From it Old Testament beginnings to present-day Christian worship, Christianity has had a fascinating, complex, and controversial history. The Story of Christianity provides a truly global view of this history across all denominations. This richly illustrated history progresses from the Old Testament to the present day, covering topics as diverse as the early martyrs, the birth of the monasteries, the conversion of Europe, the Crusades, the Inquisition, the Reformation, and the rise of the Third World Church. It aslo examines the wide-ranging beliefs and doctrines of the church at the end of the twentieth century. With a refreshing, stimulating, and highly visual approach, The Story of Christianity guides the reader through two millennia of history. Alongside the events, figures, and movements that helped shape the church, the book illuminates the role of Christianity in ordinary people's lives. Contemporary quotes, maps, photographs, and works of art give an immediacy to the story while special features highlight the interplay between the church and the arts, and the political and philosophical movements of each century. How did the Christian faith grow into the world's most widely practised religion? Why has a single faith resulted in so many schisms and denominations? Where is the Christian Church going in the twenty-first century? This beautifully illustrated account of 2,000 years of Christianity-the professed one-third of the world's population-approaches all of these issues in an open, authoritative, and accessible way. Beautifully illustrated, clearly presented, and written in a lucid and accessible style, this unique book encapsulates the compelling and complex history of the Christian religion.