PBS
Pbs: Chronology of Early Christianity
A detailed timeline on the early history of the religion from the time of Julius Caesar (44 B.C.E.) to 327 C.E. and the death of Constantine.
PBS
Pbs: Peter and Paul and the Christian Revolution
A companion website to the documentary about the early Christian movement. Includes interactive activities, timelines, and primary sources.
Internet History Sourcebooks Project
Fordham University: Medieval Sourcebook: Edicts Against Christians
This site from the Fordham University provides some primary source documents on Emperor Diocletian. Great information, and it shows the level of persecution against the Christians in ancient Rome.
Wikimedia
Wikipedia: Mithraic Mysteries
Wikipedia provides information on Mithraism, a secret mystery religion of the Roman Empire.
University of Calgary
University of Calgary: The End of Europe's Middle Ages
This useful tutorial includes information about the economy, feudalism, the Holy Roman Empire and other important topics pertaining to Europe in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, a time of transition in European history. Easy to...
Ibis Communications
Eye Witness: Nero Persecutes the Christians, 64 a.d.
This article provides a general overview of how Emperor Nero laid blame for the burning of Rome onto the Christians and put many to death.
PBS
Pbs Frontline: Jesus & Jehohanan an Archaeological Note on Crucifixion
An article which summarizes recent archaeological discoveries regarding the practice of crucifixion. It notes that the Romans would use the arms and not the hands to nail someone to the cross.
Other
Women in the Bible and the Lectionary
A detailed look at Biblical women and their incorporation into the Roman Catholic Church's lectionary.
Countries and Their Cultures
Countries and Their Cultures: Maronites
The Maronites are an ancient East Christian sect; the Maronite church was the first Syrian church to join Rome, and thus it became the first Uniate of the East. Maronites today number about 1,300,000. Half a million of them reside in...
Countries and Their Cultures
Countries and Their Cultures: Palestinians
Palestinians inhabit an area east of the Mediterranean Sea and south of Lebanon. The Jordan River, Lakes Huleh and Tiberias, and the Dead Sea separate Palestine from Jordan. Christians refer to Palestine as "the Holy Land." Today...
Countries and Their Cultures
Countries and Their Cultures: Syriacs
Syriac is a branch of the Aramaic family of languages and was the lingua franca of the eastern Roman Empire at the beginning of the Christian era. It is also spoken extensively in the regions farther east. It became the language of...
The History Cat
The History Cat: Christianity
Discusses the Christian religion, the province of Judea, the story of Jesus, belief system, persecution by the Romans, the spread of Christianity, and the different Christian sects that have evolved.
Ducksters
Ducksters: Israel History and Timeline Overview
Kids learn about the history and timeline of the country of Israel including early Canaan, Judah, Persian rule, Roman rule, Christianity, the rise of Islam, and modern day Israel.
Internet History Sourcebooks Project
Fordham University: Medieval Sourcebook: Laws of Constantine
This site, which is provided for by the Medieval Sourcebook of Fordham University, gives the text of five of the laws passed by Constantine regarding Catholics and the Christian Church.
New Advent
Catholic Encyclopedia: The Moral and Canonical Aspects of Marriage
This New Advent article reviews the various aspects of the sacrament of Marriage from the point of view of the canon law of the Catholic Church. Please note that "The Catholic Encyclopedia" is a historic reference source and should be...
Other
Liberation Theology and Land Reform
This site provides an explanation of the Liberation Theology movement that swept through Latin American Catholicism to liberate the poor from economic and social oppression.
Other
Ray Stedman: Adventuring Through the Bible
"Adventuring Through the Bible" is a comprehensive guide to the entire Bible with Bible commentary. This site is an excellent place to start if you are new to the Bible and/or have questions about evangelical Christianity.
PBS
Pbs Teachers: Geographic Spread and Development of Christianity (Lesson Plans)
Find two lesson plans designed to accompany the PBS documentary "Peter and Paul and the Christian Revolution" that are particularly well suited to the study of the spread of Christianity. Pupils will research Christianity, Judaism, and...
Other
Seton Hall University: Toleration and Religious Liberty
This essay from the Seton Hall University describes the transition from intolerance of Catholics to religious liberty in America.
Georgetown University
Augustine: Christianity and Society
A scholarly article on St. Augustine's religious philosophy. It includes an examination of his major theological work "City of God".
PBS
Pbs Frontline: Pliny's Policy of Execution
An nice article which describes the first attempt of the Romans to deal with early Christians in 112 C.E. Pliny the Younger decided to use execution and it marks the beginning of the Roman persecution of the Christians.
PBS
Pbs Frontline: Letters of Pliny the Younger & Emperor Trajan
The actual letters written between Pliny and the Emperor about the issue of early Christianity. It was the first time the Romans recognized the religion as separate from Judaism.
PBS
Pbs Frontline: The Martyrs
A very nice account which delves into the background of the persecutions of the early Christians under the Romans. The article provides specific historical details as to why and how Christians were being attacked.
National Humanities Center
National Humanities Center: Teacher Serve: Catholics & the 20th Century
This National Humanities Center essay discusses the movement of American Roman Catholicism into mainstream culture from a historical perspective.