Each chapter begins with a list of the dates of important events in that period, followed by an introduction to the period. Then the pivotal events of the period are mentioned, and an overview discusses these events and their impact on the Church. Biographical sketches introduce the key people of the period, while extracts from Christian writings of the time, on topics ranging from doctrines and descriptions of historical events to devotional and Bible studies, offer a deeper understanding of the issues and struggles of real people just like us. Each chapter ends with a discussion of important translations of the Bible.

Expanded and updated for the new millennium. Covering the life of Christ, the election of Pope Benedict XVI, and everything in between, A Concise History of the Catholic Church has been one of the bestselling religious histories of the past two decades and a mainstay for scholars, students, and others looking for a definitive, accessible history of Catholicism. With a clarity that will appeal to any reader, Thomas Bokenkotter divides his study into five parts that correspond to the major historical and epochal developments in Catholicism. His authoritative, thorough approach takes readers from the Church’s triumph over paganism, through "the sound and fury of renewal," to a new section devoted to such topics as dissent and current developments in the ecumenical movement. Informative illustrations throughout the book, new to this edition, enrich the reader's experience, and the addition of a wide-ranging bibliography increases its value as a sourcebook.

Early church - Medieval church - Reformation church -Modern church.

This brief and chronologically organized overview of the Christian religious tradition introduces students to the history of the Christian Church, describing the people, places, and ideas that have shaped Christianity. Written in a straightforward, accessible style, this text presents students with at survey of the scholarship of the discipline.

Spanning from the birth of Christianity through the Crusades and the Protestant Reformation to John XXIII and the Second Vatican Council, Key Moments in Church History is a brief and accessible guide to the origins and evolution of the Catholic Church. In this insightful and informative look at eleven of the most significant periods in church history, Finley not only helps readers understand the context and characters of the past, but sheds light on the current and future Church. The result is a hopeful and inspirational reading experience that is ideal for personal reflection or group use.

Currently the only complete history in English of the Syriac Church of the East, this work covers the periods of the Sassanians, Arabs, Mongols, Ottomans and the twentieth century.

Despite its position at the heart of Europe and its quintessentially European nature, Switzerland's history is often overlooked within the English-speaking world. This comprehensive and engaging history of Switzerland traces the historical and cultural development of this fascinating but neglected European country from the end of the Dark Ages up to the present. The authors focus on the initial Confederacy of the Middle Ages; the religious divisions which threatened it after 1500 and its surprising survival amongst Europe's monarchies; the turmoil following the French Revolution and conquest, which continued until the Federal Constitution of 1848; the testing of the Swiss nation through the late nineteenth century and then two World Wars and the Depression of the 1930s; and the unparalleled economic and social growth and political success of the post-war era. The book concludes with a discussion of the contemporary challenges, often shared with neighbours, that shape the country today.