Definition
Christianity is a religion centered on the life, teachings, death, and, according to its followers, the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth, a Jewish teacher in first-century Roman Judea. It began as a movement within Judaism and grew into a faith with adherents across the world.
Christians hold that Jesus was the promised messiah and the son of God, whose message of love, forgiveness, and salvation was open to all people. The religion is built around scripture, worship, and community.
Why it matters
How it works
A new religion spreads through missionaries, networks, and the appeal of its message. Christianity moved along Roman roads and trade routes, carried by figures such as Paul of Tarsus who founded communities in distant cities. Its promise of dignity and salvation for the poor and the powerless drew followers across class lines. After Roman authorities first persecuted and then adopted the faith, it gained the backing of the state, and its institutions became central to medieval European society.