How did Christianity come to have such an extraordinary influence upon Europe? Gillian R. Evans’ The History of Christian Europe offers a fascinating portrayal of the development and spread of Christianity in the context of over 2,000 years of European history.

Beginning with the transmission of Jesus’ teaching throughout the Roman world, Evans shows how Christianity transformed not only the thinking but also the structures of society, in a Christendom that was, until relatively modern times, essentially a ‘European’ phenomenon. She traces Christianity’s influence across the centuries, from its earliest days, through the East / West schism, the Reformation and Counter-Reformation, to its development in the scientific age of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries and its place in the modern world. The narrative is complemented by boxed features highlighting key events and concepts such as monastic life, icons, Darwin’s The Origin of Species, prophecy, the slave trade, and the influence of psychology.

Gillian R. Evans draws on her expertise in the fields of medieval theology, ecumenism and intellectual history to create an engaging and accessible account of an important subject in European history. The History of Christian Europe will appeal to scholars of religion and history who are seeking a fuller understanding of how Christianity helped shape and define Europe and, consequently, the wider world.