The First Thousand Years

A Global History of Christianity

By: Robert Louis Wilken

Narrated by: Bob Souer

How did a community that was largely invisible in the first two centuries of its existence go on to remake the civilizations it inhabited, culturally, politically, and intellectually? Beginning with the life of Jesus, Robert Louis Wilken narrates the dramatic spread and development of Christianity over the first thousand years of its history. Moving through the formation of early institutions, practices, and beliefs to the transformations of the Roman world after the conversion of Constantine, he sheds new light on the subsequent stories of Christianity in the Latin West, the Byzantine and Slavic East, the Middle East, and Central Asia.

Through a selected narration of particularly noteworthy persons and events, Wilken demonstrates how the coming of Christianity set in motion one of the most profound revolutions the world has known. This is not a story limited to the West; rather, Christian communities in Ethiopia, Nubia, Armenia, Georgia, Persia, Central Asia, India, and China shaped the course of Christian history. The rise and spread of Islam had a lasting impact on the future of Christianity, and several chapters are devoted to the early experiences of Christians under Muslim rule. Wilken reminds us that the career of Christianity is characterized by decline and attrition as well as by growth and expansion.

©2012 Robert Louis Wilken (P)2020 Tantor

excelent book

I enjoyed this book very much , well written and well narrated , highly recommended for anyone interested in early Christianity ..

Educational and good

I learned a lot about the ancient eastern churches I didn't know before. A good story too.

A very approachable historical book

I was able to learn so much through this reading! I could not listen at times for more than 30 minutes because I was curious about more information on that chapter. This book has peaked my interest in many “new” parts of church history that I was unaware of before listening! I can’t wait to continue my early church history knowledge as I dive in deeper to areas discussed in this book.

Excellent Summary!

Very unbiased presentation of the history of the early Christian which does not go into too much detail. Great entry book for those wading into church history.

The wide geographical area to which Christianity was spread

Great narration of an important book. Recommended for anyone who has an interest in the history of the first millennium.