutions, divine leaders, inquisitions, years of war, years of renaissance, years of reformation, and the downturn years of the enlightenment. Here is the first segment; a general look at the Early Formation and Spread of Christianity.

The Apostolic Age

Following the crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ the eleven apostles began their own ministry; A Great Commission to spread the word and establish a church based on his teachings. Much of this history is recorded in the New Testament bible, the Acts of the Apostles. The apostles led by Saint Peter, traveled across the middle east, to spread the word, and establish an Apostolic See in cities such as Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem.

Throughout the 1st century many of the earliest Christian followers were Jewish converts. James the Just was a critical figure in the Christian-Jewish movement in Jerusalem and became the city's first bishop. There was also however a period of Christian martyrdom, such as in the case of St. Stephen, where people were killed and stoned to death for their Christian beliefs. The stoning of St. Stephen, encouraged Saul of Tarsus to convert from a persecutor into a Christian Missionary, known as Saint Paul the Apostle.

Although he was not an original apostle, Saint Paul, became a very important prophet in this early age. He spread the word throughout the Roman Empire, and bridged the differences between the Christian-Jews and the Gentiles. This bridge was quite a conflict in the early development stages of Christianity, and led to some disagreements between Paul and Peter, regarding the conservation of the Mosaic Law. In the year 50, The Council of Jerusalem, gave Gentiles certain freedoms from Mosaic Law, which significantly opened up the door to new converts. St. Paul's writings and experiences are found in the New Testament and he is considered to be one of the most influential early Christian missionaries.  


Persecutions and the Post-Apostolic Age

The Christian church began it's establishment in the city of Jerusalem, however eventually lost that control due to terrible persecution from both Jewish and Roman officials. Many of the apostles, such as Peter and Paul, were martyred by the Roman emperor Nero, in the late first century. This period of persecution continued into the second century as many Christians refused to worship the Roman emperor, and were put to death, sometimes as a spectacle in the Colosseum.

However the movement continued to spread beyond the Mediterranean Basin. It seemed quite apparent that this new religion was quickly understood and accepted by the general public. The teachings of Christ, were quite revolutionary and were accepted by the people as the total truth. They appealed to a much wider audience, making sense of everything from life to death. For this reason the spread and success of Christianity was quite inevitable.


Constantine the Great

In the year 311, the Roman emperor Galerius brought an end to Christian persecutions. He was then preceded by Constantine the Great, who was the first Roman emperor to accept Christianity. This entirely changed the scope of the movement, and suddenly the church was at the highest level of authority. Constantine played a very active role in administering the church, the Nicene Creed, and the establishment of the sacred city of Constantinople. This was a significant turning point for the Christian faith which would later become the official Roman religion in the year 380.

By the fifth century, Rome had become the new center for Christianity and the papacy. The cities of Jerusalem, Constantinople, Antioch, and Alexandria, also held special prestige. However while Christianity was flourishing in the Middle East and the Mediterranean Basin, the Roman empire itself was diminishing. This was due to a disintegrating government and economy that that could no longer withstand Germanic opposition. During this time, Augustine of Hippo, developed an influential concept, that Christianity did not need an earthly city yet already had a spiritual city in God. The might of the Roman empire eventually collapsed and was split into Germanic control on the west, and the Byzantine Empire on the east. Christianity however endured and continued to spread on both ends.




Monasticism

In the third century, a new practice of independent spiritual seclusion, known as monasticism emerged from the deserts of Egypt. Saint Anthony the Great, was one of the first to embark on this lifestyle, and is considered the father of monasticism. The essential purpose of this hermit lifestyle was to grow closer to God, interpret the scriptures, and better understand the teachings of Christ. From this medieval practice, came new theology, philosophy, leadership, and divine inspiration.

In the fourth and fifth century, Saint Basil the Great and Saint Benedict of Nursia established a new style of communal monasticism. Monks were thus organized in communities, where they lived, worked, and prayed in monasteries. These monasteries served as a university for the church, where monks would spend their days studying and understanding the scriptures of Christianity. Many notable monks came from this practice, and provided influential theories and leadership to the Christian faith, such as Pope Gregory the Great.


Western Expansion

With the collapse of the Roman Empire, much of Western Europe was now a liberated free-for-all which lead to a chaotic disorder of barbaric tribes. Tribes of Anglo-Saxons, Celtics, Germanics, Franks, Goths, Slavics, and Vikings began to disperse the territory through ruthless pillaging and war. It is no wonder this period of time, has been referred to as the Dark Ages. However in the midst of this madness, the Christian church grew to its prominence and brought light to the disorder.

It was Pope Gregory the Great who initiated a campaign of successful missions to the western tribes. The hope was to teach and convert the Gentile barbarians towards Christianity. One of the most significant of these missionaries was, Augustine of Canterbury who was successful in converting the Anglo-Saxons. Another important conversion was of Clovis, the first King of the Franks. This period of barbaric conversion and Christian expansion, gave way to a new era of European culture, ushered in by the Great Charlemagne.



The Holy Roman Empire

In the late 8th century, the Frankish King Charlemagne began a military campaign in South Italy. He fought in the name of Christianity against the southern Germanic Tribes, Saxons, Byzantines, and Saracens. By the year 800 he was warmly received by the Roman Catholic Church, and Pope Leo III crowned him as the new Emperor of the Romans. Charlemagne thus felt it was his duty to return glory to the Western Roman Empire with Christianity at it's foundation. He inspired a new era of art, religion, culture, and a European identity during the Carolingian Renaissance.

The Holy Roman Empire, however was not officially formed until the year 962, under the leadership of the German King Otto I. By this point, however, it had already become the ultimate power in Central Europe, fully integrated with the Catholic institution. This empire served as the military and economic might of the Catholic Church for nearly 1000 years, until the Napoleonic Wars of 1806.