Church History
The Christian movement spans more than 20 centuries. Here are the five major eras of Church History, plus specific trends.
The Patristic Era
33 to 590 AD
The Patristic era of church history ran from 33 to 590 AD. It had three timeframes:
Here are the major people and events for the Patristic era. Read more »
The Medieval Era
590 to 1417 AD
The Medieval era of church history ran from 590 to 1417 AD. It had three shorter eras:
- Missionaries: 590 to 1049 AD
- Popes and Scholars: 1049 to 1294 AD
- Papal Schisms: 1294 to 1417 AD
Here are the major people and events for the Medieval era. Read more »
The Reformation Era
1417 to 1648 AD
The Reformation era of church history ran from 1417 to 1648 AD. It had four shorter eras:
- Pre-Reformation: 1417 to 1517 AD
- Reformation: 1517 to 1648 AD
- Counter-Reformation: 1545 to 1648 AD
- Private Reforms: 1545 to 1648 AD
Here are the major people and events for the Reformation era. Read more »
The Modern Era
1648 to 1962 AD
The Modern era of church history ran from 1648 to 1962 AD. It had three shorter eras:
- Enlightenment: 1648 to 1789 AD
- Revolution: 1789 to 1870 AD
- Intransigence: 1870 to 1962 AD
Here are the major people and events for the Modern era. Read more »
The Postmodern Era
1962 AD to present
The Postmodern era of church history began in 1962 AD and continues to the present day.
Here are the major people and events for the Postmodern era thus far. Read more »
The Ecumenical Councils
There have been seven (or 21) times when all church leaders gathered to reach a consensus on important issues. These events are called “Ecumenical Councils.”
The Doctors of the Catholic Church
The Catholic Church gives the title “Doctor of the Church” to their very greatest teachers of theology or doctrine. Here are the 36 Doctors of the Church.
The Catholic missionary movement of the 19th Century
During the 19th century, the Catholic church expanded to other areas of the globe. Here are the four issues of significance to that missionary work.
THEMES