Chapter 10: The worlds of Christendom, 500 - 1300

The definition of the word Christendom is the qualities and characteristics of a group of people or nations under a Christian set of morals and values, the Christian World. In history, Christendom refers to the Medieval and Renaissance idea of the central place of Christianity in the lives, nations, countries and states of individuals. Starting in the 4th century, the first Christian to become an emperor, Constantine I, used his power to rule the Roman empire to be a Christian State, causing a huge transformation into inhabitants’ lives. Whoever lived in that territory became part of the Christian World and were treated differently if decided to choose to not be part of it. “Christendom in its earlier stages came to refer to Christians united into one body. This unity was very significant because it was a unity of religion, but it was also a political unity creating powerful alliances.” The East and West were united in believing in one Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. Christendom marked the time in history when Christianity was part of every individual’s culture, morals, faith and values. The expansion of Christendom is mentioned in detail below:

Afro/Asian Christendom (years 300 - 1400)

300 ~ 400 Christianity established in Axum and Armenia 

400 ~ 600 Christianity introduced into Nubia

476 Collapse of Roman Empire

635 ~ 835 Nestorian Christianity flourishing in China

640 Muslim conquest of Christian Egypt

1200 ~ 1400 Contraction of Egyptian and Nubian Christianity

Eastern / Byzantine Christendom (years 330 - 1453)

330 Constantinople established

527 - 565 Justinian rule Byzantine Empire

988 Conversion of Kievan Rus to Orthodox Christianity

1054 Mutual excommunication of pope and patriarch

1453 Ottoman conquest of Constantinople

Western / Latin Christendom (years 800 - 1492)

800 Charlemagne crowned as new Roman emperor

1000 ~ 1300 Crystallization of Western civilization

1093 ~ 1291 Crusaders in Islamic Middle East

1000 - 1300 Translation of Greek and Arab works become available in Europe

1492 Completion of Christian conquest of Muslim Spain

Europe (years 711 - 1492)

711 ~ 718 Muslim conquest of Spain

900 ~ 1000 Golden Age of Muslim Spain

1095 ~ 1291 Christian Crusades

1359 ~ 1481 Ottoman conquests in southeast Europe

1492 Christian reconquest of Spain completed

Works cited:

UsefulCharts. (2020). Timeline of World History: Major Time Periods & Ages.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__BaaMfiD0Q

Strayer, R. (2016). Ways of the World: A Brief Global History. Bedford/St. Martin