THE SPREAD OF
CRISTIANITY
Christianity began Persecution of Christians Eventually, the Edict of Thessalonica: Issued
with the teachings in Rome, Emperor Nero persecution was ended. by Emperor Theodosius I, it
declares Christianity the state
of Jesus of blames Christians for the In the 300s a powerful religion of the Roman Empire,
Nazareth in the Great Fire of Rome, emperor named mandating that all Roman
leading to a period of subjects follow the Nicene
Roman province of Constantine became a
.
Christian faith and banning
severe persecution. Christian himself
Judea. pagan practices.
c.30-33 CE c. 64 CE 300s 380 CE
The fall of Rome to
Division of the
Council of Hippo: Another By the year 400 barbarian invasions marks
important council that Roman Empire: The the end of the Western
affirms the canon of the Empire is divided Christianity had Roman Empire.
Christianity continues to
New Testament and into Eastern and spread through thrive in the Eastern
solidifies the Western halves, but much of the Roman Empire and
organizational structure both continue to becomes a central part of
of the Church. promote Christianity Roman Empire. medieval European culture
and politics.
393 CE 395 CE 400 CE 476 CE
The Western Roman Empire faced Emperor Justinian I, who ruled from Missionaries such as St.
The spread of
increasing instability and invasions 527 to 565 CE, sought to restore the Augustine of Canterbury were
Roman Empire’s former glory and
Christianity continued
from barbarian tribes, leading to sent to convert the Anglo-
its fall in 476 CE. Despite this, strengthen Christianity. He Saxons in Britain, leading to into Northern Europe.
Christianity remained a unifying enforced Christian orthodoxy, the Christianization of the The conversion of the
force in the West. The Church conducted significant reforms, and British Isles. The missionary Franks, led by figures
continued to function as a undertook the codification of efforts in Ireland and Scotland such as Clovis I (who
stabilizing institution, preserving Roman law (Corpus Juris Civilis), also played a crucial role in converted to
.
Roman administrative structures which incorporated Christian spreading Christianity in the
principles. Christianity in 496 CE)
and promoting Christian teachings. British Isles.
5th CE 6th CE 6TH CE 7TH CE
Under Charlemagne (reigned
The Christianization of the The spread of Christianity
768–814 CE), the Carolingian Missionary work continued in Slavic peoples also took place reached the Eastern
Empire expanded Christian Scandinavia, with figures such during this period. Notable European regions more
influence throughout much of as Ansgar working to convert missions included those of firmly. Poland, Hungary, and
Western Europe. Charlemagne the Norse people. By the end Saints Cyril and Methodius, who other parts of Eastern
supported missionary activities, created the Glagolitic alphabet Europe saw the
of the 10th century, major
promoted Christian education, to aid in the translation of the establishment of
Scandinavian regions had
and integrated Christian Bible and liturgical texts into Christianity as the dominant
embraced Christianity
teachings into governance. the Slavic languages. religion.
8TH CE 9th CE 10th CE 11th CE
