In this classic work, Johnson traces the rise of Christianity from its humble beginnings in the Roman Empire to the dominant religion of the medieval period. Drawing on a wealth of primary sources, he explores the social, political, and cultural factors that contributed to the religion's growth and enduring influence. A must-read for anyone interested in understanding the historical roots of Western civilization. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.