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Map of the Growth of Christianity in the Roman Empire
This map illustrates the rise and spread of Christianity from its origins as a small, unorganized sect in Roman Judea in the 1st century CE, to its establishment as the dominant religion of the Roman Empire by the 5th century. It traces the faith’s expansion across urban and rural regions, key theological milestones, and the early doctrinal conflicts that shaped Christian orthodoxy.
Christianity’s transformation accelerated under Constantine the Great (reigned 306–337 CE), particularly with the Council of Nicaea in 325 CE, which formalized core beliefs through the Nicene Creed. Later, under Theodosius I (reigned 379–395 CE), the Edict of Thessalonica in 380 CE declared Christianity the official state religion. The map also marks the Council of Chalcedon in 451 CE, where debates over Christ’s divine and human nature reached a critical point. In addition, it shows the geographic spread of major theological movements later deemed heretical, including Arianism, Nestorianism, and Monophysitism.
