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By the 4th century there were 4 great centers of Christianity: Rome, Constantinople (modern day Istanbul, Turkey), Antioch in Palestine, and Alexandria in Egypt. Each had different geography, culture, and politics.
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Roman Emperor Constantine the Great declared Christianity as legal religion, ending time of persecution
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Rome fell to invaders and Roman Empire collapsed, positioning the church to bring order and stability to Europe.
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Largely poor and uneducated, the population of western Europe struggled to survive as it faced disease and famine.
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The spread of Islam throughout the Middle East and North Africa, many Christians in Egypt either converted to Islam or were persecuted. Mohammed began writing the Koran in 625.
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Followers of Islam invaded Europe through Spain.
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Charlemagne, king of the Franks, crowned emperor of the Holy Roman Empire by the pope.
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The church split into the Eastern Orthodox Church centered in Constantinople and the Western Roman Catholic Church centered in Rome.
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During the 1200's universities were established to teach theology, along with hospitals and cathedrals. The church was the center for government, education, and the arts -- resulting in a powerful and wealthy Western church,
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Followed St. Francis of Assisi. Practiced holy living and care for the poor.
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Monastic order also practiced holy living and emphasized preaching and teaching.
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Pope Gregory began the Inquisition
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Wycliffe taught that unjust rulers (including popes and bishops) could not claim that it was God's will that people obey them, and the Bible is the authority for Christian faith.
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Led a movement that denounced indulgences and asserted that Christ is the head of the church.
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Criticizes the pope (Alexander VI) and called for church leaders to return to the simplicity of the gospel.
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...and the Protestant movement is born!
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Disagreed with Luther about the Lord's Supper, leading to the first split in Protestantism.
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Emphasized God's sovereignty, the Holy Spirit, and godly preaching and teaching in all churches.
