The Spread of
CHRISTIANITY
To 600
600-800
800-1200
Source A
Rome
Constantinople
Nicaea
Ephesus Tarsus
Jerusalems
Alexandria
05 tonal Resources Corporation
Discovery Education
Before the fall of the Western Roman Empire, and long before the fall of the Eastern Byzantine Empire,
the culture of the Roman Empire had been transformed by a new religion. Early in the 300s, Christianity
was only one of many "mystery religions" that had won followers in the empire. As Rome had declined,
the old gods, goddesses, and ceremonies no longer were meaningful to many people. Still, priests
maintained the temples and continued to make the sacrifices. Then in 324, the emperor Constantine
himself became a Christian, and Christianity became a religion that was approved and supported by the
state. By the end of the 300s, Christianity had become the official religion of the empire. Later, as the
"barbarians" swept into the empire, Romans discovered that these people also followed the new religion.
For centuries, Christianity was the only unifying force in Europe.
"After the Fall of Rome." Discovery Education
1. How does the caption help you understand the image in Source A?