A History of Christianity: The First 3000 YearsX
A History of Christianity, a six-part series presented by Diarmaid MacCulloch, an Oxford history professor whose books about Cranmer and the Reformation have been acclaimed as masterpieces. A History Of Christianity will reveal the true origins of Christianity and delve into what it means to be a Christian. Intelligent, thought-provoking and magisterial in its scope the series will uncover how a small Jewish sect that preached humility became the biggest religion in the world. Most Christian histories start with St Paul's mission to Rome, but Diarmaid MacCulloch argues that the first Christianity stayed much closer to its Middle-Eastern roots. He describes not only the main ideas and personalities of Christian history, its organization and spirituality, but how it has changed politics, sex, and human society.
- Title ID 62-HC
- History, Ancient History, Philosophy, Religions
- 6 Programs
- 7 Supplemental Files
- 10th Grade through Post Secondary
- Published by The BBC
Included Programs
Supplemental Files
Reviews
Included Programs
Episode 1: The First ChristianityRunning time is 59 minutes
Diarmaid MacCulloch discusses the origins of Christianity in ancient Israel,
Chapter List
- The First Christianity
- Jesus Christ and Jerusalem are highlighted in this first chapter on the history of the Christian religion and Christian church.
- Christian Edessa
- The founding of the Christian church and its spread to Syria and Edessa in Turkey, as well the conversion of the Roman Empire under Constantine the Great and the founding of Constantinople in what would become the Byzantine Empire are discussed in this chapter.
- Constantine's Capital
- This chapter looks at the Roman Emperor Constantine, the establishment of the Christian church and the founding of Constantinople, as well as Jesus, the historic Jesus and God.
- The Syriac Orthodox Church
- The Christian Church in Syria as well as Imperial Christianity are discussed as they fight against Islam established by the Muslim prophet, Mohammed in the 7th century.
- The Church of The East
- The spread of Christianity and the Christian Church by Mar Timothy in Iraq as well as the spread of Christianity to China are discussed in this chapter.
- The Religion of Light
- This chapter discusses Christian China and the Christian Church.
Episode 2: Catholicism, The Unpredictable Rise of RomeRunning time is 59 minutes
Diarmaid MacCulloch discusses the beginnings of Catholicism, the rise of the Catholic Church in Rome and the Papacy.
Chapter List
- Catholicism
- The rise of Catholicism and Catholic Christianity in the Roman Empire, as well as the bringing of Christianity to Rome and Constantinople through Constantine, Peter, and Paul are discussed in this chapter.
- A New Jerusalem
- The Catholic Church as seen in its great churches, St. Martins and St. Peter, early leading Christian leaders such as Constantine, Augustine and Pope Damasus I, as well as the concept of original sin and the fall of Rome to the barbarians, causing the Dark Ages are examined in this chapter.
- At A Crossroads
- With the fall of the Roman Empire, the Dark Ages began in western Europe, which helped Orthodox Christianity under Justinian to flourish as well as Aryan Christianity, and later, leaders such as Benedict, Pope Gregory I, Augustine, the Archbishop of Canterbury, would lead a revival of Christianity in western Europe through Christian monasteries.
- Skellig Michael Monastery
- This chapter discusses the Skellig Michael Monastery, one of the homes of Irish Christianity and Celtic Christians, as well as Charlemagne the Holy Roman Emperors and the clash with Islam.
- Central Control
- Pope Gregory VII's influence on Catholic Christianity as well as the concepts of salvation, purgatory, and the Crusades, or holy wars against Islam and the role of the Knights Templar are discussed in this chapter.
- Religious Structure
- Catholic Church, the Papacy and the Vatican, and leaders such as Pope Innocent III and Francis of Assisi as well as the concepts of confession, and communion and the use of the Inquisition to stamp out heresy are discussed in this chapter.
Episode 3: Orthodoxy, From Empire to EmpireRunning time is 59 minutes
Diarmaid MacCulloch discusses the rise of the Greek Orthodox Church in Constantinople and the rise of the , Russian Orthodox Church in Moscow.
Chapter List
- Orthodoxy
- The Eastern Orthodox Church, the Greek Orthodox, in the Byzantine Empire led by Justinian and Theodora are discussed in this chapter.
- Icons
- This chapter highlights icons, mystical Christian icons and iconoclasm, as well as the Byzantine Empire and its struggle Islam.
- Cyril & Methodius
- Saints Cyril and Methodius founded Slavic Christianity, while the Nicene Creed underscored the Christian Schism between the Byzantine Empire's Eastern Orthodox Christianity and Rome's Roman Catholic Christianity.
- The Third Rome
- Russian Orthodox Christianity was part of the Russian Empire.
- Ivan The Terrible
- Russian Orthodox Christianity during the early centuries of the Russian Empire was used by Russian Tsars such as Ivan the Terrible, Alexi, and Peter the Great, rulers who were opposed by wandering spiritual hermits such as St. Basil.
- Communism
- The Fall of the Russian Empire under Tsar Nicholas II was caused in part by the disreputable mystic, Rasputin, and was replaced by Communism, led by Lenin and Stalin.
Episode 4: Reformation - The Individual Before GodRunning time is 59 minutes
Diarmaid MacCulloch discusses the Reformation, Protestantism, Martin Luther, Huldrych Zwingli , John Calvin, the Counter Reformation, and the Thirty Years War.
Chapter List
- Reformation
- The Reformation against the Catholic Church, was begun by Martin Luther and would lead to Protestantism.
- Zurich & Zwingli
- Huldrych Zwingli, a Reformation, leader against the Catholic Church as well as Protestantism and Baptists are discussed in this chapter.
- John Calvin
- John Calvin, the founder of Calvinism, and a Reformation leader of Protestantism, wrote Institutes of the Christian Religion.
- The Church of England
- English Protestantism, led by the Puritans and their reformer, Oliver Cromwell, as well as the Anglican Church, the Counter Reformation, the Catholic Church, and the idea of the confessional are discussed in this chapter.
- The New World
- Catholicism came to the New World through Catholic missionaries and missions.
- Bohemia & Beyond
- The Defenestration of Prague started the 30 Years War, one of many Christian Wars. The Amish and Quakers, are also discussed.
Episode 5: Protestantism - The Evangelical ExplosionRunning time is 59 minutes
Diarmaid MacCulloch presents the rise of the Protestant Church's evangelical Protestantism.
Chapter List
- Protestantism
- The influence of Moravians on Evangelical Protestantism is examined.
- John Wesley
- Evangelical Protestantism leaders John Wesley and George Whitefield are profiled in this story about Methodism and the Great Awakening in America of the 1700s.
- American Diversity
- The influence of George Whitefield and the idea of American Protestantism, as well as the concepts of Separation of Church and State and religious freedom are examined in this chapter.
- Slavery & Religion
- George Whitefield, American black Christianity, American Black Evangelicalism, African Protestantism and African Evangelicalism are discussed in this chapter.
- African Missionaries
- the unique concepts of African Christianity, African Protestantism, and African Evangelicalism led by William Wade Harris are examined.
- Korean Pentecostals
- This chapter examines Korean Christianity, Korean Protestantism, Korean Pentecostalism, and Korean evangelicalism led by David Yonggi Cho.
Episode 6: God in the DockRunning time is 59 minutes
Diarmaid MacCulloch, presents how skepticism has influenced Christianity and the future of western Christianity - 'Where will it go from here?'.
Chapter List
- God In The Dock
- The Age of Enlightenment, led by philosophers such as Baruch de Spinoza, who wrote Ethics, would influence the Christian faith.
- Natural Philosophy
- Sir Isaac Newton and Voltaire, who wrote Candide, were leaders of the Enlightenment.
- The French Revolution
- The Enlightenment, the modern Catholic Church and Napoleon Bonaparte are discussed.
- Modernism of War
- This chapter examines the effects of Modernism and World War I, on Christian morality and Christian ethics.
- Scientific Socialism
- The influences of Communism, World War II, Anti-Semitism, Nazis and Concentration Camps on are discussed.
- Questions
- Christianity, homosexuality, and the post modern Christian Church are discussed in this final chapter.
Supplemental Files
- MARC Records for HC
- MARC records for the series A History of Christianity: The First 3000 YearsX
- Transcription for Episode 1: The First Christianity
- Transcription for Episode 2: Catholicism, The Unpredictable Rise of Rome
- Transcription for Episode 3: Orthodoxy, From Empire to Empire
- Transcription for Episode 4: Reformation - The Individual Before God
- Transcription for Episode 5: Protestantism - The Evangelical Explosion
- Transcription for Episode 6: God in the Dock
Reviews
Anyone having second thoughts about wading into Oxford professor Diarmaid MacCulloch's New York Times bestselling doorstop (nearly 1,200 pages) A History of Christianity will be delighted (and perhaps relieved) to discover this six-hour BBC adaptation filmed in high-definition and amiably hosted by the author himself as he follows the path of Christianity through the ages and around the globe...An enlightening and often entertaining survey that mixes trenchant observation with beautiful onlocation footage shot in some of the world's most luminous places of worship, A History of Christianity is highly recommended.
Video Librarian