ÃÂ÷ While Rome disintegrated, the Christian church survived and grew ÃÂ÷ Christianity "àSyncretic faith, absorbing and adapting many of the religious ideas of the Eastern Mediterranean.
o From Judaism came the concept of monotheism o From Orphism came the belief that the body was the prison of the soul o Hellenistic thought derived the notion of superiority of spirit over matter ÃÂ÷ Legalization of Christianity by Constantine in 312 ÃÂ÷ Theodosius made Christianity the official religion of the empire in 380 ÃÂ÷ With the empire in decay, educated people joined and worked for the church instead.
ÃÂ÷ Belief in the church was the one institution able to provide leadership.
ÃÂ÷ Christian bishops established See's in urban centers, as the base of their operations.
ÃÂ÷ Christian missionaries preach Gospels to the Germanic peoples.
ÃÂ÷ Prestige of Rome enhanced by courage and leadership of Roman bishops.
o Pope Leo I met the advancing army of Attila the Hun in 452, saving Rome.
ÃÂ÷ Mediterranean Sea served as highway over which Christianity further spread.
ÃÂ÷ Christianity spread to the Irish.
ÃÂ÷ Monasticism begins in third century; individuals and small groups withdrew from cities, to seek God through prayers, in caves, deserts and mountain regions. (Monks) ÃÂ÷ Monasteries formed by monks - provided a model of Christian living, a pattern of agricultural development, and a place for education and learning.
ÃÂ÷ Apologists: Defenders of Christianity ÃÂ÷ Law Code of Justinian ÃÂ÷ Similarity between Christianity, Islam, and Judaism.
ÃÂ÷ Christian missionaries preached the Gospels to Germanic peoples ÃÂ÷ Strong Christian faith built in Latin west.