Early Church History
- Arts
- 800 level
- 2 credit units
- 115 pages
- 14 units
This course introduces students to the history of the Christian Church from its origins to the medieval period. It explores the birth of Christianity, its expansion, and the challenges it faced, including persecutions and heresies. The course examines the roles of key figures like the Church Fathers and Emperors, the development of doctrines and liturgy, and the rise of monasticism. It also covers the Crusades, the invention of the printing press, and the factors leading to the Reformation.
About this course
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Study hours
- 26 hours
- Maths
- None
- Content
- Theoretical, case study
- Practical work
- No
- Tutor Marked Assignments
- Written Examination
What you'll read
The real module and unit structure of CRS830, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.
- UNIT 1 THE BIRTH OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH
- UNIT 2 THE GROWTH AND EXPANSION OF THE EARLY CHURCH
- UNIT 4: THE NEW TESTAMENT CANON, HERESIES, AND DOCTRINAL DEVELOPMENT
- UNIT 5 THE CHURCH FATHERS AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF LITHURGY
- MODULE 1
- UNIT 2 THE RISE OF MONASTICISM AND THEIR DEVELOPMENTS
- UNIT 3 THE GROWTH OF POWER IN THE ROMAN CHURCH
- UNIT 4 THE END OF THE WESTERN ROMAN EMPIRE
- UNIT 5: CONSOLIDATION OF PAPAL POWERS AND THE RISE OF ISLAM
- UNIT 2: THE CRUSADES
- UNIT 3-FORERUNNERS OF THE REFORMATION AND INVENTION OF PRINTING PRESS
- UNIT 4 RENAISSANCE AGE TO THE DAWN OF REFORMATION
One paragraph, so you can see how it reads
CRS830 · UNIT 1 THE BIRTH OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH
The following is a practical strategy for studying the reading materials. If you encounter any problem, contact your tutor and he/she will be available to help you out.
What you should be able to do
- Narrate the emergence and triumph of Christianity
- State the roles played by Emperors in the development of Christianity
- Describe the growth of papacy and abuses in the church
- Identify the role played by Church Fathers in fashioning the rules of faith
- Describe the reconciliatory moves made by Emperors and Popes
What it prepares you for
- Religious Educator
- Theologian
- Historian
- Archivist
- Religious Organizations
- Educational Institutions
- Historical Research
- Cultural Heritage
Where it gets hard
The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.
- Module 1: Ancient Church History – 30 – 100 A.D
Unit 4: Formation of New Testament Canon
The unit covers complex theological concepts and requires understanding of various philosophical schools of thought.
- Module 2: The Imperial Church 313 476 A.D
Unit 1: Reconciliatory Councils and Creedal Development
Understanding the nuances of the Arian, Apollinarian, and Pelagian controversies requires careful attention to detail and theological reasoning.
A suggested way through it
13 weeks, about 28 hours in total. Yours will differ.
- Week 1Module 1: Ancient Church History – 30 – 100 A.D
Unit 1: The Birth of the Christian Church · 2 hours
Define 'Church' and 'Church History'. Explain the birth, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Discuss the Church at Pentecost. Analyze the spirit of oneness in the Early Church.
- Week 2Module 1: Ancient Church History – 30 – 100 A.D
Unit 2: The Growth and Expansion of the Early Church · 2 hours
Narrate Stephen's death and Saul's involvement. Describe Philip's ministry in Samaria. Analyze Peter's invitation to Joppa and Caesarea. Discuss the Church at Antioch. Examine Paul's first missionary journey.
- Week 3Module 1: Ancient Church History – 30 – 100 A.D
Unit 3: Persecutions and Victories of the Church · 2 hours
Identify causes of imperial persecutions. List stages of persecutions. State importance of Constantine's Edict. Describe joyous end of persecution. List abuses of freedom.
- Week 4Module 1: Ancient Church History – 30 – 100 A.D
Unit 4: Formation of New Testament Canon · 2 hours
Identify authors of New Testament books. Describe circumstances of book production. Identify factors leading to canonization. Describe Gnostic, Ebionite, Manichaean, Montanist heresies. State Early Church beliefs.
- Week 5Module 1: Ancient Church History – 30 – 100 A.D
Unit 5: The Church Fathers and the Growth of Liturgy · 2 hours
Narrate John Chrysostom's life. Identify Theodore's achievements. Narrate Eusebius' story. List Ambrose's contributions. Narrate Augustine's story. Identify Jerome's contributions. Describe liturgy growth.
- Week 6Module 2: The Imperial Church 313 476 A.D
Unit 1: Reconciliatory Councils and Creedal Development · 2 hours
Define Arian controversy. Define Apollinarian controversy. Define Pelagian controversy. Identify roles of Church Councils. State resolutions of Councils. Describe creed development.
- Week 7Module 2: The Imperial Church 313 476 A.D
Unit 2: Rise of Monasticism and their developments · 2 hours
Trace origin of monasteries. Narrate founders' stories. Identify Bible on asceticism. Describe Christian ascetics and monks. Identify first monks. Define monastic order. Enumerate benefits. Describe negative effects.
- Week 8Module 2: The Imperial Church 313 476 A.D
Unit 3: The Growth of Power in the Roman Church · 2 hours
List reasons for relocating capital. Describe how Church power filled vacuum. Describe Rome's apostolic authority claim. Describe social ministry effect.
- Week 9Module 2: The Imperial Church 313 476 A.D
Unit 4: The End of Western Roman Empire · 2 hours
Narrate how Roman frontiers were left unprotected. Identify effects of pleasure and luxury. Identify effects of violence and destruction. Identify effects of civil wars. Identify effects of invading tribes.
- Week 10Module 2: The Imperial Church 313 476 A.D
Unit 5: Consolidation of Papal Power and the Rise of Islam · 2 hours
Identify factors strengthening Papal Powers. Describe declining stage of papacy. Describe Muhammad's life and Islam's beginning.
- Week 11Module 3: The Medieval Church – 476 – 1453 A.D
Unit 1: The Holy Roman Empire · 2 hours
Identify founders of Carolingian Empire. Describe Charlemagne's background. Enumerate Charlemagne's achievements. Identify Carolingian leaders. Identify Emperors and Popes. Discuss Holy Roman Empire's decline. List reasons for Latin/Greek Church separation. Discuss Eastern Roman Empire's fall.
- Week 12Module 3: The Medieval Church – 476 – 1453 A.D
Unit 2: The Crusades · 2 hours
Enumerate factors giving rise to crusades. Identify sponsors and goals. Identify stages and effects. Describe children's crusade folly. List benefits to Europeans/Arabs. Analyze expedition failures. Describe effects on Papal power. Identify factors leading to Reformation.
- Week 13Module 3: The Medieval Church – 476 – 1453 A.D
Unit 3: Invention of Printing Press and the Forerunners of the Reformation · 2 hours
Narrate origin of religious reform. Describe Puritan movement. Narrate Peter Waldo's story. Narrate John Wycliffe's story. Narrate John Huss' story. Describe Jerome Savonarola's life. Identify contributions of Anselm, Abelard, Bernard, Aquinas. Identify printing press role.
Unit 4: Renaissance Period to the Dawn of Reformation · 2 hours
Identify spirit of investigation. Identify Italian/English fathers. Identify motives of forerunners. Analyze Martin Luther's life.
Preparing for the exam
- Create a timeline of key events and figures from the Early Church to the Reformation
- Develop flashcards for key theological terms and concepts
- Practice essay questions on the causes and effects of the Crusades
- Review the roles and contributions of the Church Fathers
- Focus on understanding the factors that led to the rise and decline of papal power
Questions students ask about this course
What is CRS830 about?
This course introduces students to the history of the Christian Church from its origins to the medieval period. It explores the birth of Christianity, its expansion, and the challenges it faced, including persecutions and heresies. The course examines the roles of key figures like the Church Fathers and Emperors, the development of doctrines and liturgy, and the rise of monasticism. It also covers the Crusades, the invention of the printing press, and the factors leading to the Reformation.
How many units does CRS830 have?
CRS830, Early Church History, has 14 units across 3 modules, over 115 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.
How many credit units is CRS830?
CRS830 carries 2 credit units, at 800 level in Arts.
Is CRS830 hard?
CRS830 is rated intermediate level, with no mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical and case study work.
How long does CRS830 take to study?
About 26 hours of study, spread across its 14 units.
How is CRS830 assessed?
CRS830 is assessed by Tutor Marked Assignments and Written Examination.
What can I do with CRS830?
Religious Educator, Theologian, Historian and Archivist.